CINCINNATI -With the pieces of the puzzle slowly taking shape for the Illinois basketball team, it looked as if it would be able to head into Big Ten play on Jan. 3 fresh off a victory. But with a sluggish start and early foul trouble, things didn’t go the Illini’s way and they lost a 65-59 decision to Xavier on Friday night at the U.S. Bank Arena.

The Illini committed 29 fouls to Xavier’s 17, and sophomore guard Chester Frazier picked up two quick fouls with 18:39 to play in the first half. Junior forward Brian Randle fouled out and Shaun Pruitt and Frazier both finished the game with four fouls. And just as Illinois was called for a number of fouls during its game against Arizona on Dec.2, the tables turned the same way against the Musketeers.

“We fade away too much,” head coach Bruce Weber said of the Illini’s lack of intensity. “They were the aggressor, especially when they got the crowd into it. The officials are human and they usually side with the aggressor.”

With Frazier limited to just 13 minutes (0 points, 3 rebounds), it was easy for Weber to call it his worst performance of the season.

“He doesn’t really get involved,” Weber said. “He has two quick fouls, but I don’t really know where the one came from.”

While Xavier made 26-of-36 free throw attempts, the Illini could only connect on 5-of-8 free throws. The Illini’s inability to get to the line is something Weber said must change.

“We have to get on the line on the road,” he said.

Looking for a leader

Although the Illini are once again playing with their full complement of players, Weber said he needs someone to step up and assume a leadership role, but also for the rest of the team to be coachable. The bench came through for the Illini in the first half, but in the second half, it was another story and Illinois wasn’t able to pull out a victory. For the Illini to be successful in Big Ten play, Smith believes it must be the same player stepping up for the Illini.

“It seems like everyday we fight him in practice, and different days, different people are leading.”

Senior Warren Carter said he had a bad feeling in his stomach about the loss.

“I need to come out of my skin and become the leader,” said Carter, who added 14 points and five rebounds. “It shouldn’t have taken this long to open our eyes.”

While Carter says he is anxious to play Michigan next week, Weber is just hoping his players will start to buy into his winning system in the near future.

“I didn’t make this stuff up,” he said. “I learned it from Coach (Gene) Keady, who learned it from Coach (Eddie) Sutton who learned it from Coach Iba. It worked.”