The Illinois men’s basketball team begins the 2006-07 season tonight at 7 in an exhibition game against Lewis at the Assembly Hall. With an inexperienced team, the only way for the Illini to improve is through playing games, head coach Bruce Weber said at Illinois Media Day on Oct. 14. Illinois will have plenty of opportunities as tonight marks the first game in a seven-game non-conference home stand. With a new look, some new faces and a few old mainstays, here is what Weber had to say about each of the Illini’s 15 players.

Warren Carter – senior forward

Height: 6’9″. Weight: 220. Hometown: Dallas, Texas (Lake Highlands)

Last season’s stats: 4.8 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 12.3 minutes per game

Weber says: “Warren has made great strides; I’ve been on him maybe more than anybody. I always joke that every time I ask Warren how he’s doing, he always says he’s chilling. Then I kind of comment that you’re going to chill through life, and I’m hoping that he has a sense of urgency, that he realizes it’s his senior year. I think he has all the ability, athleticism; his bench press has gained well over 100 lbs since he got here. He’s near 300 now, that’s just amazing for him. He ran the mile in 5:20; I think the only person that beat him was Chester; this is a 6’9″ athletic kid that can run. But now, it’s can he do it game-in and game-out against good competition when we need shots, when we need rebounds.”

Brian Randle – junior forward

Height: 6’8″. Weight: 220. Hometown: Peoria, Ill. (Notre Dame)

Last season’s stats: 8.5 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, 26.7 minutes per game

Weber says: “I think he is slowly but surely taking on the role of maybe being our go-to guy. Again, he’s going to have to do it in the game, be consistent, miss the shot and not put his head down, come back and make another play. Part of that is maturity, and I think he’s done that.”

Richard Semrau (freshman forward)

Hometown: Grafton, Ohio (Lutheran West)

Weber says: “He has been the biggest surprise, if you would ask the players from the summer. He has very good skills, a little bit of bounce, ran well, all the conditioning, all the weight training, he did well which is not easy for freshmen. He’s a skilled power forward, but the big question I think is can he guard anybody, and we’ll have to see.”

Jeremiah Wise (sophomore guard) and Chris Hicks (junior guard)

Hometowns: Maywood, Ill. (Proviso East) and Chicago, Ill. (Whitney Young)

Weber says: “Two guys that I think could be nice complimentary players for us in practice. This year we have more people, even our walk-ons are better. Chris Hicks, last year I’d stick him in and I felt sorry for him. After one possession I would say, ‘Get him out, he’s screwing it up again. This year he’s even older and more mature, so he can do some things and be competitive in practice.”

Brian Carlwell (freshman center)

Hometown: Maywood, Ill. (Proviso East)

Weber says: “He gives us something I don’t know that we’ve had; I don’t know if I’ve ever been around a guy that can block shots like him. He’s just huge, long, has a good knack of blocking shots. Some of his offensive skills, his hands, are going be things he has to improve to continue to get better.”

Calvin Brock (sophomore guard)

Hometown: Chicago, Ill. (Simeon)

Weber says: “He’s kind of been always the question and maybe a forgotten guy; I hope he can rise up. He’s older, more mature; he had a good summer, took care of business in the classroom, and I think on the court. He can slash, get out on the break. I think he can do some things that are different than our other guys. He’s got to show me that he’s mature and consistent in his effort.” and just in his lifestyle, and then if he does that then maybe he can get into that rotation.”

Steve Holdren (sophomore forward)

Hometown: Champaign, Ill. (Centennial)

Weber says: “Steve Holdren is recovering from the knee injury. He’s come along faster than (head trainer) Al Martindale had hoped. At the same time, he still has a long way to go. He will participate in practice and may have to sit out here and there just because the knee takes a toll on him.”

C.J. Jackson (redshirt freshman forward)

Hometown: Buena Vista, Ga. (Tri-County)

Weber says: “He’s made enormous progress. The problem that he’s had since he’s got here is just endurance, and keeping up with things. He basically failed every conditioning thing we did last year, from long-distance to explosion runs to on-the-court runs. This year I don’t know if he’s missed any. Now he can keep up with the game, he’s got the weight off, he’s had some nice moments in our workouts. I think he can be a rebounder, a screener here and there, be kind of garbage guy.” and get some of the baskets just because he has a big body.”

Marcus Arnold (senior forward)

Hometown: Chicago, Ill. (Morgan Park)

Weber says: “Marcus Arnold went on the (Big Ten foreign) trip to Australia. I did it for a confidence builder with the Big Ten All-Stars, and he was the leading scorer. Tommy Amaker and their staff just sang his praises and said that he was definitely the best player on the trip, most consistent. I hope that helps Marcus as we get into the year, because we could use some consistency from him.”

Rich McBride (senior guard)

Hometown: Springfield, Ill. (Lanphier)

Weber says: “He’s lost weight, he got through that hurdle. He came out the other day after practice bragging he’s down to 208, so that’s a positive. We still would like him to be (at) 205, somewhere in there and stay consistent; I think it’s better for him. Once he got through the ordeal, I think just the embarrassment, he was hanging his head, just normal human reactions of feeling bad, feeling sorry for yourself all those things. I think once he got through that he’s perked up, he’s been much more vocal, I think he’s shooting the ball with much better confidence, the weight, all those things have been positive steps for him. The bad part is he’s going to miss this stretch of games, but I hope him being a senior, it will be a little easier for him.”

Trent Meacham (redshirt sophomore guard)

Hometown: Champaign, Ill. (Centennial)

Weber says: “He has better bounce than I ever anticipated; he’s more of a combo guard, he can be a safe point guard for us. I think he’s different than Chester, can calm us down a little bit hopefully when Chester’s going too fast and we need to calm down. I would like him to become a little more confident, a little more cocky on the court. I love him as a kid; he’s just a nice kid, a kid you’d love your daughter to date, but on the basketball court I don’t want him to be nice. I want him to be a little bit ornery and cocky and if we can get him to do that, I think he could surprise some people.”

Chester Frazier – sophomore point guard

Height: 6’2″. Weight: 190. Hometown: Baltimore, Md. (Lake Clifton-Eastern)

Last season’s stats: 1.3 points per game, 1.7 rebounds per game, 13.4 minutes per game

Weber says: “There’s no doubt he has toughness, to play through the injury last year, but I need him to slow down, though, because the Krush is in (Assembly Hall). I fear for their life when he gets the ball and he’s coming up the court because you never know where the pass is going to go. We need him to slow down, have balance, play hard and be in a frenzy on defense, but just have a little more calmness to his offense.”

Shaun Pruitt – junior forward/center

Height: 6’10”. Weight: 245. Hometown: Aurora, Ill. (West Aurora)

Last season’s stats: 4.3 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 13.7 minutes per game

Weber says: “I thought he was one of the most improved players in the league last year. His body if you look at him…it’s amazing what he’s done over the last two years. I think he’s cut off weight, just matured and gotten stronger, quicker.”

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1. Josh Birnbaum The Daily Illini

Illinois’ Shaun Pruitt dribbles the ball past defenders during the annual Orange and Blue Scrimmage at Assembly Hall in Champaign on Friday, Oct. 27, 2006

2. Josh Birnbaum The Daily Illini

Illinois’ Chester Frazier gets ready to shoot over Trent Meacham during the annual Orange and Blue Scrimmage at Assembly Hall in Champaign on Friday, Oct. 27, 2006. Frazier led all scorers with 17 points.

3. Josh Birnbaum The Daily Illini

The Orange Krush cheer before the annual Orange and Blue Scrimmage at Assembly Hall in Champaign on Friday, Oct. 27, 2006.

4. Amelia Moore The Daily Illini

Warren Carter poses for a portrait during Media Day at the Ubben Basketball Center in Champaign.