Illini On The Rise

But there are no corks popping in Champaign yet over Henson's best and. easily, most fun-to-watch team. Locals are having trouble figuring out how this could possibly be the same gang that couldn't shoot straight last season, the same Illinois that habitually bombs out of the NCAA tournament.

Henson coached New Mexico State to the Final Four in 1970 but has not made it there in his 13 years at Illinois. Stunning tournament upset losses to Austin Peay in 1987 and Villanova last season have branded Henson as a loser of the big ones.

Even with his 519-victory record (sixth highest among active coaches), Henson gets no respect. After Illinois won the Rainbow Classic in December, the flight attendant en route home from Hawaii used the P.A. system to congratulate "coach Lou Herman."

"You know," reserve forward Ervin Small announced to the team, "Pee Wee's father."

Last year Illinois shot a Big Ten-basement .667 from the foul line and .279 from the three-point arc. That's fairly disgusting. That's also where hard work in the summertime came in. Gill, with trifecta responsibility, worked on strengthening his wrists and can now flick the ball rather than arm-shoot it.

The arrival of Liberty, the Chicago high school near-legend, also had its effect. Liberty, who was ineligible last season under Proposition 48, is, explains Battle, "the type of player whose existence challenges us to play harder. It's all about concentration. We're older, seasoned, and much more confident."

For his part, Liberty has struggled in the Illini's seven-man starting rotation—not one of them has played more than 27 minutes a game in a remarkably balanced attack—but the sophomore still boasts scoring and rebounding averages of 10.5 and 4.6, respectively, and he contributed a trio of big baskets against Michigan.

There are hopes in Champaign, not to mention Urbana, that these Illini really are tougher, gutsier, different. On Dec. 19, they came from 18 points behind to beat a solid Missouri team in St. Louis. At the Rainbow Classic they whipped dangerous Georgia Tech and Hawaii. They press and attack the offensive boards. And they're shooting .537, among the best in the land.

Illinois may even wind up surprising Henson. "I slapped five with these fellas before one game, and it was like pieces of iron. I've got to talk to them about that. They're gonna break somebody's arm."

Better that than the heart of Champaign/Urbana. Again.