Frazier urged coaches to press

"After we lost the last game on the road I suggested we do a press and try to speed teams up on the road," Frazier said. "They didn't listen to me then. But tonight coach McClain said maybe let's try it. We tried it and it worked. We kind of threw it together. Put a man on the ball, trap the first pass, take away the next pass. It was kind of like that."

Assistant coach Wayne McClain drew up the press that was so effective on a moment's notice and was given most of the praise. Northwestern looked flustered and it's no wonder. Watch the Illini on film and you don't find them pressing -- ever. Ask Mike Davis how much they practice the press and he's got a quick answer: "None." But he backed up Frazier's story.

"Chester told Coach, 'Let's try a little press,' and we got turnovers and it got us back in the game," Davis said. "But we don't practice it really."

Durando