Illinois coach Bruce Weber said Wednesday he understands why fans have been frustrated with the program in recent years.

Weber acknowledged the Illini's narrow defeats have been taxing on everyone, including himself.

"It's hard," said Weber, whose Illini play No. 23 Indiana on Thursday in Bloomington, Ind. "The hardest part is probably we've been so close over the last three seasons. I think that takes a toll on everybody. When you have 17, 18 games that have come by 10 or less points, the last eight have been under five, so it's heart-wrenching. It's heart-wrenching for me. It's heart-wrenching for fans.

Scott Powers