Bruce Weber doesn't want pity party

Beleaguered Illinois coach Bruce Weber, whose team's fifth consecutive loss on Saturday was punctuated by one of his players shedding tears on the bench, tried to rally his troops Monday by challenging them not to feel sorry for him or for themselves.

"I can't have my own pity party," Weber said. "They can't have it. There's no sympathy from anyone. Obviously, you guys know it. It's out there. If we keep feeling sorry for ourselves, we're going to let the season slip by. We have to man up. Tough times stop; tough people don't.

"I told all the guys I don't want any more tears until the end of the season. We just got to play."

Scott Powers