Abrams' new mindset leads to career day

Something changed in Illinois sophomore point guard Tracy Abrams from the time he went home for Christmas to when he returned to campus this week.

In the few days of practice leading up to Saturday's game against Auburn, Illinois coach John Groce began to see Abrams play with a different speed and mentality than he ever did.

"Have you ever read the book '[212] degrees'?" Groce asked Saturday. "It's when water boils. All of a sudden two days ago, it started boiling for him."

Scott Powers