Quick, crisp start pleases Paul, Weber

If you didn't see the game, let me say one thing that would have stood out was Illinois' ball movement. It was a little like the Dee-Deron-Luther days with the ball whipping around the perimeter, then finding its way to open shooters. In the first half, Illinois had 14 assists on 18 made baskets.

Bruce Weber was really pleased, and that doesn't happen often. He's usually a pretty harsh critic, but he loved Illinois' energy and quick start, which got the crowd going. Weber said he was all over town on Friday and everywhere he went people were excited for the basketball season to begin. I'm guessing any of them who attended or saw the game were not disappointed. It was an encouraging start and a fun game to watch.

It also marked the first time in Weber's tenure that he has started two true freshmen in an opener. The last time more than one freshman started for Illinois in a season opener came in 2002 when Dee Brown, Deron Williams and James Augustine were in the lineup.

Tupper