Jerrance Howard on Jereme Richmond

Before practice today, Richmond and assistant Jerrance Howard shot down the notion the freshman ever considered a transfer. ("That's crazy," Howard said.) Among the Illinois staffers, Howard is closest to Richmond. Watch before each tipoff, and you'll notice Howard and Richmond share a huge hug. Howard traveled to Waukegan when Richmond went home.

"Any time a kid is struggling you're worried about him. And I was there with him as well. So I went through it with him," Howard said today. "All the guys did a good job of supporting him and being there for him. I definitely was worried about him, not as a basketball player but just as a person and everything he's dealing with."

Klee