Few sees little wrong with Illini

INDIANAPOLIS – Gonzaga coach Mark Few was asked to assess Illinois’ fifth-ranked men’s basketball team Saturday afternoon, just moments after the Fighting Illini had humbled his 24th-ranked Bulldogs 89-72 in the first game of the Wooden Tradition doubleheader at Conseco Fieldhouse.

“I don’t think they have any weaknesses at all,” he said. “I’d be worried about the mole on Cindy Crawford’s face if I picked something out.”

Which means Few found very little not to like about the Big 10 Conference’s reigning regular-season champions, who have all five starters back from last year’s 26-7 team.

And with good reason – especially on a day when the Illini shut down GU scoring leader Ronny Turiaf and forced a young Bulldogs team to act its age.

UI (4-0) exploited every defensive shortcoming the Zags (3-1) have, a labor-intensive task in itself, by raining down 3-pointers with nary an outstretched arm in sight. The Illini tied a school record by draining 14 of 28 3-point tries and set or equaled seven Wooden Tradition marks in dismantling the Zags.

But it was on the defensive end of the court where they made their loudest statement. They held Turiaf, the Bulldogs’ 6-foot-10 senior forward, to a mere 12 points.

Using the backcourt quickness of Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Luther Head, Illinois repeatedly forced GU to start its offense well beyond the 3-point line and contested every dribble, pass and catch. It seemed, at times, like the Bulldogs were making their post entry passes into a pitch-back net, with most being either returned to sender or batted downcourt where they were turned into easy run-out baskets by Illinois.

“Portland State and Idaho did the same things to us,” said sophomore forward Adam Morrison, who finished with a career-high 26 points for the Zags. “But Illinois just took it to another level.”

The Illini raced to an early 18-4 lead and subdued Turiaf, who came in averaging 31 points a game, by muscling the Zags’ big man away from the basket, double-teaming him on those rare occasions when he did get the ball down low and then limiting his outlet options.

“They’re very aggressive with how they shoot the lanes outside of their double-team,” Few said. “And our young guys don’t understand what spots they need to get to so Ronny can consistently find them.”

Turiaf made just four of 10 basket tries and turned the ball over six times.

“Our guys did a real nice job on Turiaf,” second-year Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. “He didn’t know who was coming (on the double team) or when they were coming … and once we got a couple of deflections – even when he had people open – he hesitated, and it really disrupted their flow.”

Few, when asked what Turiaf’s problem was, said, “Playing with young guys that don’t know what they’re doing.”

In any event, the Bulldogs have some major issues they must tend to prior to Wednesday’s 5 p.m. non-conference showdown with cross-state rival Washington at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

And Weber seems confident they will.

“Mark’s got his head down right now,” he said, “but they’re still going to win 23-25 games.”

Added Turiaf: “I’m sorry I let my team down tonight, but that won’t happen again – I guarantee you that.”