Box Score Dec 6, 2003
Box Score
By JASON STRAIT
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO- Deron Williams sat front and center, not looking at all comfortable as he answered questions after another standout performance for Illinois.
He better get used to the attention.
The sophomore guard had 17 points and 10 assists as No. 11 Illinois rebounded from its first loss of the season with an 84-61 victory over Arkansas on Saturday.
"Deron has slowly but surely become the leader. He does it more quietly," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "Somebody asked me the other day if he's our MVP. Thus far, he would be."
That guy was supposed to be Dee Brown, the flashy guard who was selected preseason player of the year in the Big Ten. But Brown has struggled to adjust to Weber's system, while Williams has thrived.
Williams, who had a career-high 22 points in the loss to North Carolina, left the game with five minutes to go and Illinois (4-1) leading by 27 points. He was greeted by a loud ovation from the partisan crowd that made the short drive up from Champaign, Ill.
Weber said Williams is a quick study, mastering his offense faster than any other player since he arrived from Southern Illinois. Weber replaced coach Bill Self, who left for Kansas.
"We can draw something up and Deron, he knows all the positions. Some of our guys can't even figure out what they're supposed to do and he'll be telling other guys what to do," Weber said. "Hopefully it drifts over to other guys and they pick up his mentality."
Sophomore James Augustine had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Illini, who took better care of the ball after turning it over 14 times in the first half against the Tar Heels.
Illinois committed just 13 turnovers for the game and forced Arkansas (4-1) into 21 turnovers that lead to 25 points.
The Illini led by 15 at halftime and scored three straight baskets to open the second half. Nick Smith hit a jumper, Williams caught a lob underneath the basket for a reverse layup, and then made a nice pass to set up Roger Powell to extend the lead to 21.
One of the big questions facing Illinois this season was who would step in for departed center Brian Cook, now with the Los Angeles Lakers. For now, the answer has been Williams.
"I'm pretty confident," he said. "Last year we relied a lot on Brian Cook and my focus was to get him the ball. With him gone, I've got to take some of the scoring load."
Arkansas shot just 33 percent and trailed by at least 20 points for most of the second half. The Razorbacks, under second-year coach Stan Heath, were off to their best start in five years.
Jonathan Modica led Arkansas with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting, and freshman Ronnie Brewer and Olu Famutimi each had 11.
"The game was decided early. We seemed a little star-struck early on with this being our first road game," Heath said. "We'll learn from this experience."
Brown's 3-pointer capped a 10-0 run that gave Illinois a 14-point lead in the first half. They were Brown's only points of the half as the sophomore guard's struggles continued.
Brown, coming off one of the worst games of his career, had 13 points but was just 4-of-12 from the field. At times he looked lost in Weber's offense, though Brown said the change of coaches isn't what has been bothering him on the court.
"Right now I'm just not shooting the ball well. I'm just going to continue to have confidence and continue to play and hopefully my guys will keep picking me up," he said. "I've still got the same role - just provide energy for my team."
Illinois is 22-6 and has won nine straight at the United Center, about a two-hour drive from its campus.
