Against Quincy on Sunday, in Illinois’ second exhibition game, freshman D.J. Richardson scored 23 points and pushed the Illini out of a funk they’d been in all game. Not since Demetri McCamey against Indiana in the “Eric Gordon Game” have I seen a freshman put the team on his back and separate them from the opposition. Granted, McCamey’s performance was a bit more big-time, but it was still a great effort by Richardson and, perhaps, a sign of things to come.

That’s the obvious story.

After the Illini’s first exhibition game against Missouri Southern State, I was a wee bit concerned. The Lions pressed Illinois into 19 turnovers, an acceptable number given it was their first game, yet it was still concerning. That number didn’t tell the whole story.

Freshmen guards Richardson, Brandon Paul and Joseph Bertrand, in press situations when McCamey wasn’t on the floor, didn’t look good bringing the ball up the court. Sure, none of them were expected to play point guard this season, but were they our best options? McCamey can’t play the whole game. So as the game wore on, one question pulled at my attention:

Who is going to be the primary point guard when McCamey isn’t on the floor?

Enter Jeff Jordan.

Let me get this out of the way first — I’ve never been Jordan’s No. 1 fan. But I’ve had my reasons.

The Illini have struggled on offense the past two seasons, and Jordan doesn’t score. He doesn’t create much offense, but he’s a solid ballhandler and a good defender. He is, essentially, a more athletic Chester Frazier. Because of this, I never understood why head coach Bruce Weber would play Jordan and Frazier at the same time last year.

Reason No. 397 why Weber is an elite college coach and I am not.

When Jordan quit the team a few months ago, I thought it was because he realized his potential playing time would be significantly sliced into. But two exhibition games proved just how important of a piece he can be to this team.

Granted, Missouri Southern and Quincy played very different styles (one press, one primarily zone), but in the second exhibition game, the Illini only turned the ball over six times.

The styles had a great deal to do with that, but I believe Jordan did as well.

He played 19 minutes and handled the ball when McCamey was either on the bench or playing the two-guard, finishing with no points on four shots, four assists and no turnovers.

“(Jordan) gave us a little boost, he pushed the basketball and that’s what he’s been doing,” Weber said. “He’s smarter, older, he can give us some defense ... He’s never going to be a great scorer, but he can do some things that maybe some of our other guys can’t do.”

Exactly. We have plenty of offense now.

What we need is solid, smart ballhandling and ball-hawking defense. Jordan brings both in spades.

Jordan’s defense has been his strong suit in the past — though sometimes he plays guys too tight, making him more susceptible to get blown by — and it continues to be the case. Sure he was gassed late in the first half, but even after being away from the team for months, something tells me he’ll be in optimal shape in no time.

Then again, his genes aren’t that good, so who knows?

Other preseason observations

— Mike Davis has received a bit of negative attention for not making himself a primary option in the first two games — I don’t agree with the criticism. Davis is an established player on this team and an obvious talent; he knows that. In the Quincy game he only took four shots, an acceptable total only because it’s early in the season.

“I don’t think he always uses his tools,” Weber said of Davis. “He had a practice a couple days ago where he was the best player on the court, there was no doubt. Why don’t you do it every day?”

As I see it, he’s deferring to the guys who need shots and reps — Alex Legion, Richardson and Paul specifically — and will pick up production when it’s necessary. He’s too good not to.

— McCamey looks tremendous. He looks legitimately light, more athletic than ever, and I feel like he could play 41 minutes a game.

He controls the tempo of the game and is supremely confident, which hasn’t always been the case in his first two seasons.

An example of his new confidence: With about 10 minutes left in the second half, McCamey was inbounding the ball under Quincy’s basket. He lofted the pass over Mike Tisdale’s shoulder, putting Tisdale in a perfect post-up position. Tisdale took a tentative dribble and looked up to kick it back out, until McCamey rotated behind him and yelled, “Go to work! Go to work!” Tisdale hit a quick lefty hook two seconds later.

With McCamey on the floor, we’re a top-15 team; without him, we’re top-30.

Rich Mayor is a senior in Media. He can be reached at rmayor2@illinimedia.com.