Posted: 12/13/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Aaron Facemire, The Daily Illini Shaun Pruitt, 55, and Brian Randle, 42, rebound the ball in the game against Michigan at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. Illinois lost 71-61.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Plagued by injuries, a suspension and lack of experience, Illinois and Bruce Weber have tried not to make excuses for some of their early season losses. The Illini have faced limited practice time and many of their players are still not at 100 percent, but in the eyes of Weber, those factors are uncontrollable. Playing the game with passion is something the Illini can control, and Weber didn't see any from Illinois as it fell to Michigan 71-61 in both teams' Big Ten-opener Wednesday night.

"I don't understand why we don't play with a passion," Weber said. "We take the lead 41-40 (early in the second half), and I have to yell about defensively having energy and that baffles me."

With 15:03 to play in the second half, the Illini (12-4, 0-1) took the 41-40 lead off a Chester Frazier (11 points) three-pointer. It seemed as if Illinois was in position to make a run, but the Illini went cold from the field. The Wolverines (13-3, 1-0) reeled off 13 unanswered points before a pair of Jamar Smith free throws ended the drought with 9:27 to play. Illinois found itself down 53-43 and was never able to cut the lead to less than four points.

Following the game, Weber couldn't blame the loss on Illinois' 37.7 percent (20-of-53) shooting from the field; he instead pointed to poor defense and the Wolverine's 37-26 rebounding advantage.

"We just don't guard; they were shooting 70 percent late in the second half, (and) 59 (percent) for the half," Weber said. "They drive in the corner and get dunks and no one is there; no one helps.

"This was disappointing."

Sophomore guard Smith returned to the starting lineup and led the Illini with 17 points (6-of-14 shooting), to go along with four rebounds and two assists; Warren Carter added 14 points (5-of-11 shooting), eight rebounds and three assists. Dion Harris (22 points) and Lester Abram (25 points) led the way for the Wolverines.

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