Reports: Bertrand could redshirt

Illinois freshman guard Joseph Bertrand could redshirt this basketball season, according to online reports published Thursday by the Champaign News-Gazette and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Bertrand, a 2009 Sterling High School graduate, “continues to battle the effects of a knee injury that required surgery in September, and coach Bruce Weber said Thursday that redshirting is not out of the question,” wrote Post-Dispatch reporter Stu Durando on his “Eye on the Illini” Web log. Thursday was Big Ten media day in Chicago.

Bertrand underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on Sept. 11, four days after he injured it during a team workout. He was on the court for Illinois’ season-opening practice Oct. 16, and he played in the team’s Orange and Blue Scrimmage last Sunday.

However, Weber said last week that three freshmen would be part of his season-opening rotation. He named D.J Richardson, Brandon Paul and Tyler Griffey.

The Fighting Illini begin their exhibition season tonight against Missouri Southern, a Division II opponent. Bertrand can play in either of Illinois’ two exhibition games and still redshirt.

News-Gazette reporter John Klee wrote the following on his Illini HQ blog, quoting Weber:

“We’ll just have to see how [Bertrand] progresses over the next couple of weeks and then make a decision,” Weber said. “I know he does not want to redshirt. Most kids don’t.”

This Weber quote appeared on Durando’s blog:

“The defensive stuff is tough on him,” Weber said. “Late in practice he just kind of gives out. Or going hard, planting and jump-stopping to make a pass or go up and shoot it’s like he’s telling his body to do it but the knee doesn’t help.

“I said ‘Be patient. You’re fine. We’re happy with you.’ We think he has a good future with us.”