Injuries piling up for Illini

While Illinois coach Bruce Weber called another long break without a game “tough to swallow,” the team could use a little time to rest.

Weber revealed on Monday’s Big Ten coaches teleconference that center Meyers Leonard played Sunday against Wisconsin with an ankle sprain. He had hurt his ankle while lifting weights on Friday.

Shooting guard D.J. Richardson is still battling a wrist injury but Weber said he is also dealing with a knee injuring. And point guard Sam Maniscalco is continually hampered by his lingering ankle problem.

“Now we have another week off, which is tough to swallow,” Weber said. “The schedule is what it is. You have to go to Minnesota (on Saturday). They’ve picked it up and played well.”

Call on the
Bertrand call

Illinois has contacted the Big Ten head of officials about the flagrant foul against Joseph Bertrand at Penn State. Bertrand was trying to hold onto the ball under the basket while a Penn State player tried to wrestle it away and officials deemed he used an elbow.

“They put a rule in that you want to protect the kids,” Weber said. “You want to eliminate the head injuries. You can’t have it where the officials feel like they’re being held accountable on everything. ... Our view of it is it’s a jump ball. Our kid just held onto the ball. I did not see an elbow, maybe a forearm to the face.”