Tisdale steps it up for Weber, Illini

Freshman forward Mike Tisdale made a 24-hour commitment this fall when Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber challenged him over being ready to play this winter.

The former Riverton High School star from just outside of Springfield, Tisdale endured a 6,000-calorie-a-day diet and became a team leader in the preseason conditioning. He appeared for extra work in the weight room and basketball gym. During his free time, Tisdale rarely left the Ubben Basketball Complex. In that recent hot spell, Tisdale even slept overnight on a couch near the Illini locker room.