Randle's frustrating Illini career nears end

Right arm in a sling, Brian Randle walked into the Illinois basketball office two weeks ago and braced for a conversation he's had many times before.

But this time, there wasn't much left to say. The college basketball career of the fifth-year senior from East Peoria appeared to be over.

"I talked to Coach (Bruce) Weber, but all we could do is just joke," Randle said. "He just looked at me and said 'I guess it's kind of fitting, right?' "

Fitting, because Randle has been labeled as injury-prone since his fabulous-but-fragile days at Peoria Notre Dame High School. Four major and several minor injuries in five seasons in the Big Ten has only reinforced the label. And after running into a hard screen set by Wisconsin's Greg Stiemsma on Feb. 20, Randle came away with a separated right shoulder and a likely end to his career.

'It was dislocated immediately," he said of the latest setback in his orange-and-black-and-blue career. "I had a pretty good feeling I was done."

But Randle isn't necessarily done. He's a long shot to play a few minutes against Minnesota on Senior Day this Saturday, and could see some action in the Big Ten tournament.

Flashes of greatness

For five years, Illinois basketball fans have been waiting to see what happens with perhaps the most athletic recruit the program ever has had.

"Such high hopes," Weber said of Randle, without even being asked a question. "Glimmers, highlights of dunking and blocked shots. But yet the consistency of producing has just not been there.

"You become a better basketball player in the spring, summer and fall. Of the eight or so he's had, he's only been (healthy) for maybe two. He's never had the chance to really make progress, skill wise.

"The athleticism is there. Strength is there, so you feel bad and frustrated for him. Any kid who has gone through the major surgeries he's had .... Well, you just feel bad for him."

Randle has played in 115 games for Illinois, starting 91. Both those numbers rank in the school's top 20. But counting tonight's home game against Michigan State, he also has missed 55 games and played through pain in countless others.

Three times he's made ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the Day for his high-flying dunks. He's been named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team. A Wooden Award candidate.

This is the conflicted career of the athletic wing-forward, who at 6-foot-8, 220 pounds, is the prototype size for his position in the NBA.

Handling the haters

As if the internal stress of dealing with his near-constant state of injury wasn't enough, Randle admitted that it's been hard to handle the reaction he's received from some fans.

"He's been criticized so much," Weber said. "That's the bad part, the negative. The fans."

Still, Randle says the criticism he's heard from the media and the fans at one point seriously dented his psyche.

"There were times when I felt if I didn't make it, I was letting people down," he said. "The city of Peoria, the young kids that might look up to me, the fans here at Illinois. And if I didn't make it, I was a failure and my life was nothing. I did feel that at one point.

"But that's stupid," Randle said, the closest he came to saying a terse word during a two-hour interview. "It's asinine to think I need to please anybody but myself and God.

"I'm playing for an audience of one. People can hate it or love it, but it's not about them."

What's next?

Last May, Randle received a bachelor's degree in agricultural finance, and is now in a graduate program studying sports management. He could complete his master's degree by July if he stays on campus, but also could finish by correspondence if he decides to pursue professional basketball this year.

"I don't know what the future holds, but I'd like to keep playing," he said.

Weber discussed a series of tests the NBA performs at its pre-draft camps, drills designed to measure a player's quickness, agility, strength, etc. He said his program puts its players through those same tests two or three times a year.

"Brian, last year, his tests scores would have been No. 1 of anyone at the pre-draft camp coming out," Weber said. "He has that ability, but the jump shot, the feel of the game, those are things he lacks. But can he get those and stay healthy along the way? Right now, the way it is, he'll have to fight his way through Europe, the (NBDL) the CBA or something like that to have a chance (at the NBA)."

This is a fact of life Randle is ready to accept. He's willing to go to Europe, Japan, Australia, wherever, in pursuit of a professional career.

As difficult as the past few years have been, Randle says those struggles have given him the perspective necessary to balance school, basketball, family and friendships.

"I'm happy, I know that much," he said. "Regardless of how this season finishes, I have a lot of peace in my heart. It's been a great career."

Greg Stewart can be reached at gstewart@pjstar.com.