Like father, like son: Illini forward Cole has frustrating first season
Bill Cole's basketball career at Illinois didn't get off to a fast start. Perhaps it's just another of example of history repeating itself.
The Illini posted a 3-7-1 record in football in the fall of 1980 during Terry Cole's freshman season as a defensive end. Twenty-seven years later, his son is working through a rookie season that never got off the ground. Cole knows his father's career ended with four varsity letters, an undefeated Big Ten Conference championship in 1983 and a trip to the Rose Bowl.
"The lesson learned is that most championship teams have gone through a little adversity along the line,'' Terry Cole said. "Especially with this group of freshmen, it gives them a chip on their shoulder to provide motivation to work hard.
"I try to share that with him. This freshman class, they need to look at it from that perspective.''
When Illinois meets Iowa today in a Big Ten road game, Cole, a former Peoria Richwoods first-team all-state selection and a two-time Peoria Journal Star player of the year, will sit the bench. The 6-foot-9, 214-pounder will miss the final 10 games of the regular season and the Big Ten tournament with a leg injury. After a strong preseason when Cole was mentioned as a possible starter for the season opener, he averaged 2.3 points in 6.8 minutes while playing in 12 games.
"In hindsight, you wished you would have just redshirted him sometimes,'' said Illinois coach Bruce Weber. "I'm sure with what happened with the season and what he's gone through, I would be thinking, 'Man, it would have been better to have the year in reserve, learn from it and get better.' ''
Possibly learning from his father's example, Cole planned on showing his versatility next season rather than worrying about whether he should have redshirted this winter.
"I made the decision that I was definitely ready to play,'' Cole said. "I gained a lot of valuable experience. It's so much different on the court than if you're just watching. Next year when I come back, it won't be like I'm some freshman who's never been out there. I know the drill. I know how to play.
"I see where (the coaches) are coming from. Of course, they want to have me another year, having five years of experience instead of losing one to 12 games. The experience will be just as handy next year. That's my point of view.''
Cole showed promise early, finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds in the exhibition opener against Division II Quincy when Weber debated on whether to redshirt any of his freshmen. Cole averaged 19 points as a Richwoods senior, and his versatility -- he played both forward positions and spent time briefly at shooting guard this winter -- is his strength.
Besides his shooting and passing skills, Weber said, Cole has a "pretty good head for the game and a good feel.''
Limited to light shooting drills on the court because of the injury, Cole has already gained six pounds of muscle in the weight room. Cole's season ended when he suffered stress syndrome, the beginning stages of a stress fracture.
A crack in the bone hadn't yet formed in his right leg, and Cole hoped to return for individual workouts this spring. Had he suffered a fracture, he would have undergone surgery and likely been out into the summer. He apparently is a game or two past the cutoff for a medical redshirt, Weber said, but the school will investigate the appeal process this spring.
"There's no doubt that he doesn't have the type of body where he'll be a big, bulky guy,'' Weber said. "He's got to get as strong as he can, be in the best condition and use his God-given abilities.''
Cole also suffered a dislocated shoulder in practice prior to the exhibition tour to Canada over Labor Day weekend.
"There are people who get injured all the time,'' Cole said. "I'm not one of those people.''
Cole enrolled in the College of Business and planned to share an apartment next season with Illini freshman forward Mike Davis. The rumor spreading through Cole's hometown that he planned to transfer has no merit, his father said.
"Bill's goal is to be all-Big Ten next year,'' Terry Cole said. "I think they've got a fantastic class. With the sophomores and juniors returning, he's excited about his career at Illinois.''
Not even a slow start can harm Cole's confidence after the slow start. It just goes to show like father, like son.
John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com <http://www.sj-r.com> .
Illinois (11-17, 3-12) vs. Iowa (12-17, 5-11)
5 p.m., Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa (Big Ten Network, Illini Sports Network)
ILLINOIS (11-17, 3-12) ppg rpg
F Rodney Alexander Jr. 6-7 4.9 3.2
C Shaun Pruitt Sr. 6-10 12.4 7.1
G Demetri McCamey Fr. 6-3 7.8 2.8
G Trent Meacham Jr. 6-2 10.6 2.3
G Chester Frazier Jr. 6-2 4.9 5.2
IOWA (12-17, 5-11)
F Cyrus Tate Jr. 6-8 8.0 5.0
C Seth Gorney Sr. 6-10 4.4 5.2
G Tony Freeman Jr. 6-1 13.7 3.2
G Justin Johnson Sr. 6-6 12.2 4.8
G Jake Kelly Fr. 6-6 6.8 1.9
Noteworthy: Illinois carries a three-game losing streak. The Illini tie a school record for losses in a single season with another defeat. . . Illinois leads the all-time series 74-66 over Iowa after winning eight of the last 11 meetings. Illinois hasn't won at Carver-Hawkeye since 2005. . . Illinois senior Brian Randle (shoulder) is out. . . For the 10th time this season, Illinois was unable to hold onto a second-half lead in falling to Michigan 49-43 last Saturday in Ann Arbor. . . Iowa blew a 12-point lead in a 65-64 loss at Penn State Wednesday. . . Tate earned Big Ten player of the week after averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds last week. . .
Key for Illini: Play with some emotion that's not been evident in their last two losses.
Key for Hawkeyes: Win with defense. Iowa ranks last in the Big Ten in scoring offense (56.3 points per game) and second in scoring defense (58).
Key quote: "Our game Saturday might be first team to 40 (wins).'' -- Illinois coach Bruce Weber.
Betting line:
Prediction: Iowa 52, Illinois 50