CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Injured guard Chester Frazier is a long shot to play in Illinois’ NCAA Tournament opener against Western Kentucky.
If the senior defensive workhorse does play Thursday, it’ll be a little – which coach Bruce Weber said he’d take against the Hilltoppers and their talented guards.
“I’ve said from the beginning that if we can have him even just a little bit, he’s such a good energy guy and a motivator,” Weber said Monday.
Frazier injured his right hand in practice last week and missed the Big Ten tournament last weekend after surgery Thursday. He and the Illini (24-9) have declined to say whether it’s broken.
Frazier, who has played through a number of injuries in his four seasons at Illinois, told reporters Sunday after the Illini were chosen as a fifth seed that the decision to play will be his.
“I’ll just have to be able to take a little pain. I’m ready for that – I’ve been playing through pain my whole career here,” he said, resting his heavily wrapped hand on his knee.
Virginia’s Leitao resigns
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Dave Leitao resigned Monday as Virginia’s men’s basketball coach after the team’s worst season in decades.
“Dave has been a respected colleague and a fine University representative in the local community during his tenure here,” athletic director Craig Littlepage said in a release from the school.
“He brought a great deal of leadership, discipline and integrity to his coaching responsibilities. I appreciate his hard work and dedication to athletics at the University of Virginia.”
Leitao will be paid about $2.1 million, Littlepage said.
The school said neither Leitao nor Littlepage would be available for additional comment.
Virginia finished 10-18 this season, 11th in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It was the Cavaliers’ worst record since they went 9-17 in 1967-68. Their season ended with a 76-63 loss to Boston College in the first round of the ACC tournament in a game that was never close.
Leitao won the ACC coach of the year award in 2007, when Virginia shared first place in the conference with North Carolina, but compiled a 63-60 record in his four years.