It hasn't been a particularly good season in Champaign. The Fighting Illini are 3-10 in the Big Ten and, unless they have a miracle run in the conference tournament, poised to snap an eight-year run of dancing. Those are just on-court problems, though, which pale in comparison to the situation the team found themselves at this time last year. That was when Jamar Smith drunkenly crashed his car, drove home and left injured teammate Brian Carlwell inside because he was dead.
Thankfully he wasn't and came back to play this year (Smith is quite rightfully suspended) before injuring his knee in November. He hasn't played since then and today ended his tenure at the school. He'll finish the semester before looking to transfer somewhere else.
"I am going to miss these guys, but I feel this decision is what is right for me at this time. I want to show my teammates the same support that they've given me, so I will continue to come to Assembly Hall and cheer them on as I finish the semester in good academic standing."
You can't blame the guy for wanting a fresh start. He deserves to enjoy and embrace his time in college, something he'd never get to do as the guy who almost died in Jamar Smith's car. It also gives the Illini a chance to put the incident further behind them, especially if they tell Smith to find another school before next season.
The Illini have a big game tomorrow against Arizona. Not only are they playing a ranked team, but they're doing so at the United Center in front of a national television audience on ESPN.
For those who tune into the game, and are familiar with the Illini, you may not recognize a few players on the court. That's because backup center Brian Carlwell injured his knee in practice this week,(No truth to the rumor that Jamar Smith got drunk and drove into it.) and is going to be out for three to five weeks.
[Bruce] Weber is preparing to face No. 22 Arizona on Saturday at the United Center without starting center Shaun Pruitt, who sprained an ankle in practice Sunday. Even if the senior from Aurora can play, it's unlikely to be his usual 30-plus minutes.
"It may end up being a game-time decision depending on how much progress he makes over the next two days," Weber said Thursday.
"He has lost a little mobility. [One day this week] he was in treatment three times. I don't think he'll be perfect for another week, but at least he can be involved minute-wise."
If Pruitt can't go on Saturday, freshman Mike Tisdale will be making the first start of his young college career. Tisdale is a 7'1 center who's averaged 3.7 points per game this season while playing eleven minutes a game. Obviously, he's going to need to perform far above that if the Illini are to have a shot at beating Arizona.
Illinois basketball player Jamar Smith has been charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident, both felonies, a week after crashing his car and seriously injuring teammate Brian Carlwell. Smith had a blood-alcohol level of .176 the night of Feb. 12.
Smith drove his badly damaged car home and, stunningly, went into his apartment, leaving his unconscious teammate stuck in the car. Neighbors called 911; Smith -- contrary to a university spokesman's previous claims -- did not.
Illinois has already announced that Smith will miss the rest of the season, and Carlwell will likely miss the rest of the season despite the swift recovery he has made from the concussion he suffered in the crash.
Give Illinois coach Bruce Weber a lot of credit for the way he has his team playing. Not just their ability to win a game after a stressful week, but the way they won the game: Illinois has won six of its last nine, and in the six wins, the most any opponent scored was 52 points. Most fans don't enjoy games like that, but Weber does.
At halftime of the game, the Illinois mascot, Chief Illiniwek, performed for the next-to-last time. The university's capitulation to the NCAA on that issue means the school will be permitted to host an NIT game. But Illinois is still thinking Big Dance, and it's still a realistic possibility.
"It has been mutually agreed upon between myself and Jamar Smith and his family, that he sit out the remainder of this season so that he can focus all of his attention on the physical, emotional, academic and other related issues he will face in the coming weeks. As I said Wednesday, this is a very difficult time for Jamar. Our coaches, players and program will continue to support him as he deals with this situation."
Smith has already been cited for a minor traffic violation but could face much more serious charges. He drove home after the crash and went into his apartment, leaving Carlwell in his car. Smith did not call police.
The Illini are mostly concerned about the health of Carlwell, who will most likely not play again this year even though he is making a swift recovery after being listed in critical condition as recently as Tuesday. But the loss of Smith, a reserve guard who averages 8.1 points per game, makes the Illini's already slim hopes of making the NCAA Tournament even more remote.
Illinois basketball player Brian Carlwell is expected to leave the hospital today, making a quick recovery from the serious head injury he sustained in a car crash this week. He might even sit on the bench when the Illini take the floor again on Sunday against Northwestern, the Chicago Sun-Times reports:
"That would be a great step for him,'' [a university spokesman] said, adding that it's even possible Carlwell might return to the court this season. ''I don't think anybody's expecting that. People shouldn't get their hopes up that he'll be back this season. He still has a ways to go, but he's doing well.''
Teammate Jamar Smith, who was driving the car, has left campus. He has been cited for improper lane usage and could face additional charges, although police say the investigation could take two weeks or more. As we reported Wednesday, questions are being asked about why it was a neighbor -- not Smith -- who alerted police. The Sun-Times says Smith is "tacitly suspended from the team," which would seem to indicate that coach Bruce Weber thinks this was more than a case of a car spinning out of control in a blizzard.
But there's also an increasingly disturbing part of this. The car was driven by Carlwell's teammate, Jamar Smith, and today reports say that Smith drove his badly damaged car home after the crash and went into his apartment, leaving the critically injured Carlwell in the car. It was only when one of Smith's neighbors called police that rescue workers arrived to pull Carlwell out and rush him to the hospital.
When I first heard about this crash, I assumed it was caused by the horrible blizzard we've been having here in Illinois. But clearly, things don't add up now. What possible reason could Smith have to drive off? Smith has already been charged with improper lane usage, and it sounds as though he'll face additional charges.
Illinois basketball player Brian Carlwell is in critical condition after being involved in a car accident while he was a passenger in a car driven by teammate Jamar Smith (pictured) late last night. His injury is described as a "severe concussion."
Illinois coach Bruce Weber spent the night in the hospital with Carlwell. So did Illinois basketball trainer Al Martindale.
"We just hope and pray Brian is going to be OK," Weber said....
For unknown reasons, Smith's car crossed the center line and struck a tree on the west side of the street at 2021 S. First St.. she said.
"The accident is still under investigation," Horsman said. "We're trying to determine why he crossed the street and struck a tree."
Smith was treated at a local hospital and released. No further information is available about the long-term prognosis for Carlwell, a reserve who averages 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds a game.
It hasn't been a particularly good season in Champaign. The Fighting Illini are 3-10 in the Big Ten and, unless they have a miracle run in the conference tournament, poised to snap an eight-year run of dancing. Those are just on-court problems, though, which pale in comparison to the situation the team found themselves at this time last year. That was when Jamar Smith drunkenly crashed his car, drove home and left injured teammate Brian Carlwell inside because he was dead. 
The Illini have a big game tomorrow against Arizona. Not only are they playing a ranked team, but they're doing so at the United Center in front of a national television audience on ESPN.
Illinois basketball player 
If you like scoring, Illinois' 48-37 win over Northwestern today wasn't the game for you. But it was an impressive performance for the Illini after a tumultuous week that saw them lose one player, 
Illinois basketball player Jamar Smith will miss the rest of the season after crashing his car and seriously injuring teammate Brian Carlwell this week. 
