Illini like Richardson's intensity

It's risky to put too much on the shoulders of a freshman. But D.J. Richardson, Illinois' 6-3 guard from Peoria Central by way of a Nevada prep school, keeps tempting us to do that.

Even though he won't make his official debut until the Illini's opener against SIU-Edwardsville on Friday, Richardson upped the ante last weekend, when he led the Illini to an 84-63 exhibition victory over pesky Quincy with 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting, including eight consecutive points that gave Illinois some breathing room in what had been a 54-53 game with 10:04 left.

''He saved us,'' coach Bruce Weber said. ''He's a talented young man.''

And a mature one. The year away from home is one reason he's not looking as young as his freshman status would indicate.

''Prep school helped me a lot,'' said Richardson, who helped Findlay College Prep in suburban Las Vegas go 33-0 and win the high school national championship in an ESPN tournament. ''It was just like college. It helped me mature on and off the court. I feel like I'm a sophomore.''

At Findlay, Richardson learned to live on his own -- to balance an academic load and basketball -- and make sure his grades, which were in question, measured up.

Another reason Richardson is not your typical freshman is his innate desire to compete and play defense, to do all the little hustle things coaches love. That has impressed Weber, who's expected to start Richardson in a three-guard lineup with juniors Demetri McCamey and Alex Legion on the perimeter, joining Mike Davis at forward and Mike Tisdale at center.

''He just plays so hard,'' said Weber, who has challenged Richardson to replace the defensive intensity Chester Frazier provided. ''He really wants to guard. He does what we want him to do. If anyone can replace Chester, it's him.''

Richardson seems as proud of leading the Matto play-hard chart in Illinois' first exhibition game as he is of his scoring prowess in its second preseason game.

''That's a big goal,'' Richardson said of bringing Frazier's energy. ''And winning the Matto also is a big goal. My main goal is to provide energy, defense and help on scoring. Anyone can score. I want to show I'm capable of doing other things.''

Unlike some players, who bristle at a coach's cajoling, Richardson is soaking up Weber's straightforward appraisals.

''Coach Weber is tough on me, but he's tough on everybody,'' Richardson said. ''I like doing what he says. I'm learning from everything he tells me.''

That kind of attitude is paying another dividend: By trying to win every sprint, every scrimmage, every little tiddlywinks match, Richardson and fellow freshmen Brandon Paul, Joseph Bertrand and Tyler Griffey are pushing the upperclassmen, especially McCamey.

''That's one of the best things about the freshmen,'' Weber said. ''They pushed Demetri in conditioning. I keep telling him, 'You should win, Demetri. Don't be last.' Before, he just kind of went through the motions. Now he realizes that's what he has to do to become a dominant player.''

Since it became clear that Richardson, Paul and Bertrand were coming to Champaign together, people have been drawing comparisons to the 2005 Final Four trio of Deron Williams, Dee Brown and Luther Head.

The lingering effects of knee surgery this fall could mean a redshirt for Bertrand, but Paul figures to be a key contributor.

''I've been hearing that comparison since we committed here,'' said Richardson, who knows that's easier said than done. ''We just have to make sure we go out and perform if we want to live up to that. Our key is to perform.''

When Richardson says things like that, he reinforces the feeling that he's the rare precocious freshman who has things figured out.