Practice starts at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Illinois-Chicago coach Bob Hallberg wishes it had started at 3:30 p.m. . . . yesterday.
”This time of year kills you,” he said. ”The waiting. I`m ready to start having a relationship with the kids.”
Unfortunately for Hallberg, his coach-player relationships-13 scholarship players and a couple of walk-ons-have been reduced by one.
A crowded picture at center became a little less crowded this fall when 6-foot-9-inch, 220-pound senior center Ray Lester decided to, in Hallberg`s words, ”end his basketball career in favor of his academic one.” Hallberg said Lester is on schedule to graduate next spring.
Lester`s departure gives 6-8, 215-pound center Sean Buchanan, who lost his starting job to Lester, some breathing room. But he`ll get some competition from junior-college recruits David Lyle (6-5) and Eugene Witherspoon (6-8).