CHAMPAIGN — D.J. Williams is regularly among the first Illini on the court for practice or games. And before he puts up any shots, he makes a beeline for the rack of basketballs, picks up two and goes through some ball-handling work, with both hands simultaneously.
That’s just one part of Williams’ regular preparation. It’s that work, though, that he credited for his breakthrough games last week against Rutgers and then-No. 5 Iowa — in which he set a career high in points both nights and a career high in rebounds against the Hawkeyes.
Consistency has been Williams’ biggest issue this season.