State of desperation  Illinois' Bruce Weber can't land quality
in-state players, and it could cost him his job  Updated:
February 17, 2012, 9:41 AM ET By Melissa Isaacson |  CHICAGO --
It isn't quite a death spiral Bruce Weber finds himself in, but
it is a spiral nonetheless, and it got the attention of everyone
in and around the program Wednesday night.  [+] EnlargeBruce
Weber Dennis Wierzbicki/US PresswireBruce Weber took the Illini
to the championship game in his second season, but he's missed
the NCAA tournament in two out of the past four seasons.
"Instead of creating toughness and developing a team, I coached
not to lose this year," Weber said following the Illini's 67-62
home loss to Purdue, their fourth consecutive loss and seventh
in the past eight games. "That's really sad."  He sounded
defeated and resigned to losing the job he has had for nine
seasons, so much so that he decided to issue a statement
Thursday to clarify.  "I spoke out of frustration following
another difficult loss," Weber's state