Chester Frazier looks to make impact on Illini even though he can't coach

In his role as Illinois graduate assistant/video coordinator, former Illini guard Chester Frazier can't coach on the floor.

That's OK with Frazier and Illini coach Bruce Weber. Frazier might do his best work with the team behind closed doors, when he's trying to get the point across from the coaching staff to a roster that remembers him as the team's hard-working MVP in 2009.

"He was a player with these guys,'' Weber said. "They respect him. He's somebody who has a great relationship with them and can talk to them. Back in the rooms, on the phone, through texts and in the hotels, he can say some things that's coming from a little different viewpoint, because of their respect they have for him.''

The university announced the addition of Frazier to the coaching staff Tuesday. Looking back, it was a move Frazier should have accepted prior to last season, he said, when he chose to spend a year playing professionally in Germany rather than serving as a student assistant coach.

Frazier felt some guilt after watching the Illini struggle last season and fail to reach the NCAA tournament. He often stayed up and watched Illinois games on TV from his German apartment, and Frazier talked once a week with Weber. Frazier already contributed this summer around the players, before he assumed the postion. Freshman Jereme Richmond said Frazier drove him to morning class.

"I told coach that I wish I would have stayed,'' Frazier said. "I got to stay in their ear right now, talk to a few of them and see where their mindset is, alter some of their attitudes in the way they approach the game and the preparation for the game.''

Frazier, 24, will edit video and likely push his former teammates to watch more tape of themselves and their opponents. That was a key to Frazier's success.

An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection and team MVP as a senior, he led the Big Ten with an average of 5.3 assists and compiled a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. Frazier averaged 5.7 points and was one of the best rebounding point guards nationally by averaging 4.8 per game. Frazier decided to retire as a player, Weber said, because his body was wearing out.

Frazier called it "a big transition'' by "hanging up my sneaks,'' but doing it at Illinois makes it easier.

"It was a big change for me coming from the inner city,'' he said. "Things slowed down for me. I like it, not having to worry about things (like) crime. I couldn't picture starting anywhere but here. I love it here. The coaching staff, everything is familiar. This is the best transition I could have had.''

Frazier has a bachelor's degree in recreation management. He enrolled in the master's degree program in educational policy studies.

WORKOUTS: Illinois began workouts Tuesday at the Ubben Basketball Complex, a quicker start to the season than normal. And, perhaps surprisingly, it came because of a request from the players.

"When we met at the end of the summer, the older guys said, 'We want to be successful and be a champion.' We think we could get going right away,' '' Weber said. "They're hungry for it, and they want it.''

The players had roughly 25 days off from the end of the summer semester until Tuesday's workout. The Illini will practice twice this week in groups of four and also hit the weights twice. Next week, they will add another session. The workout schedule gets busier after Labor Day.

WALK-ON: Point guard Kevin Berardini, who redshirted last season as a freshman walk-on at Loyola-Marymount because of a blood disorder, has joined the Illini as a preferred walk-on. Berardini, a graduate of Lake Forest and a former teammate of Michigan sharpshooter Matt Vogrich, jumped on the opening created when Jeff Jordan transferred to Central Florida.

"I'm excited to do what I can do to make these guys better,'' Berardini said.

His brother Nick was a walk-on at Missouri.

"His family has a feel of what it's about,'' Weber said. "It gives us a 12th guy. We'll still be looking for one more (walk-on) or two.''

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.