Illinois Will Continue To Treat Terrence Shannon Situation With "Sensitivity"

Illinois guard Terrence Shannon has arguably been the most impressive college basketball player the past week.

He averaged 34 points in the Big Ten tournament, leading the Illini to the title and a No. 3 seed in the NCAAs. Still, the public hasn't heard a peep from him entering Thursday's game against Morehead State in the first round of the East Regional.

That's because Shannon has been shielded from the media because of rape allegations that led to a six-game suspension in December and January.

"Again, I'm the basketball coach," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "A lot of this stuff was put in play by our University, the courts and I'm not gonna consume myself with it."

Shannon was reinstated in January by a federal judge while the alleged incident is being investigated. In the meantime, the Illini are awaiting the outcome.

"I've got a locker room full of players that I said when he was suspended, I said I was going to coach the locker room," Underwood said. "He's in the locker room (now). I'm going to coach him."

The Illini still plan to treat it as a delicate situation. Underwood said the University is handling it with "great sensitivity."

"It's a very serious matter," Underwood said. "He's got representation. That locker room is so strong that whatever, how hot he gets, he was hot before it happened, it will be handled with great sensitivity and respect to everybody."

Terrence Shannon Has Another Big Game To Lead Illinois To Big Ten Title Over Wisconsin

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com