Bruce Weber rekindles connection with Chicago, enjoys newfound popularity as Big Ten Network analyst

Coming back to Chicago is always special for Bruce Weber, but his visit this week was delayed — by a bird.

“My plane was hit by a bird,” Weber texted Tuesday morning, though most likely it was the other way around. “Do you have time to talk now?”

I had requested an interview with Weber, who was coming to town to serve as a studio analyst for Big Ten Network’s coverage of the conference’s men’s basketball tournament at the United Center. His travel delay allowed us to talk sooner. And there was a lot to catch up on.

Weber, who lives in Naples, Florida, is flooded with memories each time he returns to Chicago, where he enjoyed some of his best moments as a coach. He led Southern Illinois to the Sweet 16 in 2002 after two upsets at the UC. He led Illinois to the national championship in 2005 after a stirring comeback victory in the Elite Eight at Allstate Arena.

But Weber’s ties to Chicago predate his coaching days. Growing up in Milwaukee, Weber would come down to see the big college basketball doubleheaders at the old Chicago Stadium. He saw UCLA with Lew Alcindor (who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Notre Dame, DePaul and Marquette.

As an assistant on Purdue coach Gene Keady’s staff, Weber would meet with legendary Bulls assistant coach Tex Winter. Keady and Winter were connected through Kansas State, and their relationship allowed Weber to sit in on practices for the 1990s Bulls.

“I remember watching film after a practice with him,” Weber said of Winter, “and I said, ‘Coach, how do you think of all these drills?’ His efficiency of practice was … a basic two-man layup drill, he had it tied in with the triple-post offense. He goes, ‘What do you think I’ve been doing the last 50 years?’ I just laughed. Yeah, I guess you had time to think about it.”

Weber is recognized every time he visits. Whether he’s at O’Hare or Midway, someone shouts “ ’05 Illini” or “I’m a Saluki.” During his first conference tournament with BTN, Weber was shocked by the attention he got from fans, especially Indiana fans. During 18 seasons at Purdue and nine at Illinois, he didn’t feel much love from the Hoosier faithful.

“They would come and say, ‘Can we get a picture with you, Coach, your autograph?’ ” Weber said. “I’d be like, ‘Oh, my goodness, you threw things at me and yelled at me.’ ”

Weber, 69, is finishing his fourth season with BTN. Since stepping down as Kansas State’s coach in 2022, he said he has had offers to coach almost every year. But considering the sacrifices wife Megan made during his 43-year career and the trips to see their grandchildren from their three daughters in St. Louis, Kansas City and Dallas, a job would have to be a perfect fit.

Besides, Weber is doing great work on TV. He’s still part of the coaching fraternity, which gives him a special perspective and inside access. He talks regularly with several coaches, and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo even has had Weber watch film with him and his staff. Other networks have inquired about Weber, but he has made BTN his home.

“Other networks, it’s so dog-eat-dog,” Weber said. “They’re trying to … who’s going to get fired, all that stuff. To me, I lived that, and I don’t want to be somebody doing that to somebody else. I know how painful it is. I just want to be positive and help and promote the game.

“With the Illini fans, especially. [Illini radio voice] Brian Barnhart called me one day and said, ‘Coach, thanks for calming everyone down.’ I think it was a couple years ago when they lost three in a row, and I said, ‘They’ll be OK.’ ”

Weber thinks the Illini will be better than that in the Big Ten Tournament. During BTN’s coverage Wednesday, Weber predicted the Illini would win it. In our conversation, he said their height and shooting could carry them deep into the NCAA Tournament, as well, though he noted their “kryptonite” is on defense, where a savvy guard could put them in a bind.

Weber sees Illinois as one of several Big Ten teams with a chance to end the conference’s NCAA title drought, which is now at 25 years.

“Michigan’s No. 1, but I think we have a much better chance than we’ve had in the last stretch,” Weber said. “You’ve got star power in the league, you’ve got depth, you have good coaching. So I hope it is [the end], at least for the league’s sake.

“If Indiana can win football, anything can happen.”

After our call, the weather in the Chicago area turned for the worse, making me wonder if Weber’s arrival would be delayed further. But During NBC Sports’ broadcast of the first-round games Tuesday, I spotted Weber watching from BTN’s set. He had arrived.

“About four hours late,” he texted.

Remote patrol

Chicago Sports Network will air the Cubs-White Sox spring-training game from Glendale, Arizona, at 3 p.m. Friday. John Schriffen and Steve Stone will have the call, which also will be available for free on the CHSN app. Len Kasper and Darrin Jackson will call it on ESPN 1000.

• Prime Video’s “Meal Ticket,” which explores the nearly 50-year history of the McDonald’s All-American high school basketball games, premieres next Thursday. The documentary has several local connections, including its co-directors, Chicago natives Carlton Sabb and Corey Colvin.