CHAMPAIGN - Bruce Weber says he's been a regular at church, but the Illini basketball coach might want to think about doubling up.

One game into a new season, he received tough news on the injury front Tuesday.

Sophomore guard Jamar Smith has a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss four to six weeks, Weber said. Junior forward Brian Randle, who re-aggravated a groin strain in Monday's season opener, is out and listed as "week to week," as team doctors consult with specialists around the nation for what is described as an unusual condition.

And with senior guard Rich McBride suspended until Nov. 21, Weber and the Illini face the next three games without three potential starters

"It's been an awful five months and it keeps getting worse," said Weber, who was on the short end of a nationally publicized recruiting battle this summer and fall. "You'd think it couldn't get any worse. Life tests you all the time, and basketball is like life. So we can't sit and cry. We have to figure out how we're going to win over this next stretch."

Doing so will test the rest of the roster, especially guards Chester Frazier, Trent Meacham and Calvin Brock. And Weber said even guard Chris Hicks, his lone walk-on, may be pressed into action.

Smith was injured early in the second half of Monday's win against Austin Peay when a player rolled up on his ankle while chasing a loose ball. Smith had 19 points at the time and was showing the form that made Weber believe he could be one of the premier shooters in the country.

"They did an X-ray, and there was no fracture," Weber said. "We'll know a little bit more from the MRI," which the medical staff will examine today.

"Every kid is different with high ankle sprains. C.J. Jackson had one last year, and it was very difficult to deal with. Every kid is different. He was on crutches last night, but they put him in a boot today, and he'll deal with that for a while. I've been in the boot before and I know what that's like. It's a pain in the butt."

Randle had already missed two exhibition games but had looked good in practice on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, prompting Weber to start him Monday.

Randle believes he tweaked the groin strain when he stole the ball and went in for a high-flying dunk.

"We're saying week to week, and he won't do anything for the rest of this week," Weber said. "Then we'll see what happens.

"But we can't have this be a lingering thing. We have to get him healthy. When we were talking to Brian's parents last night, we felt bad because at first we thought we might have brought him back too quickly. But Brian said, 'No way, coach. I felt great.' "

The injury is not a sports hernia, an injury that forced former Illini Luther Head to undergo surgery. It is, however, an unusual condition that Weber said has resulted in phone calls all over the country.

"The doctors are continually talking to people who have dealt with this injury. They've talked to specialists in Philadelphia and in Milwaukee (with the surgeon that treated Head). It's week to week. I would say four weeks would be the worst-case scenario."

Weber said surgery does not seem to be an option for Randle.

He also said the immediate concern is to get through games tonight, Friday and Sunday. McBride is scheduled to return next Tuesday against Savannah State, which will add a body to the mix at the guard position.

"We just want to survive until Tuesday," Weber said. "We play Jackson State and Georgia Southern, and they gave Duke a tussle (on Monday). Then you look at the scores and see where Vermont beat Boston College and Idaho took Marquette to overtime. That's the craziness of early college basketball, and we're in the middle of it. We'll see how our kids respond."

Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.