Anderson's stats show he's a complete player - he averaged a double-double, in points and rebounds, during the 2000-2001 season - and those around him agree, only adding to the speculation that he's the world's best player.

"One day people are going to look back and say he changed the way the game is played," said Illinois head coach Mike Frogley.

"What makes him better than other players is that he understands that his game flows with the team, that he's a part of the team and that everything isn't going to him," said Frogley. "But he knows what the team needs and he has the skills to deliver."

"He can really dominate a game," said freshman teammate, Tony Greco. "I think he really does play at another level. He's really, really consistent and pretty much at any time can take over."

Anderson doesn't think he's quite there yet.

"I think I could be (the world's best player)," said Anderson. "I think I will be."

An Olympic gold medalist at the age of 21, Anderson has plenty of time to make his move. He's just waiting, he said, until he has the time.

"I plan on training better when I'm done with school and I can focus on basketball," said Anderson.

Anderson and all of his teammates will return next year for another shot at the one title that they didn't bring home this year - the National Wheelchair Basketball Association open division championship. Twice they've reached the final game, twice they've fallen short.

Anderson has been thrust into the leadership role on the team; his ability to deal with that has evolved since Anderson's early days at Illinois.

"His first role (on the team) is literally as the most skilled wheelchair basketball player in the world," said Frogley. "The more important role is intangible. He works harder than anybody else in the program and the younger guys see that."

Driving Anderson's play are his own expectations.

"When you look at anyone who's great, they're driven internally," said Frogley. "Pat defines what the expectation is for himself and that's extremely high."

The expectations are high both on and off the court.

"He's a perfectionist," said roommate Evan Olson. "Everything that he does, he does it with everything that he's got."

"I think he's very hard on himself," said his older brother, Dan Anderson. "He's very critical of what he does in life, from school to basketball. He's very self-analytical."

Ever humble, Anderson doesn't agree.

"I'm a more pathetic type of perfectionist," joked Anderson. "Everything's got to be perfect, but I don't really feel like putting in the time."

Anderson needs to put in the time this week. Feeling the pressure of finals, he decided to check into a hotel in Tuscola and escape the distractions of his apartment. The only problem is, he found another distraction. Namely, an outlet mall.

"The night afterward he comes back and I ask him if he finished a couple papers," said Olson. "He said, 'I figured instead of studying, I could get some good shopping done.' "

Said Anderson: "There were some good bargains."

Said his brother: "He's got a shopping addiction."

Fortunately, Anderson has proven he can perform under pressure. In the semifinal game of the Paralympics in October, Anderson had 28 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, driven by a desire to avenge a 1998 loss to Great Britain.

"I just wanted to make sure we did not (lose)," said Anderson. "I was kind of nervous, I didn't know if I would play well, but ended up playing one of the best games I played (in Sydney)."

He followed that win with what he called a "mediocre" performance in the gold-medal game against the Netherlands. Mediocre, to Anderson, is 23 points and 13 rebounds.

"The most important thing is how the team does," said Anderson. "Like in Sydney, we won all of our games and I could say some of those games a big part of it was I played well. Other games we won because other guys played well."

"He had a solid tournament," said Frogley. "He did that against one of the best teams in the world. He understands when he needs to shoot. He knows if we need a rebound, he can get that rebound. Great players always know what the team needs."

Copyright 2001 Daily Illini