Illinois has seemingly done just enough to get into the NCAA tournament as of today.

The question going forward now that the Big Ten season is nearly halfway through is whether just enough will be just enough for Illinois coach Bruce Weber to retain his job.

Reaching the tournament has traditionally given coaches job security. Going dancing from one of the big six conferences typically requires winning 20-plus games, defeating a few ranked opponents and finishing in the top half of the conference. With those results, a team is typically among the top 30-45 teams in the country.

Scott Powers

Weber says Sam Maniscalco has had two of best practices this week, said he has some of his rhythm back.
Weber says Myke Henry needs to get minutes but he's been saying that for awhile. We'll see Saturday at Minnesota.
Weber admits that regarding Henry he has to overcome cautiousness and the fear that the freshman can't get the job done.
studurando

Weber: "We have to have great toughness when we go to Minnesota." Tubby likes his team, tough team. Draymond special last night.
Weber: "It's a huge game for us going up there on Saturday."
Weber: "You got to make your own breaks. That's the biggest thing that has to happen." Sam gotten better rhythm last 2 practices.
WernerConnectFM

In many circles the discussion is no longer whether Weber should continue as head coach, it's who should replace him and whether AD Mike Thomas will be inclined to make the move after this season ends.

Tupper

Weber: "If you're looking down the road ... you probably have a great chance of getting 8 (#B1G teams in NCAAs)."

Weber says Sam Maniscalco has had two of his better practices this week. He's starting to get in a rhythm.

Weber on criticism: "I don't know if it's unfair. That's part of my job." Understands fans' want for great, not good, team.

Weber said he'd like to stay here, leave a legacy though it might not be what Lou Henson's was. Feels team can be really great soon

Weber on fan criticism: "If you pay attention, you kill yourself. ...The negative people are the ones giving their opinion."

WernerConnectFM

Illinois should finish above .500 in the league. February is a difficult run but that record should be possible. I see five games that should be wins, if not more.

Klee

He is, thanks to a late growth spurt, a fairly new 7-foot center wrapped in a guard's body. The Illinois sophomore is impressive one day, vexing the next.

His game is not entirely ready for the NBA, but his body is.

His heart would love to remain a college kid, "stay a kid a little longer" as he says, but the responsibilities of his life -- an ailing mother, a brother in Afghanistan -- dictate a more mature path.

Dana O'Neil

College football sources told @CBSSports there's "strong support" to increase bowl eligibility to 7 wins in 2014

McMurphyCBS

Per release, Rick Neuheisel and Ron Zook will join CBS Sports Net for signing day. It will be the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl that never was.

DrSaturday

I don't remember which episode of "The Simpsons" it was, exactly, or what plot twists ensued from the fact that Krusty had bet against the Harlem Globetrotters ("I thought the Generals were due!"), but I do remember him offering suggestions for his team's defense thusly: "He's spinning the ball on his finger! Just take it, for God's sake!" That's kind of how I feel watching Illinois on offense this season.

John Gasaway

There is method to their madness and, if it was an unheard dog whistle for some, it didn't miss my radar: Their minority opinion -- excuse the reference -- was a thinly veiled move to put Thomas on notice that, when the time comes to change the men's basketball assignment, it better be an African-American.

Montgomery and Oliver hail from Chicago, where the large African-American culture lives and dies with its basketball. And they're hearing plenty of scuttlebutt up that way, as well as down this way, that Bruce Weber is not long for the job if his Illini continue to struggle. The trustees weren't really trying to dump Beckman. They were simply shoving a foot in the door in anticipation of the next go-round, whenever it happens.

Tate

Illinois

2011: 49,548
2010: 54,188
2009: 59,545

Rittenberg

Following the road game, the Illini host Michigan State and Northwestern, then play four of the next five games on the road. Coming off losses to Penn State and Wisconsin, the Illini have hit a crossroads.

"This is the breaking point of our season," Weber said. "You have to make strides, correct some little things, then come with a great mindset, a toughness factor that will help us get ready.

"We're not that far off. Now we have to figure out what things we can correct."

Supinie

Illinois football coach Tim Beckman and his staff will host an event open to the public to announce the 2012 Fighting Illini recruiting class at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Assembly Hall.

fightingillini.com

Lunardi

Ex-Illinois basketball player Jereme Richmond pleaded guilty Monday to gun charges and was sentenced to 1-1/2 years on probation.

As part of a plea agreement with Lake County prosecutors, Richmond, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for the Aug. 8 incident in which a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun was in the back seat of a car he drove.

suntimes.com

Brandon Paul was sensational two weeks ago with 43 points in a 79-74 home win over Ohio State. It was easy then to buy into Illinois. Now? Sell. The Illini lost at Penn State, 54-52, and then fell Sunday to Wisconsin, 67-63. This Illinois team is still young in key spots but the lack of consistency makes it exceptionally hard to buy into this team being a true Big Ten contender. Bubble here they come.

Andy Katz

The score tied at 53 with five minutes left, Illinois didn't show the urgent effort that made the difference in 50-50 games against Nebraska and Northwestern. Weber said the most disappointing aspect of the loss was that Wisconsin "out-hustled" and "out-toughed" the Illini.

"At home," said Weber, whose team trailed on the Matto chart for just the second time this Big Ten season (Nebraska). "You can't do that. You shouldn't allow it to happen."

"They got a couple offensive rebounds that killed us," said Joseph Bertrand (15 points, five rebounds, five assists).

Klee

The Illini lost the Matto battle 25-23, a hustle chart number boosted by the Badgers with some late-game offensive rebounds, and when the final seconds ticked off the clock, 90 percent of the season's first sellout already had split for the parking lots. Illinois plays Saturday at Minnesota (7 p.m., Big Ten Network).

"That was a goal to not have highs and lows in the season," Illini center Meyers Leonard said. "Obviously, that's taken a turn. Hopefully, we can steal one on the road. Hopefully, we get better. That's what matters. We've got a lot of guys with talent. We've got to continue to listen to coaching."

Supinie

Illinois has made it a priority to get Leonard quality touches in the post. In the past two games he's attempted 24 shots. And that's the goal, Weber said. They would like the big man to have 12-15 scoring opportunities in every game. Leonard grew frustrated early in the Penn State game when teammates weren't looking for him. "But in the second half I thought they did a great job of getting me the ball," Leonard said. "I know sometimes it's hard. They've got people hounding them on the perimeter. It's just a tough angle. I've just got to always remember to stay positive and keep playing."

Klee

Weber says 20-25 minutes for maniscalco vs. Wisconsin but Abrams will continue to start.

MarkTupper

There's only so much Maniscalco's ankle can take, so the development of Abrams may determine the path for the Illini over the next two months.

"That's the key to the season," said Stephen Bardo, the former Illini guard who worked as an ESPN2 analyst Thursday on the telecast of Illinois' 54-52 loss at Penn State. "He's learning from Sam, but he had a trial under fire. He's getting that right now."

Supinie

BREAKING: Penn State coach Joe Paterno near death, family summoning close friends to hospital for final goodbyes.

cvmikesisak