"I'm curious to see how we do against another team," Groce said. "Are we going to take care of the basketball? Are we going to play hard without fouling? Are we going to block out?"

Groce said he's seen some encouraging signs in practice. But doing it on the court against an opponent they've never seen is the first of many fast-approaching tests. And he's hoping he'll see an Illini team that plays within itself.

"We don't need hero ball," Groce said. "Just do what we do. Take pride in that and do it at a high level, or at least attempt to do it at a high level."

Tupper