Eastern Kentucky ranks No. 2 nationally in forcing turnovers and generally cashes those in on the other end. Through nine games the team has a 224-112 advantage in points off turnovers.

Illini coach John Groce split a pair of games with Eastern Kentucky during his time as head coach at Ohio University and said coach Jeff Neubauer, a former John Beilein assistant at West Virginia, is thriving with his most complete team.

"Year in and year out he's one of the best coaches in the country," Groce said. "They've always had a good offense but now they have a great defense so you have both sides of the ball clicking."

Tupper