Time for Illinois to start winning

Illinois' trio of Top 25 victories is a big reason bracketology experts Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm still have it hanging on to an NCAA bid by a thread. The real question, though, is why the Illini are capable of such ups and downs within the same game.

"I wish I could tell you," said coach John Groce, who was appalled Michigan State scored the first 14 points of the second half. "You're talking about in between the ears and in the chest. When you play against a really good Michigan State ballclub on the road, you can't come out like that."

Herb Gould