Paul keeps up good work

It might be true, as coach Bruce Weber says, that Illinois' starting five isn't set. But the way things are going, his two precocious freshmen, Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson, are looking rock-solid.

Paul added Scene 2 to his own little version of ''A Star Is Born,'' scoring all 20 of his points in the first half as the 23rd-ranked Illini turned back a good effort by gritty Northern Illinois 80-61 Tuesday.

Gould