Illini need homecourt more than ever this week

The setting for today's 6 p.m. Illini-Spartan showdown is electric. Illinois is 9-0 at home, having blistered the nets in the conference conquests of Wisconsin and Northwestern. The students, on leave for those two games, have returned for the second semester, the game is a sellout, and the presence of ESPN heightens the atmosphere.

Tate