Close for comfort

Illinois is 2-7 in games decided by five points or less. And this is, after all, the NCAA tournament, where close games are par for the court. If Thursday's tournament thrillers are any indication - four early games were decided by two points or less - the UNLV-Illinois contest would be another close one. How would Illinois respond? "It's a self-fulfilling prophecy: If you think it's going to happen, it usually will," Dr. Rob Bell, an assistant professor in sports psychology at Ball State, said Thursday. "This can be both bad and positive. If a team knows they will win and play well, they usually play more relaxed and look at those close games as challenges." In a five-point loss to Michigan last week, the Illini played as though they knew what was coming before it happened. "Teams can look at these close games as threats and the 'here we go again' mentality can creep in," Bell added. And that was part of Weber's message to the players: Think positive. He listed the venues where Illinois has played this season - Madison Square Garden, Key Arena, United Center, Scottrade Center, among others, to ease their nerves heading into this stage. "The key will be once the game gets going and we hit a tough spot, how do they respond?" Weber said. "And will someone step and make a play?"

Klee