Illini take 13-1 start into Big Ten play

That Illinois will march into the Big Ten Conference season Wednesday night at Purdue with a 13-1 record is remarkable, because, yes, this is a team with flaws, a team that has basically the same core of players who melted down severely last season, a team that most people would say isn't as good as its No. 12 national ranking.

But it's a team that has something I really like, and that's chemistry and belief and faith and heart and I'd much rather watch a team with flaws and heart than watch a heartless team with more talent.

Tupper