Lots of talk about Illini under-performing against Mich. But that is simply not true to any great extent. This team can get the job done in many ways. For the better part of two decades, we have had to witness Illini teams losing these types of games. Many simply do not understand that any athletically talented team when motivated and focused, and yet missing a big cog, can turn a game against any opponent into a close and ugly rock fight. Michigan did just that........and the Illini won by 15 pts!! There has never been a team, even the great UCLA teams, that did not have to face this kind of challenge. I love the patience, understanding and skill with which this staff and team handled this challenge.
Now, on to the next challenge...and it will be entirely different. The Illini just might want to remember just how much they struggled against Michigan's intense and patient half court defense and give Purdue some of the same. Win or lose, we will learn some things about this team on Mon. night. My hope is to see a strong-willed, hustling, aggressive team play 40 minutes of competent play. The key, of course, is how Kofi and Payne can handle their two opposites. And can DFW and Trent slow down their perimeter stars? Plummer and CoHawk will be the x factors, and maybe one of the frosh. This will not be a Wake Forest 2005 coming out party....but a hard fought close game that can be won. Will it? I will save comment for postgame.