Illinois at times resembles a Final Four team. At other times, a Sweet Sixteen team -- in the NIT. The Illini looked like the latter in their latest game, getting overrun by Maryland. Seven-footer Tomislav Ivisic was shelved for it and is sidelined again with an illness. While his 13 ppg will be missed, the greater concern is a repeat of what the Terrapins bigs did -- 52 points, 23 rebounds. Illinois has dropped three of four straight-up. Some seven weeks ago, they fell to these Wildcats in overtime. Good Illini can cover, but they have been mediocre Illini all too often.

Northwestern walking into a buzzsaw here. Illinois just suffered a rare of blowout losses at home, Team was without its 7-footer, gave up 64 points in the paint and a slew of fast break points (a bunch of other starters were battling the flu, too, on Thurs). Oh, and Northwestern already beat them once this season. ILL is one of the more talented teams in the country with a lottery pick who will perform like a lottery pick in this in-state battle. Wildcats are 0-4 on road in conference with three losses by 4 points or more. I don't see their win streak getting to four games in a big potential bounceback spot for Illinois. Illinois won by 30 at home against Northwestern last year.