INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 26-9; 11-5 in Big Ten (Tied 1st) Postseason: Lost to Kansas 73-69 in NCAA Midwest Region semifinals. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Cook 15.4 Rebs: Cook 5.8 Assists: Harrington 2.9 FG: Cook 42.1% 3pt: Harrington 37.4% FT: Cook 87.3% 01-02 Stats: Illinois | Big Ten KEY LOSSES R. Archibald | 10.6 ppg Cory Bradford | 11.6 ppg Lucas Johnson | 3.8 ppg Damir Krupalija | 7.0 ppg Frank Williams | 16.2 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Dee Brown | Fresh G | Deron Williams | Fresh G | Luther Head | Soph F | Brian Cook | Senior C | Nick Smith | Soph Player to Watch Brian Cook Senior Forward Won't bang as much as most 6-10 guys, but will beat teams with outside shot. DATE TO REMEMBER Feb. 18 In each of the last two seasons, an Illinois-Michigan State game has played a huge role in determining the Big Ten champion. This year's second game, which will be played in Champaign, might not be quite as big, but the two teams have developed a nice rivalry.

 

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

Things are a little different in Champaign this year -- there is no dominant personality on this team. First it was Sergio McClain who led the Illini. A year ago it was Frank Williams. This year things have changed. Now Bill Self's team is being led by underclassmen. It's very possible that the Illinois starting lineup will be two freshmen, two sophomores and senior Brian Cook. That, however, doesn't mean the Illini are destined for the NIT. Yes, Illinois is young, but there is also a lot of talent. While a lot of Big Ten coaches cringe at the idea of starting a single freshman guard, Self is just fine with starting two in Deron Williams and Dee Brown. Williams should be the team's point guard while the extremely athletic Brown will play shooting guard. Their biggest job will be getting the ball to senior forward Brian Cook -- the media's pick for Big Ten preseason player of the year. Athletic sophomore Luther Head, who played a significant role on an Illinois team that rached the Sweet 16, will start at the wing while supermodel thin Nick Smith starts at center.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Cook, an athletic 6-10 forward, returns for a senior season. While Cook has been criticized during his career for not being as tough and as dominant as Illinois fans would like, the Illini coaches say he is doing what he needs to do in preseason workouts. That's important because if Cook is aggressive, he's difficult to defend. He's long and athletic with the ability to post up inside, but also play facing the basket.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Can this Illinois team actually grab a rebound. Gone are bangers like Robert Archibald, Damir Krupalija and Lucas Johnson. The 7-2 Smith is the team's starting center, but he is extremely skinny. Freshman Aaron Spears has the potential to be a tough inside player, but needs to learn more to be a serious factor. Self acknowledges that rebounding is the team's biggest concern.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
This Illinois team is going to lose games early in the season. There's simply too much inexperience for a schedule that includes Memphis, Arkansas, Temple and Missouri. But it's also a team that's going to get better as the season progresses. An NCAA Tournament berth is reasonable to expect, but a deep tourney run probably isn't.