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The block that kept history from repeating itself (AP photo/John Dixon)

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Mark this day down on your calender folks, because with last night's win over Penn State, the Illini now sit at 4-0 in the Big Ten conference, leaving them at least for the time being the Big Ten leader.

Of course that all could change on Saturday when the Illini head to East Lansing to play 3-0 Michigan State. Hey for the time being, the Illini own wins over the four worst teams in terms of record in the Big Ten, and if thats good enough for first place its fine with me. After all this team has played so many down and out teams so closely they cannot afford to pass up any of these "easy" wins.

Now that the excitement has worn off from last night's win over Penn State, a win that featured two players carrying a team by themselves, and the rest of the team going largely dormant on offense, its time to take a long look at what the Illini will have to do to continue to compete in the Big Ten race the rest of this season.

I know its cheap to use the rising/falling stock analogy for this basketball team, but I would say it is more or less applicable here.  Just a few weeks ago the strengths and weaknesses of this team were radically different than today, and as a result the tempo and style of play the Illini run has changed along with it.

Many people were wondering at the beginning of the year whether or not Mike Tisdale's development had stalled, whether he would ever be strong enough or physical enough to compete with Big Ten centers, and most of all, if he could ever start rebounding. Last night, for the second straight game, Tis scored over 15 points and had at least 9 rebounds. He has as much confidence as he has ever had in his own ability to score and even now to defend. His 7 blocked shots last night were a career high, and he managed to keep himself out of foul trouble an issue which dogged him against both Northwestern and Gonzaga. In Big Ten games so far this year, Tis has averaged 35 minutes, 20 points and 9 rebounds. He shots near 90% from the free throw line and can shoot from just about anywhere on the court. Just looking at those games around Gonzaga, we have to wonder what the outcome would have been if he had managed more than just 11 minutes before fouling out.

On the other side of things however is Mike Davis. At the beginning of the year Mike Davis was automatic with double-doubles, and entering into last night's game he was still the Big Ten leader in rebounds. After 5 straight games scoring in double figures, Mike has had just 10 points combined in the last three games. Call it a lack of confidence, an inability to get open or just a successful scouting job by Big Ten teams, but Mike has had trouble getting the ball in the spots he wants, and has hit a real skid it looks like. If the Illini are serious about actually challenging Michigan State and Purdue for a Big Ten title this season, Mike Davis has to find a way back to his early season stride. Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson and Raymar Morgan will be the best players he will probably have guarding him all year, but he needs to over come them and get back to good in order for the Illini to stand a chance.

The ongoing saga of Bruce riding Demetri McCamey in order to get him to play his best has been a three year ordeal, and not much has changed in their relationship. Well, Demetri has been getting better and better every year and has become the all around best player on the team, so I guess that has changed. But in regards to his supposed work ethic and Weber's criticism thereof, things are just as they always were. Demetri currently leads the league in assists by a whopping 21 dimes, and has dramatically lowered his turnovers. In the last two games he has taken over the game late and is playing as good as he ever has. Whether or not the brief benching episode taught Demetri anything or not, I do not know, but I doubt he will be riding the pine all that often in the future.

If the Illini are going to make the NCAA and compete for the Big Ten title, these three upperclassmen are going to be the reason they do or not.