The trip to Penn State was  at times an ugly and familiar story arc, at other times a generally positive experience, and in the final two minutes a painfully slow exercise in two teams shooting freethrows.
 To me, all that mattered was that the Illini won. In much the same way that the Illini dispatched the Hoosiers the last time these two teams met.

I don't give a crap how it gets done, whether is 76-50, 43-38 or 89 to 81. I don't care if its in overtime or a blow out, I just want to see this team win this game. The Illini absolutely need this game and Iowa next week.

When last we saw the Hoosiers, Mike Tisdale was in the midst of his mid season renaissance, when he wasn't so worried about getting into foul trouble that he was still able to defend. And when he was able to destroy his opponents with his natural advantage of extreme height, reach and shooting. He took advantage of the Hoosiers to the tune of 27 points and 9 boards. If he can get his confidence back, I see no reason why he wont be able to do it again.

The freshmen combined for 30 points against Penn State on Wednesday, and are hopefully on their way back to the scary good scoring threats we had hoped they would be all year. Neither of these two are in danger of jumping to the NBA at the end of the year. But if we can count on them for 10 a game each, all things being equal this team can beat the better teams left on the schedule.

Demetri McCamey just needs to keep on being Demetri McCamey, team leading scorer and assist leader. Just about the only guy who can really create offense for himself, and making the entire defense collapse on him.

Team defense. Its something I have pretty much resigned to its fate. The best two defensive players are Jeff Jordan and Bill Cole, and I am cannot promise that they will be contributing too terribly much outside of that. (Although 12 points from Bill Cole the other night makes me pause before I type this.

There are still somethings we do need to worry about, Jordan Hull can make 3 pointers, and he will take 3 pointers. Verdell Jones is playing much better than anyone thought he would at a college level, and Christian Watford and Devan Dumes can actually make you pay for not guarding them.

Lets just hope that we can be the benefit of as many fouls tomorrow as we were a few weeks ago.