COACH: Bruce Weber, eight years at Illinois, sixth year in NCAA tournament.
HOW THEY GOT IN: At-large bid.
GO-TO GUYS: Senior point guard Demetri McCamey (15.0 points per game) has led the Illini in scoring three years in a row — just the third player to accomplish that in the last 40 years. He initiates everything in Illinois' motion offense and, along with sophomore guard Brandon Paul, is the only Illini player who can regularly create his own shot. McCamey slumped in the middle of Big Ten season, which consigned him to third-team All-Big Ten status, but he finished on fire, averaging 17.7 points and 4.5 assists in Illinois' last six regular-season games. Senior power forward Mike Davis (12.2 ppg, 7.1 rebounds per game) has been a consistent threat with his jump hook and baseline jumper for the last two months while 7-foot-1 senior center Mike Tisdale (10.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) can turn over either shoulder in the post or drill 3-pointers with the best of them (18 of 42).
X FACTOR: As a 2010 McDonald's All-American, freshman F Jereme Richmond had big hopes and dreams pinned to his 6-7 frame all year. He has shown flashes as a scorer, rebounder and passer in several games this year, but coach Bruce Weber says he finally has figured out how hard he needs to play to rule at this level. While his right shoulder has been problematic since injuring it Feb. 19 at Michigan State, Richmond has the capability to lift the Illini at any moment in any facet of the game.
STRENGTHS: Illinois ranks among the nation's best 3-point-shooting teams at 38.9 percent. McCamey (46 percent) and Tisdale (42 percent) are the most consistent, but sophomores D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul are streaky shooters who entered the Big Ten tournament in a rut. Illinois also has four seniors in its lineup and they know how to make the team's helping man-to-man defense work. The Illini held opponents to 40.1 percent shooting from the field and 29.9 percent from 3-point range during the regular season.
WEAKNESSES: None of Illinois' big men will make you confuse them for bodybuilders. While Davis' leaping ability allows him to grab 10 rebounds on any given night, Tisdale and starting small forward Bill Cole struggle against physical frontcourts. Because the Illini don't have many one-on-one threats, they are usually beholden to their shooting eyes. If they're nailing their open looks from 3, then it's hard to hang with them. If they're cold, then it's going to be a grind-it-out game in the 50s because the defense never slumps except against the elite schools. The Illini entered are 16-1 when they scored more than 70 points.
