The (unsuccessfully) Fighting Illini

Another game I'm very excited about because quite honestly we owe the Illini a few years worth of whoopins from the anguish and heartbreak they put us through during the Dee Brown/Deron Williams era.

I've watched Illinois play a handful of times this year and while they are very strong defensively, they really struggle to score. I'd agree that they are much better than their record shows and that Bruce Weber is a very good coach, but I really don't see this team posing too much of a threat.

Shaun Pruit is one of the better big men in the league but I think the defensive play of Drew Naymick will negate his impact. To me, Pruit doesn't play as big and strong as he actually is (7.7 rebounds is about half of what he should be getting.)

Trent Meacham is the team's second-leading scoring, a shooting guard that can light it up if he's on. More than 2/3 of his shots are from the three-point line and he's hitting a little better than 40 percent of them. That's always a concern for MSU as we love to give up the three. But if Meacham is the biggest outside scoring threat they've got and one of their only options in crunch time - I remain unconcerned.

Forward Brian Randle is Mr. Inconsistent and plays outside his range most nights. He's a decent talent, but not much of a concern.

Chester Frazier is Dee Brown fast but a total bust offensively. I do remember him hitting some big shots against us last year, but I'd challenge him to hit those same shots anytime. Frazier will have his hands full defensively with Lucas, Neitzel and Allen and it will show offensively.

Other guys I don't know much about but are getting some minutes are juniors Calvin Brock & Rodney Alexander and freshmen Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale.

I see this as a low-scoring ugly one but MSU has a lot going for itself considering they have a chance to make history with the school's best start and the fact that Wednesday is Coach Izzo's 53rd birthday.

I'll go MSU 67, Illini 56