Ok...raise your hand...and be honest...How many of you thought the Illini mens basketball team would be 7-1 by the second week of December... with a real good shot at being 10-1 ahead of the Missouri game on December 23rd?

If you raised your hand...congratulate yourself on being such an optimistic fan. 

But I am guessing that not many of you reading this can honestly admit to having that much optimism when the season began.  And I get the sense that based on the smaller attendance figures so far this year (around 12,000 at the United Center on Saturday) that many fans are still in the "wait-and-see" mode.

I am fortunate enough to be around the team a lot ...so I have had some good vibes about this club since the start of practice in mid-October.  I really got encouraged  as early as the Orange and Blue Scrimmage in late October with just simple things like ball movement and freethrow shooting. 

I have also been impressed with the team's willingness to listen to the coaching staff...and  to ask questions if they aren't sure what needs to be done.  In the scouting report practices I have seen....this group of players seems to be  soaking up all the information the coaching staff is providing. During a game they are making the adjustments their coaches want (like adjusting to the 1-3-1 zone defense the Bulldogs threw at them on Saturday). 

Are they perfect?...No....Is there still a lot of improvement to be made? Sure.   Are they capable of finishing in the upper division of the Big Ten?  Remains to be seen.    But so far the numbers dont lie....a 7-1 record and one possession away from a perfect 8-0 start (see Clemson game).  And with (3) home games left before the trip to St.Louis....the Illini are setting themselves up for a great finish to the first portion of the 2008-09 season.

Hawaii and Chicago State visit the Assembly Hall this week.  Here is some information about  the Rainbow Warriors.