Bruce Weber's Illini have looked sharp in their season-opening wins against SIU-Edwardsville, Northern Illinois and Presbyterian College.   

But those games have basically been "quizzes" to see how good the Illini potenially could be this season.  And right now they have a solid "A" grade. 

Freshmen Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson have entered the stage with a bang....and the Illini have received  some good play from some of the reserves (Cole, Griffey, Semrau, Keller, Jordan)...who seem to understand their roles on the team and give the Illni positive minutes when they are in the the game..

And of course you mix in the experience of Mike Davis, Mike Tisdale and  Demetri McCamey...and the Assembly Hall as the potential to be buzzing with excitement this winter.

But now the tests for the Illini will get tougher.  Starting with Wofford on Tuesday night ....the Illini may have to work harder to maintain their "A" average. 

Wofford is not a big name school...but they are very experienced team that plays well together.  Early in this season they have already won at  Georgia and put a big-time scare into Pitt.  And remember they won in West Lafayette against  Purdue a couple of years ago.  So the Illini might be tested on Tuesday night.

Then the scene shifts to Las Vegas with the Illini playing their first games away from the friendly confines of home against Utah late Friday night...They would then face a potential matchup with Big 12 foe Oklahoma State.... but could also face  a "we-would-really-really--really- like-to-beat-Illinois" Bradley team on Saturday.

Once they get back from Vegas...the Illini  travel to Clemson for the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.   Then they have big matchups scheduled in  December/early January  with the likes of Vanderbilt, Georgia, Missouri and Gonzaga.  And once the snow starts flying in January...the  Big Ten Conference season will start and the Illini will be facing a series of "mid-term and final exam" type teams along the way. 

It is early....but the test results are good so far.  But the full report card is a long way from being completed.