ANN ARBOR, Mich.  They are the hottest college baseball team in the nation, having reeled off 13 victories in a row.

   And with three more wins this week in the Big Ten tournament, they will be heading to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1990.

Final exams have occupied the University of Illinois track and field teams all week. On Saturday, the Illini will have a final tuneup for the Big Ten Championships.

The Illinois women and most of their male counterparts will make tracks that day to the UI Outdoor Track Stadium for the Illini Strider Classic. The field events start at 1 p.m., the running events at 2:15.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – An NCAA tournament trip will have to wait another year.

After finishing in a tie for third in the Big Ten during the regular season and then placing third in the conference tournament, Illinois has virtually no hope of an NCAA at-large berth, UI coach Itch Jones said.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan had much to lose with Brian Kalczynski's gutty steal attempt Saturday.

But the Wolverines also had much to gain if the junior shortstop could pull it off.

The University of Illinois baseball team will make its eighth appearance in the Big Ten Conference tournament. The four-team, double-elimination event begins Thursday at Ray Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Here's how the Illini fared in their first seven trips:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – If only his finals were as easy.

University of Illinois pitcher Brett Weber shut down Purdue on Friday in the Big Ten baseball tournament, racking up 10 strikeouts in leading the Illini to an 8-3 victory.

CHAMPAIGN – Brett Weber is determined to atone this week for his rocky pitching performance in the 1996 Big Ten Conference baseball tournament.

The University of Illinois right-hander just wishes guys such as Brian McClure and Josh Klimek and Jason Wollard still were around to benefit from it.

   CHAMPAIGN  The middle infield was a muddled infield.

   Then University of Illinois baseball coach Itch Jones returned to the combination of shortstop Jon Anderson and second baseman D.J. Svihlik on April 19.

   How''s it working?