Nightcap: Illini, Boilers entertain Beef House

-To read the transcript from our weekly Illinois basketball chat from today, click here.

Each weeknight leading up to the season opener, beat writer Paul Klee will have an update on the Illini or the 2009-10 basketball season:

Tonight marked the fourth Coaches vs. Cancer Covington (Ind.) Classic. The American Cancer Society fundraiser has blossomed into one of the most entertaining - and unique - gatherings of the basketball season. Few events feature a pair of rival programs poking fun without worry. The guests of honor - former Purdue assistant Steve Lavin and Flyin' Illini Stephen Bardo - were joined on stage by Bruce Weber and Matt Painter. As usual, patriarch Gene Keady had a crowd of about 400 in hysterics with a few jabs of his own. A few notes from before the event at the Beef House:

-Bardo he'll work about 50 games as a color analyst this season for ESPN. His main beats include the West Coast Conference and Conference USA, with a few stops in the Big Ten and Big 12. "The Big Ten's going to be the toughest conference in the country," he said.

-The former Illini observed the current team at Tuesday's practice. In particular, Bardo came away impressed by freshman Tyler Griffey and said Demetri McCamey is "the best I've seen him."

-Bardo said the Illini have some defensive shortcomings in the early going. "But they can score," he said. "They're not going to have a problem scoring the ball."

-Keady once again will work as an analyst for the Big Ten Network. "Purdue could have one of the best teams in school history... if they keep improving," he said of the No. 7 Boilermakers.

-Lavin's first season under Keady at Purdue was in 1988-89. The ABC and ESPN analyst compared the Big Ten now to the great Big Ten of that era. "It's the best level of coaching we've seen since the late '80s," Lavin said.

-Painter, the Purdue coach, made an interesting point when he said four of his top six players didn't have a scholarship offer from another Big Ten school. JaJuan Johnson, Keaton Grant, Lewis Jackson and Chris Kramer only had the offer from Purdue, he said. Robbie Hummel and E'Twaun Moore were the exceptions.

-UI coaches were on the road recruiting Wednesday, as well. The use of a private plane allowed them to stop in three states in one day. Coaches watched prospects in Indianapolis, among other stops. Later, three coaches were in the St. Louis area to watch UI target Bradley Beal.

-The goal of the function was to raise money for cancer research and swap stories. Lavin, for example, said he bought his first car from Weber. "And he sold me a lemon," Lavin joked.

-Weber said he would probably have a better idea Thursday if Joseph Bertrand (knee) will be fit to play in Sunday's exhibition game against Quincy at the Assembly Hall. He said Griffey has been slowed with flu symptoms but returned to practice Tuesday.

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