Each hour on the hour today, we'll preview the 2010-11 school year. Up seventh, who exactly will pitch in for Terri Sullivan's Illini?

Most of us were raised on basketball. We understand the rules. We follow, to varying degrees, the prep, college and professional levels. It has a built-in audience.

This being the case, it is mystifying to view the UI campus where the women's volleyball program has consistently been more attractive than women's basketball as a spectator sport.

Illinois has agreed to extend women's basketball coach Jolette Law's contract two years through April 30, 2014. The recommendation will be acted on at Thursday's trustees meeting in Chicago.

Assistant men's basketball coach Jerrance Howard's base pay will be $180,000 through April 30, 2011. It goes to $190,000 in 2011-12, $200,000 in 2012-13 and $210,000 in 2013-14. If Howard remains at Illinois through 2014, he will receive a one-time $100,000 payment.

HEADLINES YOU WON'T READ IN 2010-11:

Assembly Hall naming rights to BP

Softball A T-Second — 45-win team set program mark for winning percentage

First baseman named All-American

COLUMBIA, Mo. – After exorcising one demon by eliminating DePaul in the NCAA regional softball tournament, coach Terri Sullivan's squad might have a new nemesis next season: the Missouri Tigers.

The eighth-ranked Tigers defeated the 18th-ranked Illini 4-2 on Sunday at University Field to advance to the super regionals.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – With the Illinois softball team facing elimination from the NCAA regional tournament after dropping its first game Saturday to host Missouri, Hope Howell made sure the Illini lived to fight another day.