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The Illini baseball team opens its 2010 schedule this weekend in the Tampa Bay area at the second annual Big Ten/Big East Challenge. A year after winning 34 games and finishing fourth in the Big Ten, Illinois faces new questions with a new season. Staff writer JEFF HUTH identifies five of the biggest:

1. Who will succeed Phil Haig as the No. 1 starting pitcher?

When seven-game winner Haig was dismissed from the team in September after being arrested for theft of electronics equipment valued at more than $300, a new pitcher at the top of the rotation was guaranteed. Coming out of preseason practice, the job belongs to sophomore right-hander Will Strack. "He's been the most consistent pitcher that we have," Illini coach Dan Hartleb said. "He's got experience and he has shown that he has an out pitch (changeup) and competes very well." Strack made an immediate impact in his first collegiate season, tying the UI record for victories by a freshman (6) and going 4-0 in the Big Ten. The Sycamore native's ERA of 3.84 was second lowest on the UI staff among pitchers with at least 50 innings. And he made hitters earn their way on, limiting his walks to 18 in 68 innings. Conference coaches took notice, selecting Strack to the All-Big Ten third team and the Big Ten All-Freshmen team.

2. Who plays where in a revamped infield?

Graduation and the pro draft left the left side of the infield in need of replacements. Even with two starters returning, look for new faces at three infield spots when the season opens. Junior Matt Dittman returns at first baseman, but sophomore Josh Parr is moving from second to shortstop. He's stepping into big shoes after Brandon Wikoff – the 2009 Illini MVP and a fifth-round pick of the Houston Astros – left for the pros following his junior season. Illini coaches are confident Parr, a two-time All-State shortstop in high school, will seamlessly make the move defensively. He was solid, and at times outstanding, in the field while limiting his errors to eight (.972 fielding percentage). Although he lacks extra-base pop, Parr was a consistent threat in his first year against collegiate pitching, hitting .337, fifth-highest on the team. Junior Pete Cappetta will join Parr in the middle infield, moving from right field to second base. Freshman Brandon Hohl has earned the third base assignment. However, Hartleb is reserving the option to shuffle this infield deck. Depending on how the infield – and even the outfield – fares early, Cappetta could be moved back to the outfield. In that case, freshman Christian Cummins would take over at second.

3. Is there a reliable closer in the bullpen?

This hasn't exactly been an area of strength in recent seasons, Last year, no UI reliever had more than three saves. In the past seven season, the most saves any Illini notched was seven – and that occurred once. "I would say we really haven't had that consistent go-to guy that you know you can throw out there and know you have a chance each and every time," Hartleb said. The UI coach hopes he has that guy this season in right-hander Lee Zerrusen. The fourth-year junior, used as a starter and reliever in 18 appearances in 2009, primarily handled long-relief duties when he came out the bullpen. Now Zerrusen gets first shot at sealing the deal when the Illini are ahead in the last inning or two. The Teutopolis native proved he's capable last summer, earning 15 saves in the Coastal Plain League to tie for the league lead. "He really made great strides last season and last summer, too," Hartleb said. "He's mentally tough and competitive. I think we have a solid person (as closer)."

4. Will anyone get Pete Cappetta out?

The question, of course, is asked tongue in cheek. But you'd better believe plenty of rival hurlers were asking the same thing by the end of last season, when the then-sophomore went on a scalding tear to cap a breakout campaign. In his final 12 games, including three at the Big Ten tournament, the right-handed batter hit .500 (22 for 44) with 10 extra-base hits and 14 RBI. The surge lifted Cappetta's season average to .384 and earned him spots on the All-Big Ten second team and Big Ten All-Tournament team. Not bad for a guy who didn't fully secure a place in the starting lineup until April 4. Or a guy who entered the season with exactly 15 collegiate at-bats. "He took advantage of an opportunity last year," Hartleb said. Now, however, Cappetta no longer is just another name on the UI roster – Baseball America selected him to its All-Big Ten preseason team – and he surely will be pitched to (or maybe around) as such. But Hartleb is confident the Lisle native is up to the challenge. "I think he's capable of doing the same thing or producing at even higher level this year," the Illini coach said."

5. What is Dan Hartleb's contract status?

This is final year of a five-year deal Hartleb signed before the 2006 season, when he succeeded Hall of Famer and longtime mentor Itch Jones as head coach. According to Hartleb, he and UI athletic director Ron Guenther briefly discussed his contract status last year but serious talks won't take place until after the current season.  His deal runs through Aug. 15. "We'll approach that when the year's over," Hartleb said. Guenther, through UI sports information director Kent Brown, confirmed that timetable but declined further comment. Hartleb enters the season with a 125-101 career record, including 63-54 in the Big Ten. His teams have finished either fourth or fifth in the league race each year and always advanced to the Big Ten tournament, where they are 3-8. The Illini are coming off the best season of Hartleb's tenure, going 34-20 overall and 16-8 in the conference. That team was nationally ranked for six weeks, as high as No. 19. His teams have yet to reach the NCAA tournament. "The program is not where I want it to be," Hartleb said, "but each and every year we've made positive strides ... not only on the field, but we've done a good job in the classroom and with getting guys who are good citizens. I think we've done some thing well."