CHAMPAIGN  Every football coach in the Big Ten Conference can point with pride to at least a game or two this season. Except one.

   When the coaches start talking victories, either real or moral, Illinois'' Ron Turner can''t raise his hand.

   All seven of Illinois'' losses have been by double digits. Never in history has an Illini team gone so long without a close game.

   Even the wretched Jim Valek and Gary Moeller teams occasionally played someone close.

   The Illini have been at their worst in conference games. In losses to Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Purdue, Illinois has been outscored 158-26. That''s a defeat margin of 33 points a game.

   "The scores make everything worse, and the way we''re playing makes everything worse," Turner said.

   "We''re playing hard, but we''re not playing smart."

   Turner went through a similar first season at Stanford in 1989, when he worked as Dennis Green''s offensive coordinator. The Cardinal lost seven of its first eight on the way to a 3-8 finish.

   "We had better skill offensively (at Stanford), and we were able to make some plays on offense," Turner said. "We were terrible on defense. Same type thing: We were small and young and slow."

   Green and Turner fixed the Cardinal, going 8-4 with an Aloha Bowl berth in 1991.

   Turner said the long-term prospects are better at Illinois than they were at Stanford. The Cardinal didn''t have the young talent Turner sees with the Illini.

   "We''ve got a long ways to go in some senses, and we''re not that far off in others," Turner said.

   The far-off areas are both lines, which Turner said lack size and strength.

   Through recruiting, Turner hopes to fix Illinois'' speed problem. Junior college players and freshman receivers, running backs and defensive backs will be expected to contribute immediately.

   The long-term prognosis keeps Turner with a mostly positive attitude.

   "I have my moments when I''m not real happy," Turner said. "If I didn''t keep the big picture in mind ... I''d be going crazy standing on the sideline getting our brains bashed in."

   On Saturday, the Illini face an opponent that knows the feeling.

   Indiana doesn''t have a touchdown in four games and has been outscored 168-6 during that stretch.

   "They''re going through a lot of what we are," Turner said. "They''ve got one win. That''s basically the difference.

   "They''re just playing inconsistently, like us."

   Like Illinois, the Hoosiers have a first-year coach, Cam Cameron. Like Illinois, the Hoosiers have struggled trying to score points.

   Indiana has 78 points in seven games. Illinois has scored 69. The Hoosiers have been shut out twice and have scored in double figures twice. Illinois hasn''t been shut out, but its most points came in a 35-22 loss to Washington State.

   Like Illinois, Indiana has a quarterback controversy. Jay Rodgers won the job and has had moderate success. Some of the Hoosier fans want to see touted freshman Earl Haniford.

   At least Indiana has a consistent starter. Illinois is working with its third quarterback this season.

   Mark Hoekstra opened the season and was replaced after three games. Tim Lavery, who took over at Iowa, completed 36 percent of his passes.

   Against Purdue, redshirt sophomore Kirk Johnson made his first college start. He threw four interceptions and completed 14 of 27 to his own guys.

   On Sunday, Turner hadn''t decided on his starter for the Indiana game.

   "Right now, anything''s possible," Turner said. "One of them is going to start. I think."

   Turner hoped to avoid quarterback roulette this season.

   "I want to get one guy and play him four years, three years, whatever he''s got left, but nobody''s taken it," Turner said.