The beauty of the Big Ten's first tournament is that it offers a second chance.

Illinois could lose today at Michigan State by 20 points. Jarrod Gee could go scoreless the rest of the season. Kevin Turner could air-ball every three-point shot in February. Lon Kruger could take a month's vacation.

And the Illini could still make the NCAA tournament.

All they'd have to do is catch fire for four days in March.

Pull those stunts any other year and the Illini are out of luck. The regular season was that vital in the Big Ten.

Now, as Purdue's Gene Keady noted earlier this week, "It's a little different philosophy. You're grooming yourself to get ready for United Center."

That's where the NCAA berth will be handed out. That's were ring sizes will be measured. That's where all the cameras will be.

That's where Illinois could be.

Even if it loses its final 12 regular season games.

"That's not exactly the way you want to go into it," Kruger said. "You want to be playing your best, improving each game along the way."

Kruger understands if the Illini slump badly, if Gee stays cold or Turner goes cold, his team likely won't survive the Big Ten's final exam. The bracket is too bumpy for bad seeds – four games in four nights against four teams with better records.

No time to waste

Illinois could have used an IV after three games in three days over Thanksgiving in San Juan. Sure, the water's safer in Chicago, but the workload might be heavier.

"That's why you want to finish as high as you can," Kruger said.

Conference tournaments are old hat to Kruger, who coached in them at Kansas State and Florida and watches them whenever he gets the chance. Along the way, he's noticed:

– Upsets happen.

At last year's Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, eighth-seeded North Carolina State won three times – including shockers over Duke and Maryland – before giving North Carolina a scare in the championship game. Ohio State has hope, after all.

– Lessons are learned.

Kruger's Kansas State team had its way with Kansas in 1988, beating the Jayhawks twice, including in the semifinals of the Big Eight tournament. "They looked like they just wanted the season to end," Kruger said. But Kansas regrouped and, despite 11 losses, made the NCAA tournament. There it met Kansas State and this time prevailed, going on to win an NCAA title in Larry Brown's final year.

– Momentum is gained.

Kruger's Final Four team at Florida used the Southeastern Conference tournament as a springboard, winning impressively over South Carolina and Alabama before losing to a talented Kentucky group. "That was a team that improved every game," he said.

Sprinting to the tape

Position, Kruger will tell you, is critical. In that way the regular season does retain a trace of consequence.

It is imperative Illinois finishes in the top five. Not only will it help the UI's NCAA tournament credentials – no top-five finisher in the Big Ten has been excluded since the NCAA went to a field of 64 in 1985 – but it will provide a day's rest.

Teams seeded 6-11 play first-round games. Teams 6-11 need four wins to advance. Teams 6-11 can forget about sleep.

"That's a killer," Kruger said.

Illinois has top-five status today, tied with four others at 3-1. The only challengers to the group are Wisconsin and Indiana, and both teams are losing talent by the hour.

The rest of the league – Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State and Penn State – isn't a threat.

Then again, a top seed doesn't guarantee preferential treatment. No. 3 plays its first game at 9:05 p.m. Friday night, its second game at 3:30 the next day. Perhaps the players can catch a nap in between.

But the tournament's seven weeks away. At this hour Kruger's got Spartans – not seedings – on his mind. He said he'll talk tournament with his team when March rolls around.

Even if the Illini don't win again until then.

"You'll see the lower teams practice a little differently in the last week than they would if they knew the season was over with," Kruger said. "That's healthy."

Jim Rossow is sports editor of The News-Gazette.