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POINT GUARD

DEMETRI McCAMEY, 6-3, SO., 11.5 PPG

ORLANDO MENDEZ-VALDEZ, 6-1, SR., 14.0 ppg

Last time out, Demetri McCamey went scoreless for the first time this season. But in the previous five games he was the Illini's most consistent offensive player, averaging 12.6 points and four assists. Big games are his specialty – 21 points in the comeback at Northwestern, 20 against Missouri, 20 against Clemson – and the NCAA tournament certainly qualifies. "I call him, 'Big Game McCamey,' " Dominique Keller said. WKU's lead guard is senior Orlando Mendez-Veldez, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, who this season recorded the program's first triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists against Troy). His consistency gets the edge.

Edge: Western Kentucky

SHOOTING GUARD

TRENT MEACHAM, 6-2, SR., 9.8 PPG

A.J. SLAUGHTER, 6-3, JR., 15.8 PPG

Before the season, WKU coach Ken McDonald actually thought Slaughter – not Mendez-Valdez – was their top candidate for Sun Belt Player of the Year. That gives you an idea about WKU's backcourt depth. "They have a lot of weapons," said UI assistant Wayne McClain, who has the scouting report. "If one guy doesn't beat you, another guy can beat you." With the absence of Chester Frazier, Meacham becomes even more important. He has to be a steady defender that directs the Illini's team defense. Not only that, but he has to make shots. The UI is 11-0 when Champaign's finest hits at least three three-pointers.

Edge: Western Kentucky

SMALL FORWARD

CALVIN BROCK, 6-5, SR., 5.0 PPG

STEFFPHON PETTIGREW, 6-5, SO., 12.7 PPG

One coach that opposed Western Kentucky said, "The Pettigrew kid shoots funny, but then it goes in." He certainly had a goofy-looking delivery in practice Wednesday, but Pettigrew is shooting 42.4 percent on three-pointers in road and neutral court games. Brock is a solid on-ball defender, but coaches say he has a tendency to "lose" a player after a bunch of screens. "They use a lot of screens," McClain said. Brock can't afford to lose Pettigrew. But the edge goes to Brock, who has played in more NCAA tournament games (two) than any of his teammates that will play today. "You just have to do what you did all year," Brock said Wednesday.

Edge: Illinois

POWER FORWARD

MIKE DAVIS, 6-9, SO., 11.2 PPG

SERGIO KERUSCH, 6-5, SO., 11.2 PPG

Remember how Davis had his way against Michigan in the Big Ten tournament (22 points, 10 boards)? He was defended, at least part of the time, by 6-foot-5 Zack Novak. Here's another mismatch in Davis' favor. "Coach has been telling me and Mike Tisdale, 'We're going to get the ball inside to you. You've got to do something with it,' " Davis said Wednesday. That said, Kerusch plays much bigger than his listed height (6-5). He's had at least 10 rebounds in six of his last seven games. This is the key matchup for Illinois. If Davis outduels his opponent, the Illini should win.

Edge: Illinois

CENTER

MIKE TISDALE, 7-1, SO., 10.5 PPG

JEREMY EVANS, 6-9, JR., 8.7 PPG

In the Illini's locker room Wednesday – a spacious, NBA locker room at the Rose Garden – Tisdale sat in a chair and scribbled his signature on the whiteboard. If he has a big game today, he'll sign even more autographs in Riverton. WKU probably hasn't seen many 7-footers that can shoot as well as Tisdale. If he can hit an open jumper early in the game, it will force Magley out to the perimeter, and offensive rebounders like Brock and Dominique Keller can go to work. This is a good matchup for Tisdale. Why? The Big Ten's comparison to WKU is Michigan. Big Mike went 16 of 22 for 37 points in three games against Michigan.

Edge: Illinois

BENCH

DOMINIQUE KELLER, 6-7, JR., 5.9 PPG

D.J. MAGLEY, 6-9, SO., 2.5 PPG

When a coach says, "The one guy will do something freaky," he's referring to the high-leaping Evans. The Arkansas product is WKU's equivalent of Mike Davis: a bouncy athlete that makes the highlight reel. The NCAA tournament is an important stage for Keller, who will enter next season as the Illini's lone scholarship senior. He wants to leave a positive mark so the Illini head into the offseason like they did last year, with confidence. "Me and Demetri and Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale, we know we're going to have to step up next year, because these older guys won't be here," Keller said. Neither team has a strong bench, but Illinois' is more versatile.

Edge: Illinois

COACH

BRUCE WEBER, 255-110 (10-6 NCAA tournament), 11 seasons

KEN McDONALD, 24-8 (0-0 NCAA tournament), 1 season

A first-year head coach, McDonald made a memorable impression earlier this week, describing his team as "borderline cocky" entering this season. Both teams are reflections of their coach. WKU is loose and unafraid; Illinois is disciplined and system-based. McDonald is 3-0 in the postseason (the Sun Belt Conference tournament). Weber has guided a team to the Final Four. Given three days to prepare for an opponent, he and McClain will come up with a fine game plan. It's up to the Illini to execute it.

Edge: Illinois