Each week, Paul Klee breaks down the game he loves. If you have questions, send them here

Team of the Week: New York, New York

They hail from leagues that couldn't be more different, Syracuse from the Big East, where guys aspire to play in the NBA, and Cornell from the Ivy League, where guys aspire to run it. The New York tandem, however, is at the top of its game. The Orange jumped to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 after Saturday's thumping of No. 7 Villanova 95-77. The New York Times labeled it "perhaps the biggest regular-season matchup in college basketball this season." It was the most impressive performance we've seen, and it came before a Carrier Dome crowd of 34,616, the largest on-campus hoops crowd in NCAA history. Remember when 31,500 fans, mostly in orange, packed the Illini's Final Four practice at the Edward Jones Dome in '05? That's what the Carrier Dome looked like on ESPN. "It was really indescribable, actually," Syracuse guard Andy Rautins told reporters. While Syracuse (27-2, 14-2 Big East) is targeting a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, Cornell (25-4, 11-1 Ivy) can become the first team to clinch a berth with a win Friday at Brown. There's at least one more common thread: you don't want to see either team in the NCAA tournament. Cornell shows several characteristics of a Cinderella. There's the dangerous three-point shooting (No. 2 in Division I at 42.2 percent), the experience against good teams (after a 71-66 loss at Kansas) and the cast of salty veterans that won't play scared (the top six scorers faced Missouri in the NCAA tournament last year). And let's not forget the New York school that claimed the upset of the preseason. That would be Le Moyne College, which famously stunned Syracuse 82-79 in a November exhibition game. The Dolphins have maintained the New York mojo, winning eight of nine to move into fourth place in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Games to Watch (Illini fans who-to-root-for edition)

1. Minnesota at Michigan (6 p.m. Tuesday, Big Ten Network) – Two days after Illinois won at Wisconsin, a win that brought the Illini back into the NCAA tournament picture, Minnesota lost at home to Michigan. That was a loss that seemed to doom the Gophers. A month later it's possible Illinois (10-6) and Minnesota (8-8) will finish with the same conference record – Illinois still plays Ohio State and Wisconsin; Minnesota has Michigan and Iowa – and Minnesota won at Illinois. Root for Michigan.

2. Connecticut at Notre Dame (6 p.m. Wednesday, ESPN) – With Monday's news that senior Luke Harangody's (knee) college career might be over, it's reasonable to assume Notre Dame is NIT-bound. Not so fast. The Irish are playing better without Harangody, beating Georgetown and Pittsburgh without the double-double machine. UConn is another bubble team, but its resume is better than Notre Dame's. Root for Connecticut.

3. No. 2 Kansas at Missouri (1 p.m. Saturday, CBS) – Considering the RPI, every time a former Illinois opponent beats a good team, it helps the Illini. So root for No. 13 Vanderbilt against Florida (6 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN). Root for Utah against No. 14 BYU (8 p.m. Wednesday, CBS College Sports). Root for Georgia against No. 3 Kentucky (7 p.m. Wednesday, SEC Network). Root for Missouri. And then shower.

Conference Call

(Number of teams in AP Top 25)

SCHOOL PREVIOUS

1. Big East (5 ranked teams) 3

2. Big Ten (4) 4

3. Big 12 (4) 2

4. SEC (3) 5

5. Mountain West (2) 7

6. ACC (2) 1

7. Atlantic 10 (2) 6

8. Horizon (1) NR

9. WCC (1) NR

10. Conference USA (1) 9

The Ex Files (Senior Day 2009 edition)

1. Trent Meacham, Austria – Former Illini has scored in double figures in six straight games and is averaging 15.3 points through 22 games for second-place Wels (19-4).

2. Chester Frazier, Germany – Former Illini is averaging 5.7 points and 21 minutes for second-place Goettingen (17-6), while former Purdue guard David Teague is the league's scoring leader.

3. Calvin Brock, Germany – Former Illini, coming off a season-high 31 points, is averaging a team-high 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds for Weissenhorn (10-12).

4. C.J. Jackson, Hawaii Pacific – Former Illini is averaging 15.9 points and a league-high 11.1 rebounds in the Division II PacWest, where the Sea Warriors (19-5) share a first-place lead.

Random Thoughts

Jamar's Tale

We don't know how the Jamar Smith story will end. We only know that over the past year it's taken a radical turn in the right direction. "He's going to go down as one of the greatest human beings in the history of the world for me," Southern Indiana coach Rodney Watson said Monday. "You know why? He cares more about you and me than he cares about himself." Southern Indiana endured an unimaginable tragedy when senior center Jeron Lewis, 21, a father and a fiance, died from a heart condition, shortly after collapsing on the floor during a game. "January 14 at 9:52 (p.m.) will be etched in our minds forever," Watson said. Watson said Smith's steady friendship and leadership was a major part of the team's mourning process. Strange how life turns, isn't it? A 22-year-old that once desperately needed guidance became the guide. "He's a real captain," Watson said. "I don't mean that in a basketball sense. I mean that in a life sense." The next step in Smith's basketball journey is showcasing his talents for professional scouts. He'll play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament that opens April 7, Smith's 23rd birthday. We write enough about the bad side of basketball, the mistakes and the cheating and the booing. Here's a story that shows signs of a happy ending.

McCamey-Turner's last dance?

There's much more on the line Tuesday at Value City Arena than the old-friends matchup between Demetri McCamey and Evan Turner. Ohio State is playing for the Big Ten title; Illinois probably would secure an NCAA tournament berth with a win. But it also could be the last college game between the former teammates. Turner is a junior, yet he's projected as a lottery pick if he declares for the NBA draft. Asked if he thinks it will be their final meeting, McCamey said Monday, "Most likely it probably will (be). If I was him, it would be the last chance. But I don't know. Evan, he's a different kid. He loves college. So who knows if he'll be back or not." Turner leads their head-to-head matchups 3-2. McCamey was asked if he has any career advice for Turner, like, say, "Turn pro." He chuckled. "I just tell him to make the best decision," McCamey said. "He already knows the money's right there. Like he said, he's always wanted a degree. So if he chooses to come back he always has a good option. (He'll be) the No. 1 or No. 2 pick in the draft. If he stays next year then he'll be No. 1. Knowing Evan, he's the type of kid that loves school, loves Ohio State. So it won't be a surprise to me if he comes back."

What They Said

(On the Big Ten coaches call Monday)

Purdue's Matt Painter, on the absence of forward Robbie Hummel (knee): "We miss Rob in all phases of the game. But we still could have won our last game (against Michigan State) without him."

Michigan State's Tom Izzo: "I love (having) football players. ... I think guys that play two or three sports are much more versatile or well-rounded."

Iowa's Todd Lickliter: "This has been a very enjoyable team to coach."

Bo Ryan, on the return of forward Jon Leuer (wrist): "He makes us better defensively. He makes us better on the glass. And his experience has definitely given us a big boost. He's back playing like he was. Hopefully that will equate into us being a better team."

Ohio State's Thad Matta, on the rematch with Illinois: "They missed some open shots against us (in Ohio State's 72-53 win). We can't bank on the fact that's going to happen again."

Wooden Watch

With Illinois ready to meet Wooden Award frontrunner Evan Turner, here are three recent winners that faced the Illini:

1. Tyler Hansbrough (Wooden winner in 2008) – North Carolina star scored 17 points, but Illinois won 68-64 in Chapel Hill in the 2005 ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

2. J.J. Redick (2004) – Duke star poured in 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting in a 72-62 win in the Sweet 16 of the 2004 NCAA tournament.

3. Jason Williams (2002) – Duke star had 23 points and seven assists in a 78-77 win against Illinois in the 2000 ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Greensboro, N.C.

Klee's Top 25

1. Syracuse Orange ranked No. 1 in AP poll for first time in two decades (1989-90)

2. Kansas Here's where 2009 champ North Carolina was ranked in Week 16: No. 2

3. Kentucky SEC East title still up for grabs after UK's loss at Tennessee on Saturday

4. Duke Somewhat quietly, especially for a Duke team, Blue Devils return to top five

5. Kansas State Frank Martin's Wildcats have moved into No. 1-seed consideration

6. Ohio State Bruce Weber: "Ohio State has returned back to some good, quality form"

7. Villanova Loss to Syracuse on a wild night at Carrier Dome nothing to be ashamed of

8. Michigan State Matt Painter on Spartans: "They manhandled us on the glass"

9. New Mexico Road win at BYU probably locked up a protected seed in NCAAs

10. West Virginia Mountaineers don't always play smart but athletes hide weaknesses

11. Wisconsin Bo Ryan has advocated NCAA tournament expansion throughout season

12. Purdue Michigan State thumped Robbie Hummel-less Purdue on boards (46-20)

13. Temple Bracketologist Andy Glockner has four Atlantic 10 teams in his bracket

14. Vanderbilt Kevin Stallings' recruiting ability – to Vandy – is what impresses us

15. Tennessee Wins against No. 2 (Kansas), No. 3 (Kentucky) highlight Vols' resume

16. Butler Gap in Horizon League certainly isn't closing; Butler won it by six games

17. Pittsburgh Panthers' loss to Indiana becoming more inexplicable with each IU loss

18. BYU Star guard Jimmer Fredette limited by stomach issue in 83-81 loss to UNM

19. Baylor Scott Drew, son of Homer, has surprising Bears in third place in Big 12

20. Texas A&M Recruiting thought: Oswego's Jay Harris not in Illini picture right now

21. Texas On Monday, 'Horns became fourth team ever to fall from No. 1 to unranked

22. Georgetown Former Hoyas star Dikembe Mutombo can speak nine languages

23. UTEP Miners have lowest RPI (50, CollegeRPI.com) of teams ranked in Top 25

24. Gonzaga Zags still rated too high in AP poll, but in running for Spokane placement

25. Xavier Off topic: lowest RPI to make NCAA field was 74; Illinois' was 73 Monday