CHAMPAIGN — Nisar Qureshi is usually in a good mood on Sundays.

He's a Packers fan. You've probably noticed Green Bay doesn't lose often — or ever, this season.

How much of a fan is the head of the Illinois basketball student managers?

Qureshi expressed his devotion with his pocketbook. He had plans to purchase a share of the publicly owned NFL franchise when shares went on sale Tuesday.

And Qureshi believes Green Bay (12-0) has a great shot at running the table, particularly after the Packers slipped past the Giants 38-35 on Sunday.

"I was pretty nervous. But I've got confidence in Aaron (Rodgers)," Qureshi said. "He's come through many times before."

There's another unbeaten in Qureshi's sporting world, as well. Entering Tuesday's games, Illinois (8-0) was one of 15 Division I basketball teams without a loss. It is the Illini's best start since 2005-06, when they opened 15-0. No. 24 Illinois hosts St. Bonaventure on Wednesday (8 p.m., ESPN2).

For a basketball team in Bears country, there sure seems to be a lot of Packers love in the locker room. Qureshi and Bruce Weber — a die-hard from Milwaukee — swap Packers intel at every opportunity.

They'd like to talk about the undefeated Illini for a while. Who knows how long they will stay that way, but Illinois likely will be favored in every game until Missouri on Dec. 22.

"I come from the school of thought that if you can win them all, you should," associate head coach Wayne McClain said. "You play to win. I think it's overrated that you have to lose (in order) to focus your mind-set."

There's another school of thought that says these Illini, with six freshmen on the roster, will face their first challenge after their first loss. Adversity, athletes like to call it.

"I wouldn't say it isn't known, but not one single player has mentioned that undefeated record to me. And that's a good thing," McClain said. "I think that's part of the maturity and immaturity of this team. We have a hard time, regardless, of trying to keep some of them balanced."

So far these Illini have done a fine job of taking every opponent seriously. Their preparation has been the same whether the opponent was an unranked Richmond squad or a nationally ranked Gonzaga team.

The odds of a letdown don't appear to be as great as they were with recent Illinois teams, which experienced early-season setbacks to the likes of Tennessee State, Illinois-Chicago and Bradley.

"This is where I knew we would be," freshman Tracy Abrams said. "I always knew we were a real good team. So far we've come together and won all the games like I knew we would. As long as we play together and play for each other, we'll keep it going.

"I don't think it's hard to get up for anybody," he added. "In the past, maybe that was the case. But our focus is pretty consistent this year. I'm always prepared for anybody. It doesn't matter to me who we're playing."

On Monday, Illinois returned to the national polls for the first time since the final week of January last season. Coaches aren't concerned, however, it would test the team's focus.

"You want to be there," Weber said. "If you're ranked, you're having a good season."