"The Illini would get a much-needed boost if Joseph Bertrand can build on his 19-point game against Missouri. It might also encourage the coaches to go with a four-guard lineup more often."

Paul Klee's breakdown of today's Big Ten opener against Minnesota (6:30 p.m., BTN)

STORYLINES

Breaking out

The Illini would get a much-needed boost if Joseph Bertrand can build on his 19-point game against Missouri. It might also encourage the coaches to go with a four-guard lineup more often. "Can we play some small ball?" Weber said. "I think we can at times." After Bertrand set a new career-high point total, Weber described it as "a Superman performance." And since Bertrand is one of the more popular teammates in the locker room, his peers were glad to see it. "He's learning. He keeps a good attitude," junior Brandon Paul said. "It's going to come." Even while he often shows those same scoring moves in offseason pickup games, Bertrand's breakout game came out of nowhere. In 28 minutes against Missouri, he scored more points than he had in his previous eight games combined (15). "Everybody was playing loose," Bertrand explained.

B.M.O.C.

For the second time this season, Meyers Leonard was named Big Ten Player of the Week. The sophomore earned the honor Monday after averaging 16.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 blocks against Cornell and Missouri. His rebounding numbers, on particular, have soared of late. The 7-footer is averaging 11.5 rebounds over his past four games and has almost 30 boards in his past two. I've got to give him a little bit of a break here and there. Game time for the Illinois-Purdue basketball game Saturday will stay the same (3 p.m.). There had been discussions of whether the league would move the tipoff since it conflicts with the UI football team's kickoff in the Kraft Bowl (2:30).

Big loss

One man can't replace Minnesota senior Trevor Mbakwe, the Big Ten's most dominant power forward and a preseason All-Big Ten selection. But junior Rodney Williams is doing his part. Since Mbakwe was lost for the season with an ACL injury, Williams has moved into his position and witnessed a jump in his scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks totals. "He's a freaky athlete," said Illini recruit Jalen James, who often teamed with Williams during offseason pickup games in the Chicago area. Mbakwe's absence certainly is a boost for the Illini, who watched him go for 17 points and 16 rebounds in their only meeting last season. "He's about as good an offensive rebounder as I've ever seen," said Weber, who worked with Mbakwe with the USA Basketball program.

Prediction

Illinois 59, Minnesota 57

Illinois was the dominant Big Ten player in Bruce Weber's first two seasons, both of which ended with outright conference titles. The past five have produced a mixed bag. The good: 2008-09, when the Illini went 11-7 and tied for second. The bad: 2007-08, when the Illini went 5-13 and tied for ninth. Over the course of that five-year stretch, Illinois has been, well, absolutely average: 44-44 with an average finish of fifth. With a locker room full of athletes and a blossoming star in Meyers Leonard, these Illini are capable of exceeding expectations in Big Ten play. But with suspect outside shooting and a moody offense, they're also capable of finishing in the bottom half of the league. "Going into it, there's a lot of balance and there's going to be a lot of close games," Weber said Monday. The schedule suggests it will be critical to get off to a positive start in the Big Ten. Illinois doesn't play a ranked team until the fifth game of the conference season (No. 2 Ohio State). Meanwhile, the regular season concludes with ranked opponents in three of the final four games (Ohio State, No. 18 Michigan and No. xx Wisconsin). Rested after a shorter-than-usual Christmas break, the Illini will open the Big Ten season with a win against the Gophers. (News-Gazette prediction record: 12-1).

LINEUPS

ILLINOIS (11-2)

Probable starters

P Name HT. YR. PPG

G Sam Maniscalco 6-0 Gr. 10.6

G D.J. Richardson 6-3 Jr. 14.3

G Brandon Paul 6-4 Jr. 11.3

F Tyler Griffey 6-8 Jr. 7.0

C Meyers Leonard 7-0 So. 13.4

Top reserves

G Tracy Abrams 6-1 Fr. 2.4

G Joseph Bertrand 6-5 So. 4.4

F Nnanna Egwu 6-11 Fr. 2.2

Minnesota (12-1)

Probable starters

P Name HT. YR. PPG

G Austin Hollins 6-4 So. 8.7

G Julian Welch 6-3 Jr. 9.9

G Maverick Ahanmisi 6-2 So. 4.7

F Rodney Williams 6-7 Jr. 9.8

F Ralph Sampson III 6-11 Sr. 8.1

Top reserves

G Chip Armelin 6-3 So. 6.2

G Andre Hollins 6-1 Fr. 6.1

C Elliott Eliason 6-11 Fr. 2.8

FACTS & FIGURES

Site: Assembly Hall (16,618), Champaign.

Radio: Brian Barnhart and Jerry Hester call the action on WDWS 1400-AM, WHMS 97.5-FM, WDAN 1490-AM, WDNL 102.1-FM and WPXN 104.9-FM.

TV: Big Ten Network.

Coaches: Weber (204-88 in ninth season at Illinois, 307-142 in 14th season overall); Tubby Smith (92-54 in fifth season at Minnesota, 479-199 in 21st season overall).