After routs of SIUE and NIU, Illinois on Saturday hosts ... Presbyterian College. But there are a few challenges awaiting the Illini. Beat writer Paul Klee examines when Illinois will dive into the deep end of its pre-Big Ten schedule

Utah: Losing money at the blackjack tables is a bigger concern.

CHAMPAIGN – Recruiting down to the wire against national basketball powerhouses hasn't proven beneficial for Illini coach Bruce Weber.

Sometimes it almost seems like drawing to a four-card flush against a pat hand. Imagine the lost hours in the futile quests – just to name a few – for Jon Scheyer, Julian Wright, Iman Shumpert, Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, Evan Turner, Sherron Collins, Darius Miller and Dar Tucker.

PEORIA — A once-popular basketball talent analyst with a history of robbery and theft has been indicted by a federal grand jury for bank robbery again.

Stephen D. Wacaser, 57, no address available, was indicted Wednesday for the Oct. 19 robbery of the Regions Bank in Decatur and the Oct. 20 robbery of the Illini Bank in Sherman.

— With both the Illinois men's basketball team and the football team playing Friday, Voice of the Illini BRIAN BARNHART won't be able to broadcast both events. Barnhart will work the Illinois-Cincinnati football game with KURT KITTNER and STEVE KELLY. DAVE LOANE will work the Illinois men's basketball games in Las Vegas with JERRY HESTER.

We've got two to give away to Saturday's men's basketball game against Presbyterian. I'll draw a winner first thing in the morning.

The expenditure line items show how much the Big Ten has developed into a league of the haves (Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan and Iowa) and the have-nots (Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue, Indiana and Minnesota).

The formers spend at least $70 million a year; the latters spend $48 million to $58 million annually. Michigan State ($60.9 million) occupies the middle ground.

I've given them a 'B' just because of the level of competition.

CHAMPAIGN – The shot-making of precocious leaper Brandon Paul is the talk of the town – 42 points in his first two games – but it still appears the Illini will go only as far as remade point guard Demetri McCamey takes them.

Playmakers are always the key because they make their teammates better. We saw this with Bruce Douglas years ago, and with pass-minded guards like Larry Smith, Kiwane Garris, Frank Williams, Deron Williams and, in recent years, Chester Frazier.