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.

Remember David Freeman? The former Illini basketball player is making it big on TV.

News you can't leave work without:

Deron Williams wants to be an NBA All-Star. Here's how you can help.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue point guard Lewis Jackson, the 2007 News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year from Decatur Eisenhower, will be out indefinitely after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair a foot injury he suffered in practice last week.

CHAMPAIGN - The No. 1 statistical goal for Mike Davis has little to do with upping his scoring average.

He wants to average 10 rebounds per game, something that hasn't been done at Illinois since Nick Weatherspoon averaged 12.3 boards in 1973.

The junior forward is off to a commendable start. No. 23 Illinois didn't play well, but Davis did, and the Illini left the Assembly Hall on Tuesday with a 80-61 win against an overmatched squad from Northern Illinois.

Overall
Illinois: B-plus
NIU: B-minus
Illinois had 54 Matto points. What does that mean? Well, the blue-collar Illini of last season never scored more than 51. Brandon Paul worked his way to a game-high 11 Matto points.

CHAMPAIGN – Stretching one of his rubbery arms over his head, Mike Davis said he's heard the buzz about his game.

And not all of it has been positive.