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Thursday, September 21, 2000

By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The game between No. 10 Michigan and No. 19 Illinois on Saturday is important on several fronts for the Illini.

Coach Ron Turner has his team at 3-0 for a second consecutive season. Last season, the Illini lost three in a row to start the Big Ten season before rebounding with five wins in the final six games. If Illinois can beat Michigan for a second consecutive season -- they went to Ann Arbor and won, 35-29, last year -- the Illini can set themselves up for a run at one of the top three spots in the Big Ten.

This also is an important game for Turner in terms of recruiting. For the past few years, most of the best players in the state of Illinois have gone to Notre Dame or Michigan. If Illinois can beat Michigan two years in a row, Turner can make some strides in recruiting circles.

"It's a big game," Turner said. "Any time you play a Top 10 team, it's a big game. It's a great opportunity to find out where we are as a program."

Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner, who injured his leg late in Illinois' 17-15 win over California last week, is expected to play.

Michigan's quarterback situation is still unsettled. Junior Drew Henson, who missed the first three games with a broken foot, was to practice more this week, but Wolverines Coach Lloyd Carr said he won't know until today or tomorrow whether Henson will be able to play at Illinois.

Backup John Navarre, a redshirt freshman, struggled in Michigan's 23-20 loss at No. 14 UCLA last week. Navarre was 8 for 28 for 11 yards, 1 for 10 for 37 yards in the second half.

Finding ways to lose

Dating to last season, Indiana has lost five consecutive games. In four of those games, the Hoosiers were tied or ahead in the fourth quarter.

In those five games, the Hoosiers have allowed an average of 37 points per game. In fourth quarters of those games, they are allowing an average of 15 points.

In the latest fourth-quarter collapse Saturday, Kentucky scored on a fumble return with 1:57 remaining to claim a 41-34 victory. In the season opener two weeks ago, North Carolina State scored 21 fourth-quarter points in a 41-38 win.

"We've talked about it as a staff," Indiana Coach Cam Cameron said. "We've scored a lot of points. We did that a year ago. We've got to continue to believe in our defense and what we're doing. We're giving up the big play. It comes down to that. We're doing a lot of good things. We just have to improve on defense."

Indiana does have some recent experience winning close games. The Hoosiers came from behind to beat Illinois and Iowa last season.

"We've done it twice," Cameron said. "We just have to continue what we're doing and finish plays. Against Kentucky, after they scored, we went right down the field to their 15, then we threw three incompletions. We haven't finished plays, but I still think we've done a lot of good things.

"There's no panic around here. There are things we're doing well, things we haven't done well in the three years I've been here. And some of those things are from a defensive standpoint, flying around and hitting people. The other thing is the play of our offensive line. We had to finesse some people in the past. But now we're blocking people. I like what I see from a physical standpoint."

Badgers dropping

Wisconsin is 3-0, but the Badgers have dropped three slots in the Associated Press poll since the beginning of the season. Wisconsin has won its three non-conference games by 12 points or less, including a 28-25 overtime victory over Cincinnati last Saturday.

The narrow margins may stem from Coach Barry Alvarez having to juggle his lineup every week as 26 Badger players have had to serve one- to three-game suspensions during the first four weeks of the season for receiving unadvertised discounts at a shoe store. This week, the Badgers play Northwestern and it is the final week for player suspensions.

Last week, the Badgers had to play without starting running back Michael Bennett and Jamar Fletcher, an All-America cornerback.

Alvarez said he is not concerned with his team's Bowl Championship Series ranking when that is unveiled in the coming weeks.

"I haven't given that a whole lot of thought," Alvarez said. "It's so early, and there's so much football that has to be played. Our goal, when we found out about the suspensions, was to survive the first four games.

"I think the [BCS] will play itself out. I won't put a whole lot of thought into the BCS. Right now, it's too early to concern myself with it."