Illini figure to see more of Wisconsin's Hill this time

Illinois didn't get P.J. Hill's best shot last year.

Actually, to be more accurate, Wisconsin's splendid sophomore tailback didn't give his best because he took a couple of Illinois' best shots during last year's 30-24 come-from-ahead Illini loss at Camp Randall Stadium.

Hill left in the first quarter of that game when defensive end Doug Pilcher and linebacker Brit Miller combined to crunch him on a high-low tackle.

Then, with 7:18 remaining in the third quarter, Hill left for good after linebacker Antonio Steele grabbed his legs and safety Justin Harrison lowered his shoulder and smacked Hill in the neck.

All four of those Illini defenders, as well as five other starters, are back for Saturday's big meeting with the fifth-ranked Badgers in Champaign (11 a.m., ESPN).

"I felt like it was a smooth hit, a clean hit," Harrison said after that game. "When you tackle someone and you don't feel it, you really know it's special."

Hill left with a neck stinger and career-lows with 12 carries and 50 yards. (He later managed just 36 yards in Wisconsin's bowl game).

This year, though, Hill hasn't suffered through any bad days. He owns four consecutive 100-yard efforts heading into this week's game, ranks sixth nationally in rushing with 133.4 yards per game and has 8 touchdowns in his last four games.

Coincidentally, Hill entered last year's Illinois game the same way: Four consecutive 100-yard games, ranked sixth nationally in rushing and with 8 touchdowns in his last four games.

Good Juice: Ron Zook tries his best to put an optimistic spin on Juice Williams' performances.

The Illinois coach does this partially to counteract public criticism of his true sophomore quarterback -- and partially to alert everyone when Williams performs well and folks don't seem to notice.

While some are fixated on Williams' poor second halves in Big Ten play (1 of 11 for 9 yards and 2 interceptions), Zook points to Williams' terrific start last week against Penn State.

"Juice did some really good things," Zook said. "I think if you go back and look at the first 11 passes, Russ (Weil) dropped one. Brian Gamble misjudged one or it would've been a touchdown. Jacob (Willis) ran too deep on a route. Otherwise, he would've been 11-for-11."

That's correct math, though during the game it appeared as though Williams' pass to Weil was thrown behind him. But why quibble?

Injury update: Downers Grove North product Garrett Edwards merely has a bone bruise on his left knee.

The redshirt freshman suffered what appeared to be a serious injury while performing on Illinois' punt-return team against Penn State, but Zook said an MRI offered good news. Edwards is "day to day and week to week."

Sophomore split end Joe Morgan, who has 2 starts this year, only played on special teams against Penn State due to a 103-degree fever earlier in the week.

Zook expects the speedster to be part of the normal receivers rotation this week.

He said it: Ron Zook acted stunned when he heard his unranked Illini opened as a 3-point favorite over the fifth-ranked Badgers:

"That's got to be a Wisconsin guy trying to get them upset. I don't think anybody in their right mind could make us a favorite. We haven't done anything, in my opinion, to prove ourselves that way yet."

The line, by the way, moved to 2½ points Tuesday.

The stat: Since rallying to beat fifth-ranked USC 14-13 on Sept. 4, 1989, Illinois has gone 0-11-1 against top-five opponents. In fact, the Illini own just 1 win over a top-10 team since 1989. That was a come-from-behind 35-29 victory at No. 9 Michigan on Oct. 23, 1999.