Scouting: Illinois @ Michigan

Scouting reportIllinois (17-10, 9-5) at Michigan (13-13, 6-8)When: 6 p.m. at Crisler ArenaTV: ESPNStream: ESPN360.comRadio: WIND 560-AMSkinny: After splitting four games against Top 15 teams, it seems weird to suggest this game against an underachieving Michigan squad serves as Illinois' biggest test of the year. "If you're looking at what we've done, other than Ohio State, we've competed with three of the Top 15 teams in the country," Illinois coach Bruce Weber. "I think we've shown that we can be that kind of team." And, yet, the Illini have lost in Ann Arbor four years in a row when they've had the better team. The Wolverines play such small ball (they go with four guards and natural "3" man DeShawn Sims at center), they cause matchup issues for Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis. The Illini succeeded lately with Demetri McCamey finding guys like Tisdale and Davis for open jumpers, but today's recipe calls for those two to get closer to the hoop. McCamey ranks second nationally in assists (15.2 ppg, 6.9 apg) and seems like he has a hold on first-team all-Big Ten honors.