Tate Taking stock of the Illini

Oct. 26—Extraordinary in-depth surveys by The Athletic and CBS Sports confirm what we might never have imagined in this pay-for-play collegiate era.We can be semi-certain that Brad Underwood's Illini men's basketball roster falls on the plus side of $20 million while the huge Illinois football squad checks in just short of that number.As a result, with the cagers ranked among the 11 national squads most financially supported, expectations are legitimately off the chart. Stretching the words of Illini Guys' Mike Cagley slightly, Underwood is shopping on the Mercedes-Benz floor (and in the Balkans) while football coach Bret Bielema is obliged to barter in the Chevrolet and used-car lot.Bielema takes great pride in noting that defensive backfield veterans Xavier Scott, Matthew Bailey and Juice Clarke (23 combined tackles in Saturday's 21-10 upset of Oregon) had just one major scholarship offer between them. Five-star athletes are within reach in basketball, but not in football.So Bielema follows a small-market, Brewers-like development plan while about 14 Big Ten members are better funded, some by multi-millions.Basketball remains king in these parts, and for good reason.Offensively speaking, retention of Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, the Ivisic twins and Jake Davis provides high-powered Final Four experience.Offensively speaking, Providence's Stefan Vaaks is one of the nation's top transfers.Offensively speaking, six freshmen comprise one of the most impressive groups in UI history.But two problems pop up.After Friday's injury-impacted 95-91 exhibition loss to red-hot Baylor, who knows how health might affect the teams in the games that matter next March.And here's more bad news. In 1938, the NCAA wisely passed a rule eliminating the center jump after a made basket, which means that this Illinois team will be on defense a full 50 percent of the time.It is clear that the UI's best scorers are not the best defenders. In two exhibitions, 6-3 Cincinnati guard Tylen Riley racked 31 points and 13 assists, and 6-1 guards Isaac Williams IV and Kayden Mingo combined for 49 points for in Baylor's win on Friday night in Champaign. Wily guards cost Illinois four overtime losses last season.So Underwood has his work cut out. He'll drive this crew hard in defensive practices while also being cautious with Mirkovic (foot fracture) and others with lesser injuries. This team will be remembered for what happens nearly five months from now. Everything between now and late March is a tuneup. It shouldn't be, but it is.If someone expresses certainty about their favorite college football team, nod agreement and step away because his/her dementia might be contagious.October turned Big Ten teams into a gang of Iowas as the defenses caught up and passed the failing and ailing quarterbacks. Upsets became routine.Back on Oct. 18, the five most important games saw those 10 teams average 17.3 points. Then on Saturday, we watched more favored teams struggle on the road.Iowa had four turnovers and a blocked punt in a 13-10 loss at Minnesota. Southern Cal showed minus-17 yards rushing in a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin. Indiana managed just two field goals in regulation thanks to a recovered fumble and an interception before edging Michigan 13-6 in overtime.And Illinois extended the astonishing descent of Oregon, a once-explosive operation that has scored just 44 points in the last three outings. The Illini defensive unit that Bobby Hauck left a month earlier dug in Saturday after falling behind 10-0, and held the Ducks scoreless while (1) Aidan Laughery broke a 75-yard touchdown run, (2) sub quarterback Carson Boyd made critical 9- and 20-yard runs in a 70-yard scoring march and (3) a heavily covered Collin Dixon made his record-tying 10th touchdown reception bare inches off the ground with 2:29 remaining.When someone mentions that they expected that outcome, just nod and move away.