Illinois Fighting Illini

Brandon Paul #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini goes up for two of his game-high 20 points ahead of Durrell Summers #15 of the Michigan State Spartans at Assembly Hall on January 18, 2011 in Champaign, Illinois. (Getty/Joe Robbins)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois needed a win badly,  to right a ship that had been stuck in rough waters, this month.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Jon Leuer scored 26 points and hit a critical 3-pointer down the stretch as No. 20 Wisconsin beat No. 16 Illinois 76-66 at the Kohl Center on Saturday.

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Penn State's Jeff Brooks drives toward the basket against Illinois' Jereme Richmond on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, in State College, Pennsylvania. (Christopher Weddle/Centre Daily Times/MCT via Getty Images)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Andrew Jones converted an offensive rebound with 1 second left and Talor Battle scored 26 points to lead Penn State past No. 16 Illinoismore

Illinois' Mikel Leshoure runs along the sideline for a touchdown in the second quarter against Fresno State at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, on Friday, December 3, 2010. (Craig Kohlruss/Fresno Bee/MCT via Getty Images)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure will try to cash in on a record-breaking 2010 season and enter the NFL draft.more

Martez Wilson (2) of Illinois stretches to reach quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) of Baylor for a sack during the first half of the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, in Houston, Texas. (George Bridges/MCT via Getty Images)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois middle linebacker Martez Wilson will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.more

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Demetri McCamey scored 14 points and Illinois routed Northwestern 88-63 Thursday night to improve to 3-0 in Big Ten play.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Demetri McCamey scored 21 points and Mike Davis and Bill Cole added 11 each to lead No. 23 Illinois past Wisconsin 69-61 on Sunday.more

Mikel Leshoure (5) of Illinois goes into the end zone as Baylor's Chris Francis (36) tries for the tackle in the second quarter of the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, in Houston, Texas. (George Bridges/MCT via Getty Images)

HOUSTON (AP) — Mikel Leshoure isn’t sure whether he’ll declare for the NFL draft or return to Illinois for his senior season.more

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Demetri McCamey led five players in double figures with 20 points and No. 23 Illinois beat host Iowa 87-77 on Wednesday night in its Big Ten opener.more

Missouri's Michael Dixon (11) turns the corner underneath Illinois' Mike Davis enroute to the basket in the first half of the annual "Braggin Rights" game at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on December 22, 2010. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – ’The Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball’ was kept at bay most of the nightmore