>>Groce Taking Over At Tough Time For Illini

John Groce's timing could have been better. The new Illinois head coach is taking over in a year in which the Big Ten opens with five AP Top 25 teams.

His Illini won't be 1 of them. Illinois is coming off a 17-15 campaign that ended with 12 losses in 14 games and cost Bruce Weber the job Groce now holds.

And the team Groce will coach is essentially the same one that collapsed under Weber. Only its most talented player, center Meyers Leonard, is now in the NBA.

But Groce says his team is hungry heading into the Nov. 9 opener against Colgate.

Illinois will count on Tracy Abrams and Brandon Paul to be the primary ball handlers. And a committee that includes sophomore Nnanna Egwu and transfer Sam McLaurin will try to fill in for Leonard.

>>Illini Football Learning Lesson It Would Rather Skip

Tim Beckman says he's learning a lot from this losing season at Illinois.

The Illini (2-6, 0-4 Big Ten) have lost five straight after Saturday's 31-17 defeat by Indiana. Beckman says it's important to find ways to keep his players motivated and says this season unfortunately providing opportunities in that department.

The going gets tougher Saturday at Ohio State (9-0, 5-0) Beckman says the motivation this week include extra running for eight costly penalties.

The Illini did have 196 yards on the ground against Indiana and Donovonn Young had a career-best 124.

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said it was good to see Young turning in the kind of game the team hopes he can repeat.