Illinois coach Tim Beckman isn't calling last weekend's 31-14 loss to Wisconsin a victory, moral or otherwise.
The first-year coach said Monday he saw three quarters of pretty good football out of the Illini (2-4, 0-2 Big Ten). And that's an improvement.
Now as the Illini prepare for another tough road test at No. 25 Michigan (3-2, 1-0), Beckman says his team needs to learn how to finish.
Illinois lost in back-to-back blowouts before the Wisconsin game but found itself very much in Saturday's game after three quarters. The Badgers led 10-7.
Safety Steve Hull said the defense can build on what it did right in those 45 minutes of football.