Champaign wishes or victory dreams?

The last time the Hoosiers came off a win against a Top 25 team they followed it up with a bad loss against the University of Kentucky, which started a five-game losing streak. IU hopes to avoid another letdown after a 30-21 victory against then-No. 24 Minnesota when the Hoosiers travel to Champaign, Ill., to play the Fighting Illini 2 p.m Saturday at Illinois' Memorial Stadium.\nIllinois (2-7, 0-6 Big Ten) comes into the game struggling losing six of its past seven while giving up and average of 33 points per Big Ten contest. \nThe Hoosiers (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten) will have to watch out for the Illini as they have the ability to surprise a team with two drastically different performances.\nIllinois showed it is capable of hanging in with top teams by almost knocking off Purdue in a 38-30 loss, and leading No. 9 Michigan at half before falling 30-17. The same Illini team lost to Minnesota 45-0.\nIU doesn't know which team it'll get, but it knows Illinois will be motivated on Senior Day, senior safety Herana-Daze Jones said.\n"We are not going to overlook Illinois, our record isn't too much better than theirs, so how can we overlook them," Jones said. "It isn't about ruining their Senior Day, it is just about winning." \nAgainst Minnesota, IU rejuvenated its running attack amassing 238 yards on the ground -- which was the most production for the team all year. The Hoosiers will be looking for similar results against Illinois as the Illini currently rank 10th in the conference in rush defense, allowing an average of 202.9 yards per game.\nUsing mostly one back this season, sophomore BenJarvus Green-Ellis, IU used three running backs against the Gophers, using juniors Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington. The three-back system is something that could continue this weekend against the Illini.\nAiding the revamped rushing attack is the improved play in the offensive line. After having to rotate players for a couple of weeks, the same front five have started the past four games for the Hoosiers.\nHaving the same offensive line the past few weeks is helping the rushing attack, Green-Ellis said.\n"It is a great thing that they are gelling," Green-Ellis said. "It helps that we've all been together now for about three or four weeks, so it is about that time now that we should start clicking and gelling."\nThe IU defense will again have its hands full as the Illini boast two sophomore running backs in E.B. Halsey and Pierre Thomas. Behind center Illinois has been rotating quarterbacks with senior Jon Beutjer and redshirt freshman Brad Bower taking the snaps. \n"Offensively, (Illinois has) a balanced attack. It is a true traditional West Coast attack," said IU coach Gerry DiNardo.\nWhile the team is three games away from reaching the magic number of six wins to reach a bowl game, the Hoosiers continue to take the one game at a time approach, senior wide receiver Courtney Roby said.\n"We have to take every game serious, Illinois' record is deceiving, they are a good team," IU's leading receiver said. "We have to go into every game with the same confidence and the same intensity."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.