Illinois: Big Ten is 'about us'

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The loss to Ohio State Sunday remains a stinging memory, but top-ranked Illinois is ready to turn its focus to the tournaments, coach Bruce Weber said Tuesday.\n"The next two days will be preparation about us, just continuing to get better," Weber said. "Little things slipped and that's why we ended up losing the game. So we've got to make sure those little things don't slip anymore."\nThe 65-64 loss to the Buckeyes leaves the Illini 29-1 entering the Big Ten Tournament Friday in Chicago, still the best record in Division I and still good enough to remain No. 1 in the polls. Illinois is the first team to lose and stay on top since Kansas in February 1997.\n"It bothers us, but it's behind us," said Deron Williams. "We're 29-1. It's nothing to cry about."\nBut losing did get Illinois' attention, Weber said. The players were "very attentive, very humbled" during a video session Monday.\n"I think it's good to show them that we are vulnerable and if we have a similar performance again in the next couple weeks we're not going to be around anymore. It's going to be over," he said.\nWhile the Big Ten Tournament likely won't greatly affect Illinois' seeding in the national tourney, winning it has been a goal all season, Weber said. He said Sunday's loss is likely provoke a burst of energy in his team.\n"I think they wish they could play right now, to be honest," he said. "The worst thing is they've got to wait but it might help us because they'll be more attentive to little things in practice that may help us down the road."\nSo will better play from the Illini reserves and more pressure on the defensive end, two things Weber said he will be watching for this weekend.\n"I'm not sure we had that fear factor Sunday afternoon in the second half," Weber said. "I just think we always felt we were going to win. You need that edge that you know it could be over if you don't play at a high level."\nThe Illini are seeded first this weekend and play Friday against the winner of Thursday's Northwestern-Michigan game.\nThe United Center, where Illinois has won 11 straight games, should provide a home-court atmosphere, said Luther Head, the Illini's leading scorer, who is from Chicago.\n"It's Chicago, it's like grandma's house," he said.