The Illini have won four games over the past two years and another two- or three-win season will not even begin to satisfy fans -- no matter how strong a recruiter Zook turns out to be.

The Illini need to develop some offensive consistency and that means significantly better quarterback play. Tim Brasic is the No. 1 quarterback going into the season based on a strong showing this spring, but if there is any slippage early on, Kisan Flakes has a great chance to see action. Flakes is a brilliant athlete who can make pass rushers miss with his quick moves. If he can throw accurately, he could be dangerous.

The strength of the Illinois offense should be its running game. E.B. Halsey and Pierre Thomas are both talented players capable of big plays. Halsey can do it all. He can run inside, outside, block and catch passes. Thomas is more of the home run hitter because of his first-rate balance. Freshman RB Rashard Mendenhall could be the team's star of the future.

Kendrick Jones should be the No. 1 receiver and has an opportunity to become a star if the Illini can develop a decent No. 2 receiver to take some of the heat off. Speedy Andre Young has a chance to fill that role and TE Anthony McClellan has the size (6-5) and hands to become a third-down receiver.

No matter how the offense plays, the defense needs to step up. This unit has been charitable since the Illini's 10-win season in 2001. Xavier Fulton has a chance to emerge because of his work ethic and energy. He's not huge, but he could become a leader as a sophomore because he takes his job so seriously.

The rest of the defense needs to follow his lead. CB Alan Ball begins his third year as a starter and is the team's best cover man.

It's hard to complain about P Steve Weatherford. He was fourth in the nation with a 45.4 yard average last year. Weatherford has a chance to become an NFL draft pick next year because he gets great direction as well as distance on his punts.

Zook has an opportunity to lead this team to respectability. The Illini can't measure up with Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State at this point, but Zook can demand hustle and intelligent play. If he lets things slide like his indecisive predecessor, Zook will suffer a painful season.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAME: vs. Michigan State, Sept. 24 -- The Illini have a reasonable opening stretch. They should beat Rutgers and San Jose State at home in their first two games before going to California. The Illini then opens the Big Ten season at home against Michigan State. If they keep mistakes to a minimum, perhaps they can compete with a Spartan team that should be somewhere in the middle of the Big Ten this season.

THE ILLINI WILL GO 6-5 IF: The key for Ron Zook will be creating a new attitude. Illinois has lost so much in recent years that the team tends to fall apart at the first hint of adversity. That's what Zook has to change. The schedule is fairly reasonable at the start of the season and a good start could lead to a winning record.

THE ILLINI WILL GO 2-9 IF: The defense fails to improve. Illinois has been inconsistent on offense, but they have been consistently awful on defense for the past three years. Defensive coordinator Mike Mallory has to find a way to get this team to play with consistent toughness.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "If you look at what our basketball program did and the excitement that people got caught up in, I believe there is no reason why we can't have the same thing." -- Ron Zook on how the Illini football program can be built up.

HEAD COACH: Ron Zook, 1st year at Illinois, 23-14 overall.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: RB Pierre Thomas -- He has a chance to be a legitimate star in a conference with several great running backs. Because there are so many questions on the defensive side, it is incumbent on the Illini to play solid offense and run the ball effectively in order to take some of the pressure off the defense. Thomas ran for 893 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry a year ago and is ready to break free.

BREAKOUT STAR: DE Xavier Fulton -- Fulton has great moves and will work hard through the whistle. The Illini has lacked this kind of player through the last three seasons and head coach Ron Zook is counting on him to become a player to fear.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH: RB Rashard Mendenhall -- One of the most highly rated recruits in the nation. Mendenhall won't have the pressure of being the man from Day One and that could help him to get off to a great start.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: Offense -- QB Tim Brasic, RB E.B. Halsey, R.B. Pierre Thomas, WR Kendrick Jones, WR Andre Young, TE Melvin Bryant, LT J.J. Simmons, LG Martin O'Donnell, C Matt Maddox, ORG James Ryan, ORT Jim LaBonte

Defense -- DE Xavier Fulton, DT Ryan Matha, DT Chris Norwell, DE Derek Walker, OLB Anthony Thornhill, MLB Redmond Willis, OLB J Leman, CB Alan Ball, CB Charles Bailey, FS Morris Virgil, SS Travis Williams.

ROSTER REPORT: SS Travis Williams missed spring practice with a hernia problem but should be ready to practice this summer.