BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Bruce Weber gets to watch the object of his affections smooch with another man today.

For him, it will be a sickening sight.

Eric Gordon, who looked to be Weber's recruiting masterpiece when he verbally committed to Illinois in November of his junior year, awkwardly untied his knot, pledged his love to Indiana's Kelvin Sampson and today will be trying to drive a stake into Illinois' heart.

That's simply Gordon's job nowadays and as the most talented player in the Big Ten Conference, he's more than capable.

Weber and Sampson despise each other and when they shake hands today, it will be the most insincere handshake two men could muster. And you thought Chief Illiniwek was political correctness run amok.

While Weber and Sampson agree on little, one thing they do share is their high regard for Eric Gordon the basketball player. And if you're seeing him for the first time today, behold an extraordinary, once-in-a-generation combination of talent, poise and pure scoring thunder.

Gordon is a lavishly gifted player, which Weber knew when he recruited him out of Indianapolis, and which Sampson knew when he chased him for his own. Nothing he is doing this fabulous freshmen season surprises either coach, both of whom refused to take the bait this week when asked about the emotional underpinnings of today's matchup.

Instead, each coach stuck to talking about Gordon the player.

"It's tough because he's just one of the best players in the league," Weber said. "When you look at teams around the league beforehand, you are always mentally trying to gear yourself up.

"I thought about the matchup between Shaun Pruitt and D.J. White. That's a good matchup and it was one of the regional Sports Illustrated covers.

"I thought about Brian Randle and Chester Frazier, players who might be able to stay near (Gordon) defensively. But now Chester is struggling and Brian is struggling.

"It's a tough matchup because (Gordon) has played at a very high level, spectacular for a freshman.

"He has made them into a top 10 team in the country and it's difficult to go against him."

Gordon promises there isn't any extra incentive today, just another chance to show the college basketball world what he and his Hoosier teammates can do.

"I knew this was going to be a big game, but to me it's just a normal Big Ten game," said Gordon, who leads the Big Ten in scoring with 23.5 points a game. "I know a lot of people are going to look forward to this game, but I'm just going to play the way I have against other teams."

Translation: Gordon is playing to play great.

He is shooting 49.7 percent from the field, 44.6 percent from 3-point range and 85.5 percent from the free-throw line. He attacks the basket with a vengeance. His shooting range is unlimited. His only trouble spot has been turning the ball over, and that's partly because he's been asked to play more point guard as Armon Bassett bounces back from injury.

"I think I am making strides," Gordon said of his point guard play. "My ball-handling skills have gotten better."

Sampson said he won't do anything to prepare Gordon for a different type of emotion that might find its way into today's game.

"No, not at all," Sampson said. "Eric doesn't think like you think.

"This is our third conference game and we're playing Illinois. That will be our focus. I am sure that will be their focus, too. Illinois wants to beat Indiana and Indiana wants to beat Illinois. I don't know that anything else needs to be said."

Weber has no doubt wondered what life might be like with Gordon in orange and blue. But the time for those dreams has passed. Gordon wears red and white and today everyone figures to see what all the fuss was about. Quite a bit, he is showing.

Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.