CHAMPAIGN - The marquee games are set: Duke invades Purdue tonight. North Carolina clashes with Michigan State Wednesday in Detroit. Dickie V will be howling at the top of his lungs.

But if the Big Ten is ever going to end its 0-for-9 showing in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, it's going to hinge on games like tonight's showdown at the Assembly Hall.

In the only matchup pairing unbeaten teams, Clemson and Illinois square off in what could be a defining game for each team early in non-conference play.

Clemson is 7-0 and returns seven of its top 10 players from a team that won 24 games last season. It reached the championship game of the ACC Tournament for the first time since 1962. The high-scoring Tigers love to push the pace, and the defensive-minded Illini offer a clash of styles that should be a focal point for tonight's game.

Coach Bruce Weber is hoping his team can continue to build on a very promising start after winning the South Padre Island Invitational over the weekend.

"I'm not sure a lot of people thought we would be 6-0," Weber said Monday. "As a staff, we thought it was possible, but we knew we had to develop as a team. The players have really bought in.

"Since we've been home, the comment I've heard from quite a few people is, `Man, it looks like the kids enjoy playing with each other. They have great passion and energy,' and that's a key to our success. That and learning to win close games. The kids have been through so many of them (over the past two years) that I don't think they fear it anymore."

Weber said Clemson is likely the strongest team Illinois will play in the non-conference season and one of the toughest they'll see all year.

"They play very much up-tempo," Weber said. "Their coach, Oliver Purnell, likes to press and fast break. They've been playing well and run some people out of the gym early. We'll have our hands full."

Weber said it will be a difficult challenge with little time to prepare.

"We have to really key on some things. Passing and catching will be very important to us. We've been a good passing team up to this point. Also, decision-making. They make you go fast. That's the purpose of their style. We have to take the shots that we practice. They want you to do things you don't practice. When we get open shots, we need to make them.

"They are very athletic and quick. They spread you out and shoot a lot of quick 3s, then they hit the glass hard. It should be a fun game, a very good challenge for us."

Weber agreed it has helped to have Illinois shooting 74.2 percent from the free-throw line after shooting just 60.8 percent last year. The difference has been crucial in three recent close games.

The difference, Weber said, is nothing mystical.

"We have better shooters," he said. "The guys getting the free throws are better shooters. It's also a little bit contagious. You don't have the groans from the fans going, `Oh, no!"'

Weber said this year's team is shooting considerably fewer free throws in practice, which may be contrary to what some fans would believe.

"Last year we were shooting 75 a day, plus extras," he said. "Now we're lucky to shoot 30 a day. I hope it continues. It's important. Last year, if we make just one more in a game, we could have had three more victories."

He also hopes the Assembly Hall provides a loud, home-court edge tonight. Attendance has dropped after last season's 16-19 record, and Weber and his players have said they hope to win back the support, especially from the student body.

"I hope we'll have an extra showing of students there," Weber said. "You get them back two ways: You play with a lot of passion and you win some games. So far we've done that.

"Slowly but surely we'll get the people back in the stands and get the noise going. The Assembly Hall has been a special place. We have to keep that energy alive in the Hall and make it a tough place to play."

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983