I was here. I was here in Champaign keeping a watchful eye on the Illini football and basketball teams. I caught one football game and three basketball games. Here's what I saw in Champaign and across the NCAA last week …

… I saw the end of one season and the beginning of another last Saturday. The Illini football team mercilessly ended its worst season since 1997 with a 37-20 loss to Northwestern on Nov. 22.

The Illini held a 13-7 advantage at halftime only to let the same vices that victimized them all season show through again in the second half: turnover margin and run defense.

Northwestern won the turnover battle 6-2 and outrushed Illinois 444 yards to 122. That statline was familiar for the Illini this season, hence, the 1-11 record.

But Ron Turner feels confident about his 2004 squad. Strangely, I agree.

The offense returns everyone but tackle Sean Bubin and possibly QB Jon Beutjer. And the defense boasts an athletic and speedy group of freshmen. If they can figure out how to stop the run (try Bucky Babcock at defensive tackle), the Illini should easily be back in bowl contention.

They play seven games at home next year and the non-conference schedule of Florida A&M, UCLA and Western Michigan should produce at least a 2-1 mark. That's much better than 1-3.

"I think we're in a lot better shape than '97 and '98," Turner said. "And a lot better in other areas than after the 2000 season."

The Illini were 0-11 in 1997, 3-8 in 1998 and won the Big Ten title in 2001 after a 5-6 mark in 2000. Hope springs eternal in Memorial Stadium this off-season. It should carry over to the regular season … I think …

… I saw a team with hope in 2003. The Illini men's basketball team opened their season last Saturday night in the second half of the Illini football/basketball twinbill.

A 94-66 win over Western Illinois was expected. A 93-61 win over Mercer five nights later was even more impressive. And a 75-60 win over Temple and its tenacious zone defense on Saturday confirmed that the Illini are "Cookin' with Weber."

Head coach Bruce Weber's first two wins as the Illini's 16th head coach came without star guard Luther Head and freshmen Aaron Spears and Richard McBride. Head and Spears returned from their four-game suspensions against Temple. Head scored nine points in 19 minutes and Spears added one rebound in 12 minutes. Both looked rusty.

But the dominant play of sophomore guard Deron Williams has compensated for their absence. Williams poured in 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the opener against Western. He added 14 points and five assists against Mercer. And he scored a career-best 18 points against Temple.

Fellow sophomore guard Dee Brown continues to garner national attention and his three games of 23, 18 and 16 points haven't disappointed. But Williams' performances have provided rubber cement for a team that was about to crack.

"We need someone to be a winner," Weber said after the Illini's season-opening win. "I think almost getting a triple-double is enough."

So are double-doubles from Roger Powell and James Augustine. Powell had his against Mercer with 16 points and 10 rebounds and against Temple with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Augustine had his against Western with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Maybe it'll be Head's turn against No. 10 North Carolina tomorrow night. Heads up ...

… I saw a fickle firing. Nebraska AD Steve Pederson fired head football coach Frank Solich on Sunday after the Cornhuskers wrapped up a 9-3 season. Yes, Solich was fired after leading the No. 21 Huskers to a bowl game and a 9-3 record in the Big XII — the conference that boasts No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 6 Texas, No. 13 Kansas State and No. 22 Oklahoma State.

Pederson's reason for firing Solich, who posted a 58-19 mark in six seasons since replacing legendary Tom Osborne, was that he feared his program was slipping into "mediocrity." If my math serves me correct, 9-3 is a significant improvement over 7-7, the Huskers record in 2002. Somehow Pederson sees improvement as mediocrity ... and you thought Ron Guenther was tough on his coaches.

I pity Solich's replacement. He better go 11-1 and win the Big XII next year or else he'll be remembered as the coach who shucked the Huskers.

Yikes!

Chris Neubauer is a senior in communications. He can be reached at sports@dailyillini.com.