The Illini are 37-1 after beating Louisville on Saturday. Tonight they play the second best team in the country, North Carolina. Ironically, North Carolina won the title in 1993 when I was at the tournament in New Orleans. This is probably the best Illinois team since the Whiz Kids of '42,'43. (They were called the Whiz Kids after the announcer Jack Brickhouse commented on how they would whiz past you.) Unfortunately, the Whiz Kids never got a shot at the national title because 3 of the starters were drafted for World War II and the remaining players decided to skip the tournament. Win or Lose, both Illinois and North Carolina should be proud of the seasons they've had. They're all champions in my book; as were the guys in '43 who served their country.