Augustana (IL) @ Illinois preview

Illinois looks to improve to 5-0 on the season when it hosts Division III foe Augustana in a non-conference contest Wednesday night. The Fighting Illini have played all their games at home, winning all but one by nine points or more, while the Vikings are also unbeaten and are ranked No. 2 in Division III.

The Illini have been getting offensive contributions from a number of players, with five double-figure scorers, paced by junior forward Leron Black's 15.5 points and six rebounds a game. Freshman guard Mark Smith has turned it on of late, ranking second on the team with 14 points per contest, while sophomore forward Kipper Nichols has been a spark off the bench, pouring in 12.8 per game. Defensively, coach Brad Underwood's squad has been solid, holding teams to 40.1 percent shooting from the field and 69 points a game. Coach Grey Giovanine's squad is paced by a pair of juniors in guard Chrishawn Orange (16.7 points) and forward Pierson Wofford (14.7 points, 11.7 rebounds).

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network Plus

ABOUT AUGUSTANA (3-0): The Vikings may not be expected to win against a Big Ten squad, but don't tell that to Giovanine's squad, which is known for playing hard even in difficult circumstances. The game -- which won't count on Augustana's record because it's an exempt game on its schedule -- is a big deal to many of the players who grew up in the state of Illinois and dreamt of playing for the Illini. The Vikings last played a Big Ten squad in 2013-14, when they lost by 22 to Iowa but were praised by Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery for outcompeting his squad, something the Illini had better be prepared for Wednesday.

ABOUT ILLINOIS (4-0): Many fans believe that if a player is scoring in bunches, he should be promoted into the starting lineup. Illini fans better re-think that if they're waiting for Nichols and Aaron Jordan (10.8 ppg) to join the starting five, as Underwood has stated recently that he wants to keep his bench productive, which means not moving the top scorers. Not that being a starter or a reserve means much once the game gets started, as the Illini have nine players currently averaging 17.8 minutes or better, with Nichols, Jordan and Trent Frazier (7.3 points) all playing nearly as many minutes as the starting five.

TIP-INS

1. Illinois has scored 27.3 percent of its points from the free-throw line, which ranks 19th in the country.

2. Smith is 20-for-20 from the free-throw line this season, the first freshman in the nation to make at least 20 free throws while shooting 100 percent in his first four games since Campbell's Trey Freeman was 28-for-28 in 2011-12.

3. Nichols recorded his first career double-double in the win over Marshall, setting career highs in both scoring (17) and rebounding (11).

PREDICTION: Illinois 86, Augustana 64