The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll says Illinois ranks No. 17 nationally. KenPom.com's algorithms declare the Illini are No. 6. BartTorvik.com say Brad Underwood's squad belongs at No. 8.

While it's clear Illinois sits among college basketball's best, it's unclear when the Illini will have available all the players that led to these lofty plaudits.

There's a reasonable chance one or two of Illinois' expected starters will not play when SWAC contender Jackson State visits Champaign, Ill., on Monday to open the season.

Junior forward Andrej Stojakovic, who averaged 17.9 points last year at Cal, has been out for weeks since suffering a knee injury in practice. He has been working out but did not play Saturday when Illinois dropped a 96-86 decision to defending national champion Flo

See Full Page