Las Vegas ? Almost every day, Bruce Weber maps out his team’s goals on a board in practice, emphasizing a particular weakness or looking ahead at the week’s games.

Back in November, before top-ranked Illinois played its first basketball game, the coach wrote “14-0,” on the board and even his assistants expressed skepticism by rolling their eyes.

“I said, ‘I know it sounds like a mouthful,”‘ Weber recalled telling his players, “‘and it’s a long way away … but it’s truly set up in your favor if you come ready to play.'”

Weber’s players proved they were ready and willing, beating every opponent but Missouri by double-digit margins. The Illini beat three ranked teams — Gonzaga, previous No. 1 Wake Forest and most recently Cincinnati on Friday — by an average of 19 points.

“With the experience we have, the leadership and maturity, I think that was easy for us to do,” Illinois guard Deron Williams said.

But now for the big question: How long can Illinois stay unbeaten?

Not much longer, judging by Weber’s tone. He sounded offended as he remembered a recent conversation with a radio announcer who said Illinois could go undefeated in the Big Ten. The Illini, defending Big Ten champs, open conference play against Ohio State on Wednesday in Champaign and travel to Purdue on Saturday.

“They haven’t been around the Big Ten to understand what it’s about,” Weber said of those who believe the Illini can be perfect in league play. “I mean, last year we got our butts thrashed by Northwestern. Anyone in the Big Ten, when you go through that grind, they can get your number.”

Senior Nick Smith agreed, predicting this Illinois team won’t duplicate Indiana’s 32-0 season in 1975-76. Since then, no Big Ten team has finished a season unbeaten.

“We’re going to lose a game,” Smith said. “You can’t put us up there with teams like that. At the same time, I wouldn’t mind losing just one. And then going all the way through April not losing again.”

Scheduling no longer will be in Illinois’ favor. The Illini’s victory over Wake Forest came at Assembly Hall, and its victories over Gonzaga in Indianapolis and against Cincinnati in Las Vegas came in front of crowds made up almost completely of Illinois fans.

Illinois’ Big Ten schedule includes road games at Michigan State and Michigan in February, and those teams won’t make a return trip to Champaign this season. On Jan. 25, the Illini play Wisconsin in Madison, where Badgers coach Bo Ryan never has lost a Big Ten game.

“We’re going to have to go out there and gut it out,” junior James Augustine said.

To prepare for the Big Ten, Illinois coaches scheduled an opponent from every big-name conference, from the ACC to the Pac-10. In Las Vegas, the team regained the defensive intensity Weber had found lacking in victories over Longwood and Missouri.

“We need a lot more motion in our motion offense,” Williams said.

Weber’s players have adopted his blue-collar work ethic and are thriving with it. Whether they’re winning ugly or overwhelming teams, their poise never slips.