It’s been a month since students have been on campus and so much has gone on. So while you were sleeping 14 hours a day, you may have missed a few things.

So consider this crib notes of what you may have missed.

Illinois inferiority complex

The last week has seen Illinois begin as the best team in college basketball, fall behind North Carolina, only to rise again to No. 1 when the Tar Heels lost Saturday to Wake Forest.

Wow.

I know Illinois basketball is in uncharted territory now, but it doesn’t mean people have to panic.

The media started saying North Carolina may be better than Illinois.

With the entire public outcry, I thought Bruce Weber decided to follow Bill Self to take a better job.

Now instead of screaming that Illinois is being slighted, listen for a second.

Most people are saying North Carolina has better talent than Illinois.

And they’re right.

The Tar Heels have five potential first round NBA draft picks on their roster.

For next year’s draft.

Illinois has talent, but not stockpiled like that.

What Illinois has is chemistry. No one in the country plays as well as a team as Illinois.

That is what Weber, the players and the fans must remember.

Illinois is No. 1 in the polls. It has met every challenge thus far this year.

It can meet any challenge for the rest of the year.

So have confidence in the team. They can beat anyone as they have shown by beating an up-tempo, athletic Wake Forest squad and a bruising Cincinnati team.

Let everyone talk about how good the latest Johnny-Come-Lately is – and expect Wake to get it’s second go around as the It team.

If the Illini keep winning they will remain No. 1 in the polls.

If the Illini keep winning they will find themselves in St. Louis.

And that is all that matters.

So no matter what is said, just remember it doesn’t change the fact that Illinois is still a phenomenal team.

So pretend like you’ve been at the high stakes table before.

That way you don’t look like you’re in over your head.

The Illinois coaching carousel

If the last month hasn’t proven Illinois football has been the victim of a voodoo curse from a bayou witchdoctor the last three years, nothing will.

Former Illinois offensive coordinator Larry Fedora and offensive line coach Joe Wickline were swept away by Oklahoma State new head coach Mike Gundy to take the same positions for the Cowboys.

So why leave a job only after 25 days?

Money. What else?

Their salaries will reportedly double at Oklahoma State.

Illinois looked to have a coaching staff in place ready to take over the recruiting world and then take a crack at the Big Ten.

The plans now may be slowed down.

Sure, Zook nabbed a good one in former Florida running backs coach Mike Locksley – who Zook calls the next Fedora – to be offensive coordinator and giving Illinois another recruiting guru on its staff.

But what about keeping Mike Mallory as defensive coordinator?

I guess Zook’s endless list of coaching candidates wasn’t long enough at defensive.

Mallory retaining his job is like a secret service agent staying around after letting the president get shot.

That’s not good defense.

Sure, Illinois had several young defensive players who improved last year under Mallory.

But that doesn’t make up for the defense turning average teams into the Indianapolis Colts.

Mallory’s re-hiring just shows no matter how long you’ve been away from campus, some things remain the same.

Bobby La Gesse is a senior in communications. He can be reached at [email protected].