No. 24 Illinois must keep focus against St. Bonaventure

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Updated: January 8, 2012 10:33AM

Bruce Weber has the same reaction as Illinois fans to the performances the Illini have delivered during their 8-0 start: Bravo. Encore.

“It’s a good win, a team win,” ­Weber said of the 82-75 victory over No. 19 Gonzaga on Saturday. “Now it’s so important that they realize they have to get better in practice. If they don’t, we’re not going to be ready to face the opponents we’re going to face as the season gets tougher.”

The Illini were rewarded with Top 25 rankings — they’re 24th in the media poll and tied for 22nd in the coaches poll — and Big Ten honors. Meyers Leonard was the co-player of the week.

Anticipation now will turn to Illinois’ annual engagements in the big rooms: UNLV, which beat No. 1 North Carolina, at the United Center on Dec. 17, and No. 10 Missouri at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

However, Weber cautioned that a lounge act against St. Bonaventure on Wednesday at Assembly Hall won’t cut it.

“People ask, ‘How do you feel?’ I say, ‘I’ll know Wednesday night, how our guys respond,’ ” Weber said. “The guys should feel good, but they have to keep a focus. St. Bonaventure is a difficult game. They’re road-tested; they have a couple of good quality players.”

The Bonnies (3-3) are 2-2 on the road, with victories at Buffalo and Siena and losses at Cleveland State and Virginia Tech. They are led by 6-9, 250-pound senior Andrew Nicholson, who’s averaging 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Points of emphasis for Illinois will be getting the ball to Leonard and being persistent on defense.

“We have to look for inside touches,” Weber said. “They’re starting to figure out that if we go to him, we’re going to get better shots, either inside or out.