"No question, it's the best team on our schedule," head coach Bill Richards said. "We know it'll be a big challenge, but that's what you play for."
Richards called Illinois "pretty solid all the way down." Its top three singles players - Amer Delic, Phil Stolt and Brian Wilson - are ranked No. 2, 6 and 20, respectively, in the nation. Stolt and Wilson are the second-ranked doubles team.
"We know we're a major underdog," Richards said. "Our approach will be on an individual basis, not really on a team win."
Ball State opened the season last week with 7-0 wins over Bradley and Valparaiso. Seniors Chris Varga and Kevin Burnett and freshman Matt Baccarani all had a hand in three wins.