Last week solidified Illinois as legitimate contender as the preseason No. 1 team in the country. Retention was the offseason priority in Champaign, and Brad Underwood and Co. were able to follow through by bringing back everyone possible from last season's Final Four rotation except for  NBA-bound Keaton Wagler. Add in Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks and an intriguing five-man freshman class, and Illinois is in as good a position as its been as a program in decades. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.