Time to empty the notebook after the Illini’s most lopsided win over Indiana in a series that started in 1906:

The Illini did exactly what they should have done on Saturday. After a week of practice they started with a ton of energy against Indiana. They took advantage of a fragile team and built a big lead. And then they eased coach Bruce Weber’s worries about not finishing job by putting the game away in the first half and winning the second half as well.

The stat sheet was filled with impressive numbers, both offensively and defensively.

Illinois shot 51 percent and made 13 of 25 3-pointers. The Illini had 17 assists on their 26 baskets and committed only nine turnovers. And the free-throw shooting continued to be solid with an 11-for-13 effort. Marquette coach Tom Crean was handing out a lot of compliments after the game, and he started with the Illinois offense, calling it one of the best in the country.

“We didn’t want to be in a situation where we were chasing them around in the motion all game,” he said when asked about switching to a zone. “They’re too good at it. They curl extremely well and slip screens extremely well.”

The offense is being helped this year by a couple of things, and maybe they’re obvious.

One: The inside players have the ability to step away from the basket and be threats unlike the center who clogged the middle in recent years. Although he didn’t do it Saturday, center Mike Tisdale has shown great confidence in his mid-range jumper and so has forward Mike Davis. That opens a lot of space to get things done.

Two: The Illini start three guards who have played the point at various times. Trent Meacham, Demetri McCamey and Chester Frazier can all pass the ball effectively and their assist numbers reflect the fact that sometimes they have three point guards on the court simultaneously.

“You’ve got a lot of guys that can pass the ball, and when they take care of it and don’t turn it over it gives us extra possessions,” Weber said. “We just get extra possessions we probably didn’t have last year.”

The Illini also were smothering defensively with 11 steals and nine blocked shots, and they turned Indiana’s 17 turnovers into 31 points.

“The thing I’m most pleased with was how hard we played,” Weber said. “I was disappointed — I think the whole staff was — at Michigan. We didn’t defend the way we’d been doing it. That was the emphasis all week and we were able to get some steals and block some shots.” …

Crean had some nice words for Meacham after the senior guard nailed seven 3-pointers and led all scorers with 21 points.

“Trent Meacham has been one of my favorites for a long time,” he said. “It was a crushing blow to Brian Gregory’s (Dayton) program when he lost him. To me, he has always been a Travis Diener type of kid, and he proved that again today. That kid is an excellent basketball player.”

Of course, Crean coached Diener at Marquette. …

There shouldn’t be any buzz this week about Illinois getting into the polls, simply because the Illini had just one game for the week and beating Indiana isn’t likely to get the job done. Also, there weren’t enough losses at the bottom of the poll to make room.

“I guess in a way it’s almost good and we still have that carrot out there,” Weber said. “They talked about getting into the top 25 after Missouri and Purdue but they shut up after Michigan. I said, ‘You’ll have your chance over the next two weeks to earn it by playing good people.’ They have a chance to earn that ranking.” …

Bruce Douglas from the 1984 Big Ten championship team was on hand for Saturday’s reunion celebration and talked to the team before the game. Douglas is No. 22 on the school’s all-time scoring list

“He talked about being a great teammate and a great leader, then leaving a legacy,” Weber said. “He truly has done that, not only here but in life, and I think the guys reacted to that pretty well.” …

McCamey had a pair of steals that he turned into fast break points, one coming on a dunk. It wasn’t as spectacular as the one Frazier threw down at Michigan, but McCamey was asked if that was his attempt to match his teammate.

“Coach Weber asked that, too,” McCamey said. “I can get up pretty well, I just don’t do it that often.” …

The one area where Illinois struggled — and it’s happened often this season — came on the boards. Indiana outrebounded the Illini 35-23, and the Hoosiers had 15 offensive rebounds. It had absolutely no impact in the game, but coaches and players know it could down the line.

Mike Davis led the team with eight rebounds but he had only one in the second half. At one point when Indiana was having its way, an assistant coach told Weber that Davis wasn’t getting any rebounds and the sophomore  was pulled.

“Everybody has to get in the paint,” Davis said. “Everybody has to crash the glass.”

Said Weber: “It’s still a factor, no doubt. Whether it’s Michigan State or Wisconsin, those are teams where it could end up costing us. I hope it doesn’t.” …

Indiana junior Devan Dumes had a bad day. He didn’t start the game because he was late for the team bus for the trip to the arena, and then he ended up with what looked like a nasty ankle injury.

“It was an honest mistake but he’s late for the bus,” Crean said. “We established the rules on April 1. That’s the way it is.”

Crean wasn’t sure of the extent of the injury but said Dumes couldn’t put any weight on his ankle. He was on crutches after the game.