The resurgent Penn State men’s basketball team begins its improbable run to the NCAA Tournament today as it faces Illinois in the Big11Ten Tournament at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The Nittany Lions are (15-15, 7-11 in the Big11Ten) despite losing their two best players, Geary Claxton and Jamelle Cornley, to injury. They know how to beat Illinois too, winning both games this season. After that, they need to win just through more tournament games to enter Big Dance.