All modesty aside, I know the readers of my weekly musings, angry rants and random thoughts about the sports world look to me for insight or knowledge.

And week in and week out, I do my best to quench the readers’ desires for a fresh perspective.

And week in and week out, I disappoint. Well, over the past 10 days my indiscretions have carried over into my spoken words.

Prior to last Saturday, I thought the University of Illinois basketball team was overrated. “Not that good,” I said about the Illini.

Then they beat Gonzaga 89-72, but the score was much closer than the game was.

I had a great chance to go back on my anti-Illini stance, but instead, I started talking about how Gonzaga isn’t that good either.

Surely, top-ranked Wake Forrest would beat them.

I yelled at everyone who tried to tell me different. I passionately argued they didn’t have big-game players, couldn’t keep shooting over 50 percent as a team and lacked a lot of depth.

Plus, they have to deal with one of the biggest distractions any team can face – Nick Smith’s maybe/maybe not mustache.

But then I watched the first ten minutes against Wake. Woops.

They didn’t miss a shot, didn’t allow a basket, didn’t commit any turnovers and developed an alternate polio vaccine without breaking a sweat.

It was the perfect performance.

After Thursday’s 18-point drubbing of the Demon Deacons, I’m finally in the position to admit the error of my ways.

Illinois is pretty good. In fact, the way they’ve looked so far this season, I’d say they’re really good.

See, I’ve been wrong about things like this before.

Every March, I shred my NCAA Tournament brackets faster than an Enron executive the day before being audited.

I thought Gary Barnett ran a clean program, Larry Eustachy just liked to have a few beers and Jason Giambi just liked to workout.

I thought Eddy Curry was the answer to the Bulls’ problems, and that Cade McNown looked like the type of quarterback that could lead the Bears well into the next decade. But hey, I was wrong.

At least in being wrong about the Illini, I have a valid excuse.

I’m not that smart, plain and simple.

And for that, readers, I apologize.