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Monday, December 24
 
Illinois out to prove it belongs with elite

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS -- Illinois wasted no time getting to town to begin preparing for its first Nokia Sugar Bowl.

The team arrived in New Orleans on Christmas Eve, after the seniors voted unanimously to get here early and spend the holiday together. Coach Ron Turner said players will have time to see the sights and visit the city's legendary party spots before the game Jan. 1.

"It gives them a chance to come down and explore and get to know the area a little bit and get some of that stuff out of their system early," Turner said Monday.

No. 7 Illinois (10-1) will practice both Christmas morning and Wednesday. No. 12 Louisiana State (9-3) will not arrive from Baton Rouge until Wednesday.

Turner already has orchestrated one of the most impressive turnarounds in college football history during his five years at Illinois.

Turner's first team in 1997 was 0-11. This year, the Illini won their first outright Big Ten title in 18 years.

This is also Illinois' first trip to a Bowl Championship Series game.

After a dismal 3-19 start in his first two years with Illinois, Turner can reach the break-even mark (34-34) with a victory against LSU.

Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd said the Illini players feel they've been overlooked in discussions about the top teams in the nation.

"We definitely feel we have something to prove in this game," Lloyd said. "This is just another opportunity to show that we should be considered with the best teams in the nation."

LSU got into the BCS picture by capturing the Southeastern Conference crown with a stunning 31-20 upset of No. 8 Tennessee in the SEC title game Dec. 8.