If NU continues to get better and plays good teams, the fans will be there. Illinois fans have always loved their basketball, which is one reason it's hard to understand how the Illini underachieve year after year. I know it's popular to denigrate Maryland as a new member of the B1G, and their football was in shambles this year, but they've been a real boon to the conference in both men's and women's BB. With Ohio State and Wisconsin both rebuilding this year, they've given the B1G a top ten program it wouldn't have had a couple of years back.