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Brown has emerged as the ringleader of the Stylin' Illini for plenty of other reasons, not least because he never got the message that his team had to be mortal on the court. For weeks we've been hearing why the Illini should go ahead and lose a game before the NCAA tournament, as though the weight of the sport's history--29 years without a perfect national champion--will be too much for the players to bear. But what if this team really is The One? What if Weber's wrecking crew doesn't need to feel the sting of defeat to thrive in March? What if the Illini's habit of exceeding everyone's expectations (SI preseason ranking: ninth) keeps following them right to the victory podium in St. Louis on April 4? As Brown himself is fond of saying, "Why not us?"

There must be something about the name Dee Brown that gives its wearer such a majestic sense of theater. You still remember shoe-pumpin', eye-shieldin', 1991 NBA dunk-contest-winnin' Dee Brown, don't you? Well, take it from us: You won't forget headband-rockin', braid-sportin', every-game-winnin' Dee Brown years from now, either.