As we shift gears from football to basketball, at least we have some encouraging developments to ponder on the hardwood.

More about football in a day or two. For now, let’s enjoy what has been a promising start to the basketball season.

Sunday’s 78-64 victory over Jackson State was run to watch, especially the way Illinois passed the basketball. Illinois had 17 assists in 18 first-half baskets while shooting 69.2 percent. A 10-0 run to end the half opened a 44-30 halftime lead. That lead grew to 70-46 before Illinois pretty much stood around and dribbled out the last seven minutes of the game. That disappointed coach Bruce Weber, who wanted them to finish strong, but it was one of the few low points of an otherwise uplifting day.

Mike Davis was once again hopping all over the place. He scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half and added six rebounds and five assists. Dominique Keller played 17 minutes and made all eight of his shots, including a whirling bank shot that beat the shot clock. Between them, Davis and Keller were 17 for 18 shooting.

Trent Meacham added 10 points. Demetri McCamey started very strong and finished with eight points and seven assists, even though he was on the bench for Illinois’ 22-4 run in the second half. Chester Frazier had seven points and six assists and Calvin Brock added seven points and three assists.

For the game, Illinois had 25 assists on 31 baskets. That’s more assists than the Illini had in any game last season.

And Illinois made 10 of 13 free throws. Until Billy Cole missed with about three-and-a-half minutes to play, Illinois had made 21 straight free throws over a three-game stretch.

If nothing else, the Illini made a believer of Jackson State coach Tevester Anderson, whose team has already played LSU, Texas A&M and Illinois.

“I want to congratulate Bruce,” Anderson said. “Coach Weber has a very fine team here. This team is going to be in the Top 25 pretty soon. I know they will get my vote. They execute their offense real well and they play real hard.”

Throwing the Illini into the Top 25 is a little premature, but we’ll know a lot more about this team after the next three games.

“Let’s see what the next couple of weeks provide,” Weber said. “If we can continue to make strides like that then we deserve to be in there. I’m not sure we’re there yet.

“We might be the only team in the country to win on another BCS conference team’s home floor (Vanderbilt). Other people have won on neutral courts and now we’ll have a chance to do it on a neutral court.

“I watched Texas A&M (Friday night). They are pretty talented. Kent State and Tulsa are talented. Then we come back and play Clemson. We’ll learn a lot about our team over the next week to 10 days.”

Obviously, the early report on this Illini basketball team is encouraging, maybe very encouraging. And let’s face it, Illini fans: Everyone is ready for something encouraging after the very disappointing end to the football season.

I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves, but this much can be said without a doubt: So far, this team is light years more enjoyable to watch. I remember feeling exhausted watching last year’s team even when they won. Making baskets were like passing kidney stones (or so I’m told). It was painful to watch them struggle to put the ball in the basket.

Watching this team share the ball, moving it inside and out, has been a treat. Sure, it’s only four games. And the competition is going to get much more difficult. But wouldn’t you agree with this: Whatever the expectations were, this team has exceeded them and given everyone something positive to consider. And wouldn’t it be nice if this Illini basketball team was competitive, fun to watch and much better than we expected?

We know better talent is on the way. But wouldn’t it be nice if better talent developed now? Who wants to wait?