CHAMPAIGN — Freshman maturity is being put to the test within the Illinois basketball team.

With two freshmen starting and another making a positive impression off the bench, coach Bruce Weber has tried to acclimate his newcomers to the world of college basketball.

That includes teaching them how to study detailed scouting reports, how to pay attention to preparation in practice and the importance of self-discipline during Thanksgiving break when sleep habits and nutrition need to be taken as seriously as practicing free throws.

Always the teacher, Weber is excited to learn how his freshmen do as 20th-ranked Illinois begins a series of games against stiffer competition.

The opponent in today’s 8:45 p.m. game at Assembly Hall is Wofford College, which won at Georgia, led by 13 in the second half before fading to lose by three at Pittsburgh, and led by two at halftime before falling at Bradley 56-54 on Sunday.

Running through the scouting report at practice Monday, the Illini players learned Wofford is a smart, difficult-to-play basketball team.

“We have tried — even with the exhibition games — to get them used to the preparation and that the little things are important,” Weber said of his freshmen. “If you screw up on an out-of-bounds defense against Presbyterian and give up two points, it isn’t going to hurt us when we’re up by 45. But in a game like this, it might make a difference.”

That’s especially true of freshmen like Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson and Tyler Griffey, who have been among the most mature first-year players Weber has coached.

But Weber cautions there will be bumps in the road as Illinois tackles a tough stretch in the calendar year.

“We’re going to have to see as we get into the grind,” Weber said. “We’re in a whole new situation. They are on break and they have free time. Are you smart? Do you sleep 14 hours and come to practice groggy and not ready? Do you eat right or stay up too late? That’s maturity and we talk to them about it.”

Tonight’s game features two teams that will dip deep into their benches.

“They will play 10 or 11 guys,” Weber said. “They will rotate five guys at once.”

Tonight’s game is the second of four games that are a part of the HoopTV Las Vegas Invitational. Illinois travels to Las Vegas for games Friday and Saturday.