Clearly very disappointed with Jonathan Brown, Ron Zook would not rule out sitting the sophomore linebacker at Indiana Saturday.

``I'm gonna deal with it,'' Zook said tersely Sunday, a day after Brown was caught on television kneeing Northwestern lineman Patrick Ward in the groin. Not only were two officials, who called a personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct, watching. The incident has been preserved on Youtube.

```I can guarantee you will never see that again,'' Zook said. `He knows better than that. Our team knows better than that.

Although Zook wouldn't go into details, it's possible Brown won't start, but will play at IU.

Brown is sixth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss. Teammates Michael Buchanan (t-3rd) and Whitney Mercilus (5th) also are in the top six for Illinois' gritty defense, which is second in the Big Ten agains the run (79 yards a game) and tied for second with six interceptions.

Mercilus (five sacks) and Buchanan (four) are the Big Ten's top two in sacks. And cornerback Terry Hawthorne is tied for second in passes defended, with five passes broken up and one interception.