Head Coach John Groce
Career Record: 155-104/.598 (8th year)
At Illinois: 70-48/.593 (4th year)
Big Ten: 24-31/.436
Series Notes vs. Ohio State
Series Record: Illinois leads 104-74
Series Streak: Ohio State W-4
Record at Columbus: Ohio State leads 46-41
Series Streak at Columbus: Ohio State W-6
Last Year's Meeting: #20 Ohio State 77, Illinois 61 (Jan. 3, 2015 at Columbus) | Recap | Box
Groce vs. Ohio State: 1-4
Opening Tips
• After falling at home to Michigan in its Big Ten opener, Illinois now faces consecutive road tests at Ohio State on Sunday followed by at No. 1 Michigan State next Thursday.
• The Illini head to Ohio State looking to snap a five-game skid on the road. Illinois' most recent road win was a 59-54 victory at Michigan State last season (Feb. 7, 2015).
• Illinois has historically fared well in trips to Columbus, with the Buckeyes owning just a 46-41 edge all-time at home. The Illini are 2-12 at Value City Arena, however, earning victories in 2004 and 2009. OSU has won six straight over the Orange and Blue in Columbus.
Elite Company
Junior guard Malcolm Hill leads the Fighting Illini in total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots on the season. He is one of just three players nationally to lead his team in all of those categories, joined by LSU's Ben Simmons and Wichita State's Ron Baker.
Big Two
Juniors Kendrick Nunn and Malcolm Hill are leading the charge for the Illini offensive attack, ranking as the highest-scoring duo in the Big Ten, and third-highest among the six major conferences so far this season:
-    38.8 points – Buddy Hield (24.9 ppg) & Jordan Woodard (13.9 ppg), Oklahoma, Big 12  Â
-    37.2 points – Kevin Punter (22.2 ppg) & Armani Moore (15.0 ppg), Tennessee, SEC  Â
-    37.1 points – Kendrick Nunn (19.0 ppg) & Malcolm Hill (18.1 ppg), Illinois, Big Ten
Nunn and Hill, meanwhile, are the only teammates who are both averaging at least 18 points. Here is the ranking of the highest scoring duos among the six major conferences where both players are averaging at least 16 ppg:
-    37.1 points – Kendrick Nunn (19.0 ppg) & Malcolm Hill (18.1 ppg), Illinois, Big Ten
-    35.6 points – Ben Bentil (18.8 ppg) & Kris Dunn (16.8 ppg), Providence, Big East
-    34.5 points – Dwayne Bacon (17.8 ppg) & Malik Beasley (16.7 ppg), Florida State, ACC
-    33.2 points – Moses Kingsley (16.9 ppg) & Dusty Hannahs (16.3 ppg), Arkansas, SEC
Taking Care of the Rock
Illinois has been one of the best teams in the country under Coach John Groce in taking care of the basketball. Last year's team set a school record for fewest turnovers, averaging just 9.9 per game. That broke the previous school mark of 10.4 per game set by Groce's 2014 squad.
This year the Illini are currently averaging 10.3 turnovers per game, ranking third in the Big Ten and 17th nationally. Illinois also stands third in the conference with a +3.3 turnover margin (44th in NCAA).
Capitalizing Off Turnovers
Over the last five games, Illinois has averaged just 8.8 turnovers (44) while the opponent is averaging 15.4 turnovers (77). The Illini have made the most from those extra opportunities, outscoring the opposition in points off turnovers in all five games and by a combined 86-to-34, an advantage of 10.4 points per game.
3-Point Improvement
The Illini have increased their production from behind the arc in recent weeks. Illinois is connecting on an average of 9.6 threes per game over the last eight games (77), a vast improvement over the average of 6.5 treys through the first six games. The Illini have drained at least nine 3-pointers in six of the last eight games – including each of the last four – led by a season-high 14 triples vs. South Dakota (Dec. 19).
Battling Through Injuries
Six different Illini players have combined to miss a total of 39 games so far this season. The only contest where Illinois has had its full roster available (not counting Tracy Abrams) for the entirety of the game was the 72-58 victory over UAB on Nov. 27.
With the list of healthy players changing from one day to the next, Coach John Groce used a different starting lineup in 10 of Illinois' first 12 games.
On three occasions the Illini have had as few as eight scholarship players available: the second half of the season opener vs. North Florida (Nov. 13), Chicago State (Nov. 23), and Wednesday's Big Ten opener vs. Michigan.
Early in the year the Illini were missing mostly backcourt players. But now the bulk of injuries lie in the frontcourt, with center Mike Thorne Jr. and power forward Leron Black out indefinitely. Since Thorne was injured late in the first half vs. Iowa State on Nov. 28, Illinois has been outrebounded in six of the last eight games.
Illini Trends
• Illinois' turnover rate of 14.5 percent stands 11th nationally.
• Illinois ranks 11th nationally in defensive free throw rate (25.1).
• Illinois is 59th nationally in defensive rebound percentage, grabbing 73.4 percent of opponent missed shots.
• Illinois is getting an average of 24.9 points from its bench, outscoring the opposing bench in 10 of its first 11 games, and by an average of 6.2 points on the year. Last season the UI averaged 18.7 points in bench scoring.
• For the first time this season, Illinois has started the same lineup in three consecutive games: Jaylon Tate, Jalen Coleman-Lands, Kendrick Nunn, Malcolm Hill and Michael Finke.
• Malcolm Hill has scored in double figures in every game this season and currently ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring with an average of 18.1 points.
• Hill has 11 career games of 20+ points, which included his first stretch of four straight to round out non-conference play with 20 vs. Yale, 22 vs. UIC, 34 vs. South Dakota and 21 vs. Missouri.
• Hill entered Big Ten play on a tear, averaging 24.3 points (97), 6.3 rebounds (25), 4.0 assists (16), 1.8 blocks (7) and 1.3 steals (5) before being held to 11 points vs. Michigan on Wednesday.
• Hill has gotten to the foul line 40 times over the last five games, making 33.
• Hill ranks 26th in the NCAA in made free throws (70) and 45th nationally in free throw attempts (85), standing second behind Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes among Big Ten players in each category.
• Hill is currently averaging 3.9 assists this season (14th in Big Ten), after entering the year with a career average of 1.0 assists.
• Kendrick Nunn has scored in double figures in all nine games since making his season debut Nov. 27, and is currently averaging 19.0 points.
• Nunn's scoring average would lead the Big Ten, but he is currently not listed among the conference statistical leaders because he has yet to play in 75 percent of Illinois' games. Nunn has played in 64.3 percent of games on the season.
• Nunn, who led the team in 3-pointers last year, has combined for 28 treys over his nine games. His average of 3.1 made threes per game would rank second in the Big Ten
• Nunn has shot better than 46 percent from the field in seven of his nine games.
• Nunn is averaging 21.0 points (42) on 53.6 percent shooting (15-28) over the last two games.
• Nunn's game-high 23 points vs. Michigan on Wednesday marked his third 20-point performance in the last six games.
• Nunn grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds vs. Missouri and is averaging 7.0 boards (28) over the last four games.
• Since Nunn's return to the lineup, either Malcolm Hill (5 times) or Nunn (4 times) has been the Illini's leading scorer each of the last nine games.
• Michael Finke was held in double figures for just the second time in the last seven games, scoring seven vs. Michigan. But he grabbed a career-high eight rebounds, including seven on the defensive end, in 26 minutes.
• Finke entered Big Ten play averaging 14.3 points (86) on 61.5 percent shooting (32-52) and 63.2 percent 3-point shooting (12-19) over the last six games.
• Jalen Coleman-Lands is averaging 13.3 points (53) and shooting 46.4 percent from 3-point range (13-28) over the last four games, scoring in double figures three times.
• Coleman-Lands has made at least one 3-pointer in 10 games, and has drained three or more treys in seven games. His average of 2.3 made threes is seventh in the Big Ten.
• Jaylon Tate scored a season-high six points and played a career-high 34 minutes Wednesday vs. Michigan.
• Khalid Lewis has combined for 18 assists (6.0 apg) with just three turnovers over his last three games.
Last Time Out: Michigan 78, Illini 68Â (Dec. 30)
Michigan used a strong second-half to record a victory at State Farm Center in the Big Ten opener, snapping Illinois' five-game winning streak.
In a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes, the Illini went on a 10-2 run to grab its biggest lead of the afternoon at 29-22. Following a 9-0 answer by the Wolverines, Jalen Coleman-Lands nailed a pair of 3-pointers to give the Illini a 37-34 lead at the half.
Michigan pulled away shortly after the break, going on a 16-to-4 run that turned a narrow 45-44 contest into a 61-48 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining. A late rally brought the Orange and Blue to within seven points, but Derrick Walton banked in a 3-pointer with one minute left that sealed the game.
Illinois continued to force turnovers and convert those into points. Michigan entered the game ranked third in the nation by averaging just 9.4 turnovers. But the visitors had 15 turnovers on the day, resulting in an 18-8 advantage for the Illini in points off turnovers. But that wasn't enough to overcome Michigan's edge around the basket as the Wolverines outrebounded the Illini 38-27 and outscored the hosts 38-24 in the paint.
Kendrick Nunn led the Fighting Illini with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, while grabbing six boards. Jalen Coleman-Lands added 13 points and knocked down a trio of threes, and Malcolm Hill also finished in double figures with 11 points despite shooting just 3-of-11. Michael Finke, meanwhile, set a career high with eight rebounds.
Looking Back at Last Year's Illinois-Ohio State Game
• #20 Ohio State 77, Illinois 61 (Jan. 3 at Columbus)
The Illini played a great first half of basketball but it was the host Buckeyes who took over in the second half as the Illini fell in Columbus.
Illinois started out hot, hitting eight of its first 14 three-point shots and building an 8-point lead at 34-26. The Buckeyes closed the half on a 10-3 run over the last four minutes, giving the Illini a one-point advantage at the break. The Illini led by three early in the second half when the Buckeyes went on another four-minute spree; the pivotal run of the game. Ohio State scored 15 unanswered to turn a 44-41 deficit into a 56-44 lead from which the Illini could not recover.
Illinois, which had been doing a fantastic job taking care of the ball so far this season, had an uncharacteristic 20 turnovers on the day, 13 coming in the second half. That allowed the Buckeyes to get out in transition and they converted, scoring 26 points off UI turnovers.
Rayvonte Rice had a standout game, scoring 20 points on 7-8 shooting, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Rice also had seven rebounds and four assists. Kendrick Nunn joined Rice in double figures, totaling 10 points.
Current Illini vs. Ohio State:
Tracy Abrams (6 G): 8.7 ppg (52), 2.8 rpg (17), 2.3 apg (14)
   Highlights: Team-high 13 points in 2014 in Champaign … Nine points, four assists and three steals in 2013 in Columbus … 13 points with six rebounds, game-high five assists and three steals in 2013 in Champaign.
Kendrick Nunn (3 G): 6.3 ppg (19), 1.7 rpg (5), 2.0 apg (6)
   Highlight: 10 points, four rebounds and three assists last year in Columbus.
Malcolm Hill (3 G): 4.0 ppg (12), 2.0 rpg (6)
   Highlight: Eight points and three rebounds last year in Columbus.
Leron Black (1 G): 2 pts, 1 reb
Maverick Morgan (3 G): 1.3 ppg (4), 1.3 rpg (4)
Jaylon Tate (3 G): 0 pts, 1 reb, 6 ast
