Head Coach John Groce
Career Record: 160-114/.584 (8th year)
At Illinois: 75-58/.564 (4th year)
Big Ten: 29-41 /.414
Series Notes vs. Maryland
Series Record: Tied 5-5
Series Streak: Illinois W-3
Record at College Park: Maryland leads 2-1
Series Streak at College Park: Illinois W-1
This Year's Meeting: Illinois 64, No. 11 Maryland 57 on Jan. 7, 2015 in Champaign
Groce vs. Maryland: 1-0
Opening Tips
• The Illini are looking to win consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since closing out last year's home schedule with back-to-back victories over Northwestern (86-60, Feb. 25) and Nebraska (69-57, March 4).
• Illinois faces its seventh Top-25 opponent of the season in No. 14 Maryland. The Illini are 1-5 versus ranked teams this year, recording an 84-70 victory over No. 20 Purdue on Jan. 10 at State Farm Center.
• While Thursday marks just the second match-up between Illinois and Maryland in Big Ten play, it is the 11th meeting overall between the programs. The all-time series is tied, 5-5, but the Illini have won the last three contests, defeating the Terrapins in the 2010 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden, the 2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge in College Park, and last year's game in Champaign.
• The Illini's 64-57 win over No. 11 Maryland last season marked the breakout game for Malcolm Hill, who tallied a season-high 28 points and game-high seven rebounds in the victory.
• Illinois concludes the regular season with a rare two-game road trip and will stay on the east coast, traveling directly from College Park to State College on Friday ahead of Sunday's early tip-off at Penn State.
• Looking ahead to next week's Big Ten Tournament, seeds 10, 11 and 12 are still possible for the Illini.
Select Company
Malcolm Hill leads the Illini in scoring (18.2 ppg), rebounding (6.6 rpg) and assists (3.4 apg). He is joined by Michigan's Derek Walton as the only Big Ten players to lead their teams in all three categories this season.
Hill is vying to become just the second Fighting Illini player ever to rank first in scoring, rebounding and assists in the same season. The first to accomplish the feat (dating back to the start of assists record keeping in 1974) was Rick Schmidt in 1975. During Schmidt's junior season, he led the Illini with averages of 20.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Hill, meanwhile, is one of only two players to rank among the Big Ten's top-10 leaders in both scoring (third) and rebounding (ninth), along with Michigan State's Denzel Valentine.
Last Time Out: Illini 84, Minnesota 71 (Feb. 28)
Behind one of the strongest second-half performances of the John Groce era, the Fighting Illini roared to a 13-point win over Minnesota on Senior Night at State Farm Center.
It was the visitors who set the early tone, with Minnesota scoring the game's first 11 points and leading by as many as 12 during the opening half. Trailing 40-32, Illinois started the second half on a 13-3 run to take its first lead of the night. The run swelled to 29-8 as the Illini broke the game open, taking a 61-48 lead with 10 minutes remaining and maintaining a double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
The Illini outscored Minnesota 52-31 in the second half, behind the strength of 73.9 shooting (17-23). Illinois forced 17 Gopher turnovers for the game, converting those into 20 points. Many of those extra scoring opportunities came in transition, as the Illini converted a season-high 12 fast break points.
Kendrick Nunn led the Illini with 25 points – equaling his highest scoring total in conference play – and grabbed a season-high tying four steals. Malcolm Hill recorded his 15th 20-point game of the season, finishing with 22 points, a team-leading seven rebounds and matching Nunn with a career-high tying four steals. Jalen Coleman-Lands continued his hot shooting, knocking down 5-of-6 from 3-point range en route to 18 points.
Notes from the Win over Minnesota
• Illinois shot 57.1 percent (28-49), its best accuracy from the field since connecting on 61.5 percent (32-52) vs. Auburn on Dec. 8, 2013.
• The Illini made 73.9 percent in the second half (17-23), its top mark in a single half since making 81.8 percent (18-22) in the first half vs. Northwestern on Jan. 6, 2011.
• Illinois' season-high 13 steals were the most since recording 15 last year vs. Indiana State (Nov. 27, 2014).
• Illinois fought back from a 12-point deficit, marking the fifth time this season, and 14th time under Coach John Groce, that the Illini won a game despite trailing by double figures.
• Kendrick Nunn and Malcolm Hill combined for 47 points, the duo's highest scoring total since accounting for 52 points in the win over Purdue on Jan. 10.
• The guard trio of Nunn, Hill and Jalen Coleman-Lands combined for 65 points, meanwhile, their highest total since registering 68 in the triple-overtime win at Rutgers on Feb. 3.
Illini Trends
• Illinois has started 14 different lineups this season.
• In every win this season, Illinois has scored more point off turnovers than the opponent.
• Illinois' turnover rate of 14.8 percent ranks 10th nationally, and the Illini rank 19th in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (10.4 avg.).
• Illinois ranks 12th nationally in defensive free throw rate (26.7).
• Only one opponent has shot better than 46 percent from the field against the Illini over the last 10 games.
• Junior Malcolm Hill has scored in double figures in all but two games this season.
• Hill currently ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring with an average of 18.2 points. His average is the highest by an Illini in the last 13 years, since Brian Cook led the Big Ten in scoring in 2003 (20.0 ppg).
• Hill scored his 1,000th career point at Minnesota (Jan. 23), becoming the 47th player in Fighting Illini history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. He now ranks 34th on the all-time UI list with 1,158 points.
• Hill has 19 career games of 20+ points, with 15 this season, including eight of the last 13 games.
• Over the last 13 games, Hill is averaging 19.3 points (251) and has been the team's leading scorer eight times.
• Hill leads the Big Ten and ranks 19th in the NCAA in made free throws (168). He is second in the conference (behind Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes) and 30th nationally in free throw attempts (205).
• Hill has 10 games this season with at least nine free throw attempts.
• Hill has grabbed at least seven rebounds in eight of the last 10 games – reaching double figures four times – and is averaging 8.3 rpg over this stretch (83).
• Hill has been the Illini's leading rebounder in seven of the last nine games.
• Hill leads the Illini in assists on the season with an average of 3.4 apg (13th in Big Ten), after entering the year with a career average of 1.0 assists.
• Hill is averaging 4.7 assists over the last six games (28), led by a career-high eight assists vs. Northwestern (Feb. 13).
• Junior Kendrick Nunn has scored in double figures in 21 of the 23 games he has played in, averaging 16.4 points (seventh in Big Ten).
• Nunn has six games of 20+ points this season, including four times in Big Ten play. He equaled his career scoring high in conference play the last time out with 25 points vs. Minnesota on Sunday.
• Nunn has drained 65 three-pointers in his 23 games, surpassing his total of 54 treys in 33 games last year. His current average of 2.8 made threes per game ranks third in the Big Ten.
• Nunn's average of 2.83 three-pointers is challenging for the Illini season school record. The current mark is 3.00 set by Cory Bradford in 2000 (96 made in 32 games).
• Over the last five games, Nunn is shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range (14-32).
• Freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands leads all Big Ten rookies with 75 made three-pointers this season. Last week against Indiana, Coleman-Lands broke the Illinois season record for 3-pointers by a true freshman (69 by D.J. Richardson in 2010).
• Coleman-Lands is now just 10 away from the all-time Illini freshman record of 85 treys by Cory Bradford in 1999.
• Coleman Lands' 75 three-pointers ranks second among freshmen from the six major conferences, trailing only Kentucky's Jamal Murray (95).
• Coleman-Lands is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points. The last Illini to average double figures as a freshman was D.J. Richardson in 2010 (10.5 ppg).
• Coleman-Lands has scored at least nine points in six of the last seven games, with two 20+ point performances, and is averaging 15.3 points over this stretch (107).
• Over those seven games, Coleman-Lands has knocked down 28 treys (4.0 makes per game) on 48.3 percent shooting from behind the arc (28-58).
• Junior Maverick Morgan ranks sixth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, shooting 57.2 percent on the season.
• Morgan scored in double figures in four straight games prior to Wisconsin (Feb. 21), averaging 14.8 points (59) and 5.8 rebounds (23) while shooting 63.6 percent (28-44). During that stretch he set his career high in scoring with 20 points at Rutgers (Feb. 3) and twice tied his season high in rebounding with seven boards vs. Iowa (Feb. 7) and at Northwestern (Feb. 13).
• Freshman D.J. Williams has logged at least 15 minutes in each of the last seven games, combining for 36 points and 19 rebounds on 60 percent shooting (15-25).
• Senior point guard Khalid Lewis has combined for 32 assists compared to 11 turnovers over the last eight games, a ratio of 2.9.
Big Two
Juniors Malcolm Hill and Kendrick Nunn are leading the charge for the Illini offensive attack, ranking as the highest scoring duo in the Big Ten, and seventh-highest among the six major conferences this season. Here is a current ranking of the top scoring duos from each of the power six leagues:
1. 38.4 points Buddy Hield (25.3 ppg) & Isaiah Cousins (13.1 ppg) Oklahoma
2. 38.1 points Grayson Allen (21.2 ppg) & Brandon Ingram (16.9 ppg) Duke
3. 37.3 points Ben Bentil (20.9 ppg) & Kris Dunn (16.4 ppg) Providence
4. 36.6 points Jamal Murray (19.9 ppg) & Tyler Ullis (16.7 ppg) Kentucky
5. 35.6 points Andrew Andrews (20.3 ppg) & Dejounte Murray (15.3 ppg) Washington
6. 34.6 points Malcolm Hill (18.2 ppg) & Kendrick Nunn (16.4 ppg) Illinois
7t. 34.4 points Jarrod Uthoff (18.4 ppg) & Peter Jok (16.0 ppg) Iowa
7t. 34.4 points Stefan Moody (22.8 ppg) & Sebastian Saiz (11.6 ppg) Mississippi
Hill Named Finalist for Jerry West Award
Illini junior Malcolm Hill is one of 10 finalists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Joining Hill on the list are Buddy Hield (Oklahoma), Caris LeVert (Michigan), Grayson Allen (Duke), Jalen Jones (Texas A&M), Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia), Sheldon McClellan (Miami), Josh Hart (Villanova), AJ English (Iona) and Julian Jacobs (USC). The list will be narrowed to five in March, with the recipient chosen by West and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the Jerry West Award will be presented on April 8 at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show.
Battling Through Adversity
Seven different Illini players have combined to miss a total of 86 games due to injuries and other circumstances 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 available players changing often, Coach John Groce has used 14 different starting lineups.
On six occasions the Illini have had as few as eight scholarship players available, including four times in Big Ten play (Michigan, at Ohio State, at Michigan State, at Rutgers).
The Illini are currently without three projected starters with Abrams, Leron Black and Mike Thorne Jr. all sidelined.
Oh So Close
Illinois has been involved in 11 games this season decided by five points or less, owning a record of 5-6. The Illini enjoyed great success in close games during Groce's first three seasons, entering the year with an 18-6 record in games decided by five or less points. Only five teams from the six major conferences have suffered more close losses than the Illini this season:
Most losses By 5 Points or Less – Six Major Conferences
1t. Arkansas 8
1t. Georgetown 8
1t. Mississippi State 8
1t Oklahoma State 8
5. Minnesota 7
6t. Illinois 6 (6 other teams tied)
Newcomers Playing Prominent Role
Illinois has seven newcomers who have all factored into the rotation this season in graduate transfers Khalid Lewis and Mike Thorne Jr., junior transfer Alex Austin, redshirt freshman Michael Finke and true freshmen Jalen Coleman-Lands, Aaron Jordan and D.J. Williams. Together they have accounted for more than 50 percent of the team's minutes played, the second-highest number in the conference. Illinois is one of only two Big Ten teams with more than half of its minutes coming from newcomers (Nebraska):
Percentage of Minutes Played by Newcomers
1. Nebraska 52.8% (3,196/6,050)
2. ILLINOIS 50.5% (2,993/5,925)
3. Rutgers 46.9% (2,757/5,875)
4. Ohio State 44.6% (2,712/6,075)
5. Maryland 44.4% (2,586/5,825)
The Illini rank fifth in the league, meanwhile, in minutes played by freshmen at 32.3 percent. Nebraska leads the conference with freshmen accounting for 37.8 percent of its minutes.
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 season Illinois ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 19th nationally in fewest turnovers, averaging just 10.4 per game. And Illinois ranks second in the conference with a +2.8 turnover margin (24th in NCAA).
Getting it Done at the Line Again
Illinois leads the Big Ten in free show shooting during league play at 77.1 percent, connecting on 222-of-288. Illinois led the conference in free throw shooting last year as well, making 81 percent in Big Ten games.
The Illini led the entire NCAA in free throw accuracy last season (all games), setting a school record at 79.4 percent to break the previous UI record by five percentage points. This year the Illini are shooting 73.6 percent at the line in all games (3rd in B1G, 36th in NCAA).
3-Point Improvement
The Illini have increased their production from behind the arc in recent weeks. Illinois has made an average of 8.7 threes per game over the last 23 games (201), a vast improvement over the average of 6.5 made treys through the first six games (39). The Illini have hit at least nine treys 15 times during this stretch, including 13 of the last 17 contests.
Complete Illinois-Maryland Game Notes (PDF)
