Dec. 6, 2004
Champaign, Ill. -
Illinois Game Notes vs. Chicago State in PDF Format
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FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #7: Illinois (6-0) vs. Chicago State (0-4)
ESPN+Local • 7 p.m. CT
Dec. 6, 2004 • Champaign, Ill. • Assembly Hall (16,500)
Probable Starters
ILLINOIS (6-0)
F - 43 Roger Powell, Jr. (Sr., 6-6, 235, 13.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
F - 40 James Augustine (Jr., 6-10, 230, 9.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
G - 4 Luther Head (Sr., 6-3, 185, 15.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.0 apg)
G - 5 Deron Williams (Jr., 6-3, 210, 13.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 7.0 apg)
G - 11 Dee Brown (Jr., 6-0, 185, 14.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.8 apg)
Off The Bench ...
G - 15 Calvin Brock (Fr., 6-4, 185, plans to redshirt)
G - 33 Rich McBride (So., 6-3, 215, 5.3 ppg, 0.8 apg)
F - 34 Fred Nkemdi (Sr., 6-5, 235, 0.0 ppg, 0.2 rpg)
F - 41 Warren Carter (So., 6-9, 210, 5.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
C - 45 Nick Smith (Sr.-r, 7-2, 250, 3.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
C/F - 50 Jack Ingram (Sr.-r, 6-10, 245, 2.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
F - 55 Shaun Pruitt (Fr., 6-8, 245, 3.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg)
Injured
F - 42 Brian Randle (So., 6-7, 210, 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg in 2004)
Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber
Overall Record: 135-61/.689 (7th year)
Big Ten: 13-3/.813
At Illinois: 32-7/.821 (2nd year)
Vs. Chicago State: First meeting
Assistant Coaches: Wayne McClain (4th year), Jay Price (2nd year), Tracy Webster (1st year)
Assistant to the head coach: Gary Nottingham (2nd year)
Trainer: Al Martindale (22nd year at Illinois)
Chicago State Head Coach: Kevin Jones
Overall Record: 12-36/.250 (2nd year)
At Chicago State: Same
Vs. Illinois: First meeting
Assistant Coaches: D'Arcy Stanfield, Jason Kent, Cedric Brown
On the Air
Television
ESPN - Local - Mike Adamle, play-by-play; Doug Altenberger, expert analysts.
Radio
Illini Sports Network - 47 stations: Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Stephen Bardo, expert analyst; Loren Tate, pregame/halftime/postgame interviews.
Series Notes: Chicago State
Illinois leads the all-time series 7-0, with the last meeting a 94-57 Illini win on Dec. 11, 1996. Every game of the series has been played at the Assembly Hall.
Quick Shots
• Illinois is 102-12 all-time against in-state schools in non-conference play. Illinois' last loss to a non-Big Ten in-state school came Nov. 29, 1990 to Illinois-Chicago, a current streak of 30 consecutive wins. Since 1974, Illinois is 47-3 against non-conference in-state schools.
• Illinois defeated a No.1-ranked team for the second time in school history and the first since 1979 on Dec. 1 when the Illini cruised past No. 1 Wake Forest 91-73.
• After six games, the Illini are shooting an eye-popping 52.5 percent (192-366) from the field and 45 percent (64-143) from 3-point range.
• In the first half of games this season, Illinois is averaging 51.2 points (307 pts.) on 57.7 percent shooting (116-201), and enjoys an average halftme lead of 20.3 points.
• Illinois has trailed in the scoring column for just 9:25 out of 240 minutes of play this season. Illinois trailed Delaware State for a total of 7:01, all in the first half, Florida A&M for the first 50 seconds of the game, and Arkansas for 1:34 of the first half. The Illini held the lead the entire way in the three wins against Oakland, Gonzaga and Wake Forest.
• Playing against ranked teams in consecutive games (No. 24 Gonzaga and No. 1 Wake Forest), Illinois combined for an amazing assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.92. The Illini had 24 assists with only seven turnovers against Gonzaga and tallied a season-high 27 assists with a season-low six turnovers against top-ranked Wake Forest.
• Four of Illinois' five starters are averaging in double-figure scoring after six games.
• Illinois has led the Big Ten in scoring each of the last four seasons. The Illini are averaging 85.8 points this year through six games.
• Illinois has been credited with assists on 69.8 percent of its baskets this season (134 assists on 192 field goals). The Illini are averaging 22.3 assits per game.
• The Illini have four players - Dee Brown, Luther Head, Roger Powell and Rich McBride - shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range.
• The Illini are averaging 10.7 three-pointers per game this season. Illinois tied its school record for 3-pointers in a game with 14 vs. Gonzaga on Nov. 27.
• In its win over Gonzaga, Illinois set a number of Wooden Tradition team records, including points (89), assists (24), steals (13), three-pointers (14), as well as individual records, including assists (Luther Head, 9), steals (Luther Head-tied, 4), and 3-pointers (Deron Williams-tied, 5).
• In the season opener on Nov. 19, Illinois and Delaware State combined to set the Illinois all-time and Assembly Hall records for combined field goal percentage. The teams joined to shoot 60.8 percent (59-97), with the Illini making 35-of-55 attempts and the Hornets connecting on 24-of-42 shots.
Powell Earns Big Ten Weekly Honor
Roger Powell, Jr. was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Dec. 6 following his performance in a pair of Illini victories. Powell scored a game-high and season-high 19 points in the win over No. 1 Wake Forest. He connected on 8-of-10 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, while grabbing seven boards. Powell then registered the third double-double of his career in the win over Arkansas, leading the Illini with 19 points and recording a career-high 11 rebounds. On the week, Powell averaged 19 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 67 percent from the field (14-21). This is the first Big Ten Player of the Week accolade of Powell's career.
Last Time Out: vs. Arkansas
In its first trip to a hostile arena, Illinois showed poise down the stretch in a 72-60 win at Arkansas. Despite shooting a season-low 42 percent from the field and not scoring a field goal in the final 7:32 of the game, the Illini extended their lead by making free throws down the stretch. Roger Powell, Jr. led the Illini with 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, while Dee Brown and Deron Williams added 13 points each. The Razorbacks never got closer than four points in the second half, when the Illini allowed Arkansas just one field goal in the last seven minutes of the contest played in Little Rock.
Taking Down No. 1
Illinois' victory over No. 1 Wake Forest last Wednesday marked the second time in school history that the Illini have defeated an opponent ranked atop the Associated Press poll. The last time came on Jan. 11, 1979, when Illinois defeated Michigan State 57-55. Illinois is now 2-19 all-time against No. 1-ranked opponents.
Williams Fifth-Straight Illini Chosen Preseason Player of the Year Pick
Junior guard Deron Williams became the fifth straight Illini to be named Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year at the recent Big Ten Media Day in Chicago. Williams, also named to the All-Big Ten First-Team last season, is just the third Big Ten player ever to lead the league in assists in each of his first two seasons, joining Michigan State's Magic Johnson (1978-79) and Illinois' Bruce Douglas (1983-84). Williams has also earned Preseason All-America honors from Playboy Magazine and is among 50 preseason candidates for the Wooden, Naismith and Rupp Awards.
Williams is fourth on the team in scoring this season, averaging 13.5 points. He is shooting 43 percent from the field and leads the team in assists, averaging 7.0 apg. Williams tied his career-high vs. Wake Forest last Wednesday, dishing out 11 assists. He boasts an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.6 through six games. Williams is also third on the team in rebounding with 4.2 boards per game.
Two Illini Earn Preseason All-Big Ten Honors
Junior guards Deron Williams and Dee Brown were both named to the Preseason All-Big Ten First Team at the recent Big Ten Media Day in Chicago. Brown was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2004 after being named the preseason Player of the Year prior to his sophomore season.
Backcourt Earns National Rep
Junior guards Deron Williams and Dee Brown are both listed on the preseason lists for the Naismith Award and Wooden Award All-America teams.
Illinois Begins Season Near the Top
Illinois began the 2004-05 season ranked No. 5 in both the Preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and Associated Press Poll, its highest preseason ranking since starting the 2001-02 season ranked No. 2 in the coaches' poll and No. 3 in the AP poll.
Great Guard Play
Illinois has what many believe is the top backcourt in the country in the three-guard lineup of senior Luther Head and juniors Dee Brown and Deron Williams. They are Illinois' top three scorers as well as assists and steals leaders. The trio has accounted for 51 percent of Illinois' scoring and 77 percent of its 3-pointers. They have also totaled 80 percent of Illinois' assists and 56 percent of its steals. Perhaps most impressive is that despite playing the most minutes and handling the ball for the majority of the game, the three guards boast an incredible combined assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.18. Below is a statistical look at Illinois' starting backcourt.
PPG APG RPG ST 3FG
Head 15.2 6.0 3.0 12 19
Brown 14.8 4.8 2.7 6 17
Williams 13.5 7.0 4.2 4 13
Total 43.5 17.8 9.9 22 49
Sharing the Wealth
One reason why Illinois is shooting 52.5 percent from the field through six games is unselfish play. The Illini have been moving the ball well and making the extra pass to set up an open shot. Illinois has been credited with 134 assists on its 192 baskets, an impressive 69.8 percent assist-to-made field goals percentage. Illinois has had at least 22 assists in five of six games and is averaging 22.3 assists per game. The Illini recorded a season-high 27 assists against Wake Forest on Wednesday.
First-Half Dominance
Illinois' play has been especially crisp in the first half of games this season. The Illini have shot 55 percent or better in five of the six first halves so far, and are averaging 57.7 percent shooting in the first half of its games. Illinois has scored 50 or more points in four of the six first halves and is averaging 51.2 points in the first half. Illinois has also taken a double-digit lead into halftime five of six games this year and goes into the locker room with an average lead of 20.3 points. Below is a breakdown of Illinois' dominance in the first half
UI UI UI
Opponent FG% POINTS LEAD
Delaware St. 64.5 50 13
Florida A&M 58.8 58 29
Oakland 60.0 47 19
Gonzaga 55.0 58 31
Wake Forest 60.0 54 21
Arkansas 48.4 40 9
Avg. 57.7 51.2 20.3
The Head of the Class
Guard Luther Head entered the season as one of the most underated players in the nation, and has been playing like an All-America candidate to begin his senior year. Head leads the Illini in scoring at 15.7 points per game and steals with 2.0per game, and also ranks second on the team in assists at 6.0 per game. He is shooting over 52 percent (34-65) from the field, and over 47 percent (19-40) from 3-point land with a team-leading 19 treys. Head opened the season by scoring in double figures in five straight games - a career-best streak - to open the season, with 15 points vs. Delaware State, 13 vs. Florida A&M, a season-high 22 points vs. Oakland (which also marked the second highest total of his career), 20 points vs. Gonzaga and 16 points vs. Wake Forest.
Head has ant assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.57 on the year to rank second on the team. In the two games vs. Gonzaga and Wake Forest, he combined for 14 assists with only two turnovers. He tied his career-high in assists with nine dimes apiece in consecutive games vs. Oakland and Gonzaga.
Dee Lighting it Up
Junior Dee Brown has had a hot shooting hand to start the season. Through six games, the junior guard is shooting 62.7 percent (32-51) from the field. That percentage is even more impressive when considering that over 60 percent of his shots have come from 3-point range. And Brown is dialed in from downtown as well, shooting 53.1 percent (17-32) from behind the arc. Brown is second on the team in scoring at 14.8 points per game.
Brown broke into Illinois' Top-50 career scoring list Nov. 24 against Oakland, becoming the first player on the current UI roster to join the elite list. Brown stands 45th on the Illini all-time scoring chart with 913 points.
Like his backcourt teammates, Brown has also been taking care of the ball and making good decisions. He has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.52 on the season and in the two games vs. Gonzaga and Wake Forest, Brown combined for 15 assists without a turnover.
The Rev Rises to the Occasion
Senior forward Roger Powell, Jr., is averaging 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds after six contests, while shooting nearly 71 percent from the field (34-of-48). Standing 6-foot-6 and playing the power forward position, Powell is often undersized against his opponent. But he causes a match-up problem for the defense with his ability to step out and face the basket and either drive or hit the outside shot. Powell began the season as a career 59-percent shooter from the field.
Powell had his best game of the season Dec. 1 vs. Wake Forest, scoring a season-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, which included a pair of 3-pointers. He followed that performance with a team-high 19 points and career-high 11 rebounds in a victory over Arkansas.
Powell is scheduled to graduate with his bachelor's degree in speech communications in December. He is a licensed minister in the Pentecostal church.
Augie Off to Strong Start
Junior James Augustine is off to a strong start by making 20 of his 31 shots on the season (64.5 percent) and averaging a team-high 6.8 rebounds. He grabbed 11 rebounds vs. Oakland, the highest total by an Illini player this season, and Augustine's 13th career double-digit effort on the boards. After five games he is fifth on the team with an average of 9.0 points per game and leads the Illini with 13 blocked shots.
Home Cookin'
Illinois is 55-2 (.964) at the Assembly Hall over the last four-plus years, with the only losses coming to Michigan State on Feb. 3, 2002 and to Purdue on Jan. 10, 2004 ... The Boilermakers broke a 23-game Illini winning streak at the Hall that at the time ranked fourth in the nation ... Illinois is 67-3 (.957) at the Assembly Hall over the past five-plus seasons, the best home mark in the nation over that period ...The Illini have also won 35 in a row at the Assembly Hall against non-conference opponents ... Illinois has won 35 of its last 37 (.946) Big Ten games at the Assembly Hall ... Below is a look at Illinois' home record the past five seasons:
Year Overall Big Ten
2004-05 4-0 0-0
2003-04 12-1 7-1
2002-03 14-0 7-0
2001-02 13-1 7-1
2000-01 12-0 8-0
1999-2000 12-1 7-1
Total 67-3 36-3
