Feb. 28, 2004

Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Photo Gallery

• With the win, Illinois increases its winning streak to eight games, and the Illini have won six straight games at the Assembly Hall. Among the 10 highest-rated conferences in the RPI, Illinois' winning streak is now the third-longest behind St. Joseph's (26 games) and Stanford (24).

• Illinois' eight-game winning streak is its longest since also winning eight games to open the 2002-03 season. Illinois' eight straight Big Ten wins is its longest winning streak in conference play since also winning eight straight league games spanning the final seven games of the 2002 Big Ten season and the 2003 Big Ten opener.

• The Illini also reached the 20-win mark for the fifth consecutive season. This season is also the seventh time in the last eight years Illinois has won 20 games, and the 23rd time overall.

• Illinois' victory also guarantees the Illini of at least a top-three finish in the Big Ten, and a bye in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. This will be the fifth consecutive season in which Illinois has had a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

• The win also finishes an undefeated month of February for the Illini. This season's 7-0 mark in February is the first time since 1954 that the Illini had a perfect February, also going 7-0 that year. That team was captained by Johnny "Red" Kerr, and coached by Harry

• Illinois is now 63-3 (.955) at the Assembly Hall the past five seasons, finishing 12-1 this season in addition to home records of 14-0 in 2002-03, 13-1 in 2001-02, 12-0 in 2000-01 and 12-1 in 1999-2000.

• Illinois shot .542 from the field, the Illini's third-highest percentage of the season. Illinois' .583 shooting mark in the first half was also the Illini's third-highest first-half shooting percentage this season.

• Dee Brown has been a prolific scorer the past three games. In victories against Northwestern, Iowa and Penn State, Brown has averaged 20.7 points, and is shooting a scorching .591 (13-for-22) from behind the 3-point arc. This was also the third consecutive game that Brown has led the Illini in scoring.

• Today, Brown made four of the five shots he took in the second half, and poured in 12 of his 20 points after the break.

• Nick Smith made a career-high seven field goals today against the Wildcats en route to 14 points, his first game in double figures since scoring 13 at Minnesota (Feb. 8).