| Illinois Starters (from last game) |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
3 |
Te'Jon Lucas |
6-1 |
180 |
So. |
6.2 |
1.7 |
3.6 |
Team-high 13 steals |
| G |
20 |
Da'Monte Williams |
6-3 |
190 |
Fr. |
4.8 |
3.3 |
0.9 |
First career start on Wed. |
| G |
24 |
Mark Alstork |
6-5 |
190 |
Gr. |
8.1 |
4.0 |
2.8 |
17 offensive rebounds |
| F |
12 |
Leron Black |
6-7 |
230 |
r-Jr. |
14.8 |
5.6 |
1.6 |
.543 FG% (57-105) |
| F |
43 |
Michael Finke |
6-10 |
235 |
r-Jr. |
11.7 |
5.6 |
1.2 |
20 offensive rebounds |
| Off the Bench |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
1 |
Trent Frazier |
6-1 |
170 |
Fr. |
5.8 |
1.5 |
2.6 |
12 steals |
| F |
2 |
Kipper Nichols |
6-6 |
225 |
r-So. |
10.3 |
5.4 |
0.6 |
.529 3FG% (9-17) |
| F |
4 |
Matic Vesel |
6-10 |
215 |
Fr. |
0.0 |
1.3 |
0.0 |
Native of Slovenia |
| G |
10 |
Drew Cayce |
6-1 |
175 |
r-So. |
1.3 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
UI walkon |
| F |
11 |
Greg Eboigbodin |
6-9 |
225 |
Fr. |
0.6 |
1.3 |
0.1 |
Native of Nigeria |
| G |
13 |
Mark Smith |
6-4 |
225 |
Fr. |
8.6 |
1.7 |
1.3 |
.867 FT% (26-30) |
| G |
23 |
Aaron Jordan |
6-5 |
210 |
Jr. |
11.6 |
3.3 |
0.4 |
Leads NCAA in 3FG% (.622) |
| G |
35 |
Samson Oladimeji |
6-4 |
200 |
So. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
UI walkon |
| F |
45 |
Cameron Liss |
6-6 |
220 |
r-Jr. |
0.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
B1G Distinguished Scholar |
| Sitting Out (*2016-17 Stats listed) |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
32 |
Tyler Underwood |
6-1 |
165 |
r-So. |
0.6* |
0.2* |
0.1* |
Sitting out season (transfer) |
| G |
41 |
Clayton Jones |
6-0 |
170 |
r-Sr. |
0.4* |
0.0* |
0.0* |
Recovering from torn ACL |
Career Record: 116-30/.795 (5th year)
At Illinois: 7-3 (1st year)
Series Notes vs. UNLV
Record: Illinois leads 4-1
Streak: Illinois W-1
Record at Las Vegas: Illinois leads 1-0
Streak at Las Vegas: Illinois W-1
Last Meeting: ILL 61, UNLV 59 // Nov. 26, 2013 at Las Vegas
Underwood vs. UNLV: First meeting
Opening Tips
• Illinois enters a stretch with three of its next four games away from home, beginning with Saturday night's trip to Las Vegas to face UNLV at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The game is being played on The Strip with the Thomas & Mack Center hosting the National Finals Rodeo.
• Illinois is aiming for its first non-conference road win since defeating Boston U in the opening round of the 2014 NIT (March 19, 2014).
• The match-up features two of the fastest teams in the nation. Illinois ranks 19th in adjusted tempo by kenpom, averaging 74.9 possessions per game. UNLV, meanwhile, is 12th with an average of 75.5 possessions.
• The teams are also two of the best in the country on the offensive glass. The Illini rank 44th by rebounding 35.3 percent of their own misses while the Rebels are ninth with a 38.3 percent offensive rebound rate.
• The Illini defense ranks 12th nationally in turnover rate, forcing turnovers on 25.4 percent of opponent possessions.
• Junior Aaron Jordan leads the nation in 3-point shooting (min. 2 made/game) at 62.2 percent (23-37).
• Junior Leron Black – the Illini's leading scorer at 14.8 points per game – carries a career-long active streak of seven-straight games scoring in double figures.
• Sophomore Kipper Nichols is averaging 6.8 rebounds off the bench over the last four games (27).
