Jan. 3, 2000
Illini center Marcus Griffin has been named Co-Big Ten Player of
the Week, the conference office announced this afternoon. He shares the
award along with Michigan's sophomore guard, Leon Jones.
Griffin shined in back-to-back Illini victories last week.
Against Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 28, the 6-9 junior from Peoria (Manual
High School/Lincoln College) tied his season high with 18 points and
added 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season, all in
just 17 minutes of action. Illinois defeated the Wildcats by 50 points,
97-47.
Two days later against Loyola-Chicago, Griffin eclipsed his
previous high by scoring 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and
was nearly perfect from the free throw line with a 12-for-13 effort. He
was just one rebound shy of recording a second double-double in as many
games. Illinois was victorious over Loyola, 107-71.
In the two games combined, Griffin scored 42 points and grabbed
19 rebounds, along with 16-of-17 shooting from the line. Griffin, who
leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.596), is currently the
Illini's second leading scorer (14 ppg) and leading rebounder (6.6 rpg).
He has scored in double figures in eight of eleven games this season.
