March 6, 2000

Media Teleconference Audio:
? Cook on being named co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year
? Bradford on being named to the All-Big Ten team

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois sophomore shooting guard Cory Bradford (Memphis, Tenn./Raleigh-Egypt HS) has been named second-team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media, the conference office announced this morning. Bradford earns his first all-conference honors from the media, and his second from the coaches after being named to the third team and winning Freshman of the Year honors last season.

Along with Bradford, Illini freshman forward Brian Cook (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln HS) was tabbed Co-Freshman of the year by the coaches along with Michigan's LaVell Blanchard.

"We're really happy for both Brian and Cory," Head Coach Lon Kruger said. "Brian was very consistent offensively this season. And defensively he blocked shots and continued to improve. It's a nice honor for both players and we're certainly pleased for them."

Bradford started all 27 games for the Illini and led the team with a 15.7 points per game scoring average, which also ranked seventh in the conference. He has nailed 84 threes this season, one short of the single season school record of 85 that he set last season. His 3.11 three-pointers per game led the Big Ten. Other categories Bradford is in the top ten of the Big Ten include three-point field goal percentage (fourth at .387 percent) and field goal percentage (tenth at .375 percent).

Bradford was Illinois' leading scorer in 14 games, with a season high 28 coming at Michigan on Jan. 16, and has scored 20 points or more in seven games this season. He has already moved into 42nd place on the Illinois all-time career scoring list with 919 points. Bradford has hit a three-pointer in 59 straight games, every game in his Illini career.

Cook helped earn the title of Co-Freshman of the Year after seeing his minutes and production rise signficantly during Big Ten play. He made the first start of his career against Penn State on Jan. 22, scoring a game high 20 points. He scored his career high of 21 in the win over Iowa on Feb. 12, and recorded his first double-double against Ohio State on Feb. 27 with 17 points and 10 boards.

As a starter, Cook is averaging 13.0 points and 5.6 rebounds over the 12-game span. For the season, he carries averages of 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

1999-2000 All-Big Ten