Jan. 29, 2001

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#6 Illinois (16-4, 6-1) vs. Penn State (12-5, 2-4, as of Jan. 26)
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2001 * 7:07 p.m. CT/8:07 p.m. ET (ESPN + Local)
University Park, Pa. * Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)

Final Shots

• Sweet 16: Illinois reached the 16-win mark the earliest (date-wise) since the 1988-89 season when the Illini opened with 17 consecutive wins. That season, Illinois won its 16th game on Jan. 19. Other years where Illinois reached 16 wins earlier than Jan. 25 were Jan. 18, 1979 and Jan. 23, 1985. Early "17" win dates are Jan. 22, 1989 and Jan. 27, 1985.
• Quick Big Ten Start: Illinois is 6-1 in league play for the first time since 1983-84 when the Illini tied Purdue for the Big Ten title. The last time Illinois went 7-1 to start conference action was the 1983-84 season when the Illini opened Big Ten action play with a 10-1 record.
• Rejection Notice: After blocking a total of 37 shots (3.1 avg.) over the first 12 games of the season, the Fighting Illini have totaled 53 (6.6 avg.) in the last eight games. Illinois' season average of 4.5 blocks is the team's highest since 1987 when the Illini averaged 4.7 blocks per game.
• High-Scoring: Illinois is averaging 78.0 points per game, the highest Illini scoring average since 1994 when Illinois averaged 84.0 points per game.
• Self Defense: After 20 games, opponents are shooting just 37.1 percent from the field. That is the lowest opponent shooting percentage since the 1955-56 season when Illini opponents shot 35.2 percent from the field.
• Defending Home Court: In Illinois' eight homes games at the Assembly Hall this season, opponents are shooting a combined 32.1 percent (153-476 FG) from the field and 27.4 percent (48-175 3FG) from three-point range.
• Board Work: Illinois' average of 41.5 rebounds per game is the team's highest average since 1978 when the Illini averaged 42.0 rebounds per game.

Last Time Out : at Michigan
Illinois used a late rally to knock off the Wolverines, 55-51, at Ann Arbor for its second Big Ten road victory. Frank Williams scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to lead the Illini. Williams tied the game at 42-42 with a three-pointer from the left corner, then Sergio McClain followed with a trey from the right corner to give the Illini a 47-44 lead they would never relinquish. After shooting just 30 percent from the field in the first half, Illinois improved to 40 percent for the game and took advantage of 7-15 three-point shooting to post its first season series sweep over Michigan since 1991. The Illinois bench outscored Michigan's by an 18-1 margin.

Williams Comes Up Big In Crunch Time
Frank Williams has made a habit of picking up his level of play in crunch time. So far this season, he is averaging 5.0 points in the first half of games and 10.1 points in the second half (including overtime). His shooting percentage has also improved in the second half from 36 percent to 44 percent. He has scored in double figures nine times in the second half alone, while reaching double figures in the first half just once. His top efforts have come against some of Illinois' toughest opponents. In the second half he has scored 14 against UNLV, 16 vs. Maryland, 18 vs. Arizona, 13 vs. Duke, 17 vs. Seton Hall, 12 vs. Missouri, 16 against Minnesota, 16 against Ohio State and 16 vs. Michigan.

National Exposure
So far this season, Illinois has played 10 games on national television. The Illini have played six times on ESPN, three times on espn2, and once on CBS. Illinois' 11th nationally televised game will be Feb. 6 against Michigan State on ESPN.

Big Crowds
The latest NCAA numbers show that two of Illinois' games this season are ranked among the most-attended games of the season. The Illinois-Missouri Border War at St. fourth and the Illinois-Arizona game at the United Center in Chicago (21,885) ranks sixth. The Syracuse-Tennessee game on Dec. 22 at the Carrier Dome ranks first with 23,164 fans.

High Theft Area
After making 166 steals through 20 games, Illinois stands second in the Big Ten in steals with an average of 8.35 per game. Frank Williams, who leads the Illini with 47 (2.47 avg.) steals, ranks second in the conference individually behind Penn State's Titus Ivory (2.65), while Sergio McClain ranks fifth (1.50 avg.).

In Big Ten games, Williams leads the league with an average of 2.7 steals per game and McClain ranks second with a 2.14 average. The Illini remain second as a team behind Penn State.

Crashing the Boards
This season the Illini are rebounding the basketball with authority. Illinois has outrebounded 15 of its 20 opponents (Kansas State won the rebounding battle by just one, 37-36, UIC tied with 37 each, Ohio State won by 37-31 margin, Iowa won by 47-27 margin, and, Michigan won 37-36), highlighted by a 42-27 advantage against No. 1 Duke, and a 55-37 edge vs. Maryland in the Maui Invitational. On the year, Illinois is averaging 41.5 rebounds per game, compared to 35.3 for the competition. Marcus Griffin (6.6), Sergio McClain (6.7) and Brian Cook (6.2) lead the Illini in rebounding. At the offensive end, Illinois is averaging 14.2 offensive boards per game, led by Griffin's total of 56 (3.0 avg.).

Bradford Nets NCAA Three-Point Record
Illinois junior guard Cory Bradford became sole owner of the NCAA record for consecutive games (now 84 straight) with a three-pointer with his first trey against Arizona Dec. 16. The previous record of 73 games was set by Wally Lancaster of Virginia Tech from 1986-89. Bradford tied the record with two treys in overtime of the victory over Seton Hall Dec. 9. Bradford has made a three-pointer in every game of his collegiate career and enters the Penn State game with a streak of 84 consecutive games with a three-pointer and starts for the Illini.

In Big Ten play, Bradford has seen his field-goal percentage rise from 32.5 percent in non-conference play to 50 percent in Big Ten games, including 54.2 percent from three-point range. In seven conference games, Bradford is 25-50 from the field and 13-24 from three-point range while averaging 9.7 points per game.

Bradford enters the Penn State game with 1,178 career points, 21st on the Illini career scoring list, 33 points from moving past Audie Matthews into 20th place the Illini career scoring list. Bradford's streak of consecutive starts is tied with Matthews streak for second on the Illini list and one short of Richard Keene's school record of 85 consecutive games started in an Illini career. A start at Penn State on Jan. 31 would tie the Illini record for consecutive games started.

Top 10 Streak Alive
Illinois has been ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Top 10 for 13 consecutive polls, the longest stretch of Top 10 action since a string of 28 straight polls in the Top 10 in the 1989 and 1990 seasons.

"D" is Key for the Illini
In 20 games so far, Illinois has allowed just one opponent (Iowa, .458) to shoot better than 45 percent from the field (including games vs. five Top 10 opponents) and leads the Big Ten in field-goal percentage defense (.371).

On Dec. 6, Wisconsin-Milwaukee shot 21.7 percent from the field (13-60) to set an all-time Assembly Hall record for lowest field-goal percentage. The Illini also held Michigan to just 13 field goals to tie the Assembly Hall record for fewest field goals while holding the Wolverines to just .277 (13-47) shooting from the field.

In Big Ten play, the Illini have been even better in holding opponents to just .350 field goal shooting to again lead the conference.

In four games since losing 78-62 at Iowa, the Illini defense has intensified, holding Michigan, Northwestern, Penn State and Michigan again to a combined 62-for-203 (30.5 percent).

Top 10 Matchups
Illinois' game Dec. 16 against No. 7 Arizona was the Illini's fifth game between two Top 10 programs already this season. Five of Illinois' 13 non-conference opponents were ranked at least seventh or higher with two No. 1s on the schedule. Michigan State, currently ranked No. 3 in both major polls after being No. 1 for several weeks, plays at Illinois on Feb. 6.

Facing Two #1's in a Week
There's a reason why many people point to Illinois' schedule as the toughest in the nation. The Illini have already played five teams ranked in the Top 10, including a pair of No. 1s. This marks the first time ever that the Illini have played two different No. 1 teams in the same season, and even more impressive, those games came less than a week apart. Illinois fell to then-No. 1 Arizona, 79-76, in the championship of the Maui Invitational on Nov. 22. Just six days later, the Illini faced No. 1 Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, falling by just one point 78-77.

Griffin Strong in the Post
Senior center Marcus Griffin has turned in quite a performance so far with his dominating inside play.

Griffin is Illinois' second-leading scorer at 12.9 points per game and in rebounding at 6.6 boards per game. Fifty-six of his 125 rebounds have been at the offensive end. Griffin sat out the second-half of the win over Michigan (1/13), the entire Northwestern game (1/17) and all but four minutes of the Penn State game (1/20) after suffering an injury while falling after being fouled against the Wolverines.

In Big Ten play, Griffin ranks sixth in the league in field-goal shooting at 56.1 percent (23-41).

He scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the victory over Minnesota Jan. 3. He scored 21 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked five shots Dec. 29 against Illinois-Chicago. He posted perhaps his best game at Illinois with 24 points and career-high 13 rebounds in the overtime victory over Seton Hall Dec. 9, and he posted a double-double against Missouri with 10 points and 11 boards and had 11 points and five rebounds vs. Texas.

Griffin had 16 points and eight rebounds in the win over Texas Southern and responded with another 16-point outing while coming just one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards against No. 1 Duke. The double-double that eluded him against the Blue Devils happened on Dec. 2 at Kansas State, when Griffin scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory. He led Illinois with 15 points in the victory over Arizona Dec. 16.

Frankly, He's Been Great
Illinois sophomore guard Frank Williams has played at an All-America level so far this season. He earned All-Tournament team honors at Maui after scoring 22 points in a come-from-behind win over UNLV, 21 points against No. 6 Maryland, and a career-high 27 points against then-top-ranked Arizona in the title game. Against then-top-ranked Duke, he led the Illini with a team-high 19 points. Dec. 2 at Kansas State, Williams took just three shots but contributed in other ways, with a season-high eight assists and three steals. Williams scored 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out five assists in 43 minutes against Seton Hall on Dec. 9. In the Braggin' Rights game vs. Missouri, Williams scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half and overtime in leading the Illini to victory.

Williams leads the team in scoring with an average of 15.0 points per game overall and 16.7 points in Big Ten play. He also leads the Illini in assists (83), steals (47), and free throws (81-98, .827). He has been Illinois' leading scorer in eight of his 19 games on the year (UNLV, Maryland, Arizona, Duke, Ohio State, Iowa, Northwestern and Michigan).

Against Top 10 competition so far this season, Williams is averaging 22.0 points per game.

In six Big Ten games this season, Williams leads the league in steals (2.67 avg.), ranks third in assists (4.5 avg.), while ranking fifth in scoring (16.7 avg.).

McClain's Numbers Improving
After averaging 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds as a junior, Sergio McClain's numbers are on the rise in this his final season. McClain currently ranks fifth on the team in scoring at 8.8 points per game, at 6-4 is the Illini's leading rebounder, pulling down 6.7 boards per game, and ranks second on the squad in assists (2.9 avg.) and steals (1.5 avg.).

On Jan. 13 against Michigan, McClain recorded just the second triple-double in Illinois basketball history when he scored 10 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out 11 assists in a victory over the Wolverines.

McClain has tallied two other double-doubles, with 11 points and 11 rebounds against Duke and 10 points and 10 boards vs. Maryland. He also added 10 rebounds and nine boards, against Seton Hall and Missouri, respectively. His defensive effort against Duke helped hold preseason All-American Shane Battier to 11 points and 5 rebounds.

He also posted a solid line against Penn State on Jan. 20 with a team-leading 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

• McClain Triple-Double Just Second for Illinois: Mark Smith was found to have the first recorded Illini triple-double when he scored 18 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out 10 assists in a 67-57 win over Minnesota on Feb. 1, 1979. Sergio McClain's performance against Michigan is the second triple-double in Illini basketball history. Illinois assistant coach Rob Judson played in the first triple-double game in 1979 and celebrated his 42nd birthday on the second.

What's Cookin'
Illini sophomore Brian Cook has shown flashes of dominating ability this season. The 2000 Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year opened the season strong with double-figure scoring in the first three games and a career-high 14 rebounds against UNLV. Foul trouble helped contribute to a scoreless game against Duke and just two points against K-State before erupting for 17 points on 6-8 field-goal shooting against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He followed with seven points against Seton Hall but was again saddled with foul trouble. In games against Missouri and Texas, Cook erupted for 23 first-half points on his way to a new career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Tigers, then had a team-high 18 points and six rebounds vs. the Longhorns two nights later to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors.

In the Big Ten opener against Minnesota, Cook scored just seven points, but grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked a career-high six shots. He followed with 13 points in the victory over Ohio State. Cook led the Illini with 17 points in the victory over Michigan on Jan. 13. At Northwestern on Jan. 17, Cook posted his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

At 6-10, his versatility is evident in that he is shooting 38 percent (15-40) from three-point range and 50 percent (75-150) overall from the field. He ranks third on the team in rebounding at 6.2 boards per game and leads the team with 30 blocked shots. In Big Ten games, Cook ranks third in the league in blocked shots with an average of 2.00 per game.

Cook Big Ten Player of the Week
After breakout games against Missouri and Texas in late December, Brian Cook was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, Dec. 25.

After missing his first shot against Missouri, Cook connected on his next 10 field goals. He had 23 points at the half and finished the game with a career high of 25, behind 10-14 shooting and a pair of treys. Cook also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Two nights later against Texas, Cook scored a team-high 18 points behind 6-7 shooting and was a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line, along with six rebounds.

In the two games combined on the week, Cook averaged 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Harrington Solid Off The Bench
Despite a recent shooting slump, sophomore Sean Harrington has been solid coming off the bench this season. Against Arizona on Nov. 22, Harrington came off the bench to score 15 points after making 5-9 three pointers. He followed that performance by shooting a perfect 6-6, including 5-5 from three-point range, in a new career-high scoring day against Texas Southern with 17 points. Against Arizona at the United Center on Dec. 16, Harrington was a perfect 3-3 from three-point land.

For the season, he is shooting .446 (29-65) from three-point range. He currently ranks fifth in the Big Ten. Harrington also had a school-record streak of nine consecutive made threes that originated at the 7:45 mark of the second half against Arizona and lasted until the 9:56 mark of the first half vs. K-State.

He received the first start of his Illini career Jan. 13 against Michigan when Frank Williams had to sit out with an injury. He responded with a career-high four steals.

Over the last two games, Harrington is 4-5 from three-point range.

St. Louis Arch Presense in the Middle
Robert Archibald has been a key player off the Illinois bench, patrolling the paint on offense and defense. While foul problems have limited him to just 15.0 minutes per game, they have been productive ones for the 6-11 junior as he is averaging 7.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Archibald posted career highs with 16 points and 12 rebounds against Illinois-Chicago on Dec. 29. Archibald had nine points and eight rebounds against Maryland and 12 points on 6-6 shooting against Texas Southern. He scored six points and pulled down five rebounds in 10 minutes of action against Duke and on Dec. 2 he had nine points and five rebounds vs. K-State. Against Texas Archibald added seven points and four rebounds in 11 minutes.

In his second start of the season Jan. 20 against Penn State, Archibald responded with his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds, along with a career-high five blocked shots. In six Big Ten games, Archibald ranks third (tied with Brian Cook) in the league with an average of 2.00 blocks per game.

Illini Bench Key to Illini Wins
Illinois has gotten strong play from the bench in virtually every game this season. On the season, Illinois is outscoring the opposing bench by an average of nearly seven points per game. (see page 16 of the notes).

In the opener against UNLV, Brett Melton (5 points), Robert Archibald (5 points, 3 rebounds) and Lucas Johnson (3 points, 7 rebounds) all came off the bench to spark the Illini late in the first half. After falling behind 28-14, Illini tied the game at 36 going into halftime after sparkling play by the bench.

In the win over Maryland, Archibald scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds in 18 minutes of play.

And, in the championship game, Sean Harrington hit a career-high five three points enroute to 15 points and Damir Krupalija scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds in his first extensive action of the season. Against Texas Southern, the Illinois bench outscored TSU 35-11 with Harrington leading the way with 17 points. Archibald added 12 points as the two combined to make all 11 field-goal attempts.

Against Duke, Illinois' bench scored 18 points while the Blue Devils' bench went scoreless for the game. The trend continued against Seton Hall with the Illini bench posting a 19-9 advantage.

In the latest home Big Ten victories over Michigan and Penn State, the Illini bench outscored the Wolverines by a 30-13 margin and Penn State 35-23. On Jan. 25 at Michigan, the Illini bench outscored Michigan's by 18-1.

Williams Big Ten Player of the Week
After leading the Fighting Illini to a 3-1 record, with victories over Maine, UNLV, #6 Maryland and a near upset of #1 Arizona, point guard Frank Williams was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 27, sharing the award with Penn State's Joe Crispin.

His personal contributions to Illinois' strong start included an average of 20 points, five rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Williams tallied a career-high 22 points, along with six rebounds, six assists and five steals in the victory over UNLV in the opening round at Maui, and he set a new career high two days later with 27 points, including eight in the final minute, in the championship against Arizona.

Illini Basketball is a Hot Ticket
More than 12,000 season tickets were sold for the 2000-01 men's basketball season. All but the Minnesota game on Jan. 3 is sold out for the Big Ten portion of the schedule.

Bradford, Williams on Wooden List
Illinois' Cory Bradford and Frank Williams are among 30 players on the list of candidates for the 2001 Wooden Award All-American team. Bradford, the 2000-01 Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, is on the list for the second consecutive season. Bradford earned Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year honors from both the media and Big Ten coaches. He also earned a place on the Preseason All-Big Ten First Team.

Bradford led the Illini last year with 15.3 ppg and broke the school record for three pointers in a season with 96. He earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.

Williams has been outstanding in big games. He is averaging better than 20 points per game against ranked teams.

Big Ten Media Pick Illini as Preseason Conference Favorites
Illinois was picked to finish first in the Big Ten by a conference media poll and second by the Big Ten coaches' vote. Both the league coaches and media chose Illinois junior guard Cory Bradford as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year.

Illini Schedule
Illinois played unquestionably the toughest non-conference schedule in school history in 2000-01. In November and December, the Illini took on five Top 10 teams in No. 6 Maryland, No. 1 Arizona, No. 1 Duke, No. 7 Seton Hall, and No. 7 Arizona. The Illini also faced two teams that have been receiving votes throughout the season in Missouri and Texas. In fact, the Longhorns jumped into the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll after defeating the Illini Dec. 23. Iowa was ranked No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll when the two teams met Jan. 11.

The latest RPI Rankings (Jan. 14) had the Illinois schedule No. 4 in the nation, while the Illini themselves were ranked sixth.

High Preseason Ranking
Illinois began the 2000-01 season ranked No. 8 by the Associated Press and No. 9 by the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

The last time Illinois was ranked in the Top 10 to begin the season was in November, 1989 when the Illini, who were led by Kendall Gill and Stephen Bardo, were also ranked eighth by the Associated Press.

Illini Sign Two During Fall Period
Illinois signed two future student-athletes to national letters of intent in November. Roger Powell (6-6, F, Joliet, Ill., Township High School) and Luther Head (6-3, G, Chicago Manley High School) both signed on Nov. 8, the first day of the fall signing period. Illinois has one available scholarship to offer in the spring.

Big Ten Tourney Tickets Available
Tickets for the 2001 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament are on sale at the United Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets or by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212. All-session tournament tickets are $200 each and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets are sold on a four-day, 10-game all-session basis only.

The Fourth Annual Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament will be held March 8-11 at the United Center in Chicago.