Feb. 20, 2003

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Series History - Northwestern
This is the 148th meeting between Illinois and Northwestern with the Illini holding an 114-33 advantage in all games. This is the first non-campus site meeting between the two schools. Bill Self has defeated the Wildcats all three times during his Illini career, and the Illini have won six in a row. Since 1984, the Illini are 33-3 against Northwestern.

On the Air
Television
ESPN - Gus Johnson, play-by-play; Clark Kellogg, expert analyst.

Radio
Illini Sports Radio Network -- 43 stations
Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Loren Tate, expert
analyst, and pregame/halftime reports.

The United Center: Home Away From Home
While games played at the United Center count as 'neutral site' in the record book, for the Illini the UC is a home away from home. Saturday's game against Northwestern will mark the 24th game the Illini have played in the UC, dating back to the 1994-95 season. Illinois owns an all-time record of 17-6 at the United Center.

Quick Shots
Bill Self is just one win away from his 200th career victory as a collegiate head coach This is Illinois' first conference game at a neutral site since the Illini went 9-1 against Northwestern at the Chicago Stadium from 1942-51 (all Northwestern home games) ... Illinois is 37-1 at the Assembly Hall under Bill Self, with the only loss coming to Michigan State last year ... Since then, the Illini have won 15 straight at the Hall ... Illinois is 49-2 at the Assembly Hall over the past four seasons Illini opponents are shooting .371 from the field, which ranks second in the nation and would be the lowest opponent field-goal percentage by UI opponents since 1955-56 (.352) ... Since 1956, the only other Illini squad to hold opponents to less than 40 percent shooting was the 2001 squad under Bill Self (.386) ... Illini opponents are also shooting just .270 from three-point range, which would be the lowest in school history (current low is .308 in 2000) ... After 11 Big Ten games, Brian Cook leads the Big Ten in scoring (19.4 avg.) and is 11th in rebounding (6.2 avg.), while James Augustine ranks second in field-goal shooting (39-69, .565) and Dee Brown is second in assists (4.91 avg.) and leads in assist/turnover ratio (3.86) ... Brian Cook has scored at least 15 points in 17 of his 20 games this season, including at least 20 points 13 times. He has scored 20 or more 10 of the last 14 games, including six in a row prior to Jan. 18 at Indiana, the longest such streak by an Illini player since Kendall Gill tallied 20+ points in the final 10 games of the 1989-90 season ... Illini players are currently leading three Big Ten (all games) statistical categories. Brian Cook leads the Big Ten in scoring (19.8 ppg), Dee Brown leads in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.62) and Sean Harrington leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.445) ... James Augustine is second in field-goal shooting (.588, 67-114), Dee Brown is second in assists (4.77 apg), while Deron Williams is second in assist-turnover margin (2.11).

Last Time Out --
Illinois 70, Michigan State 40
Illinois put together its most dominating performance of the season in rolling past Michigan State 70-40 at the Assembly Hall Tuesday night. After falling behind by six points early, the Illini went on an 18-0 run over a span of 8:14 to take a 20-8 lead. Illinois led by 20 points at halftime and went on another run in the second half, holding the Spartans scoreless for 9:32 while going on a 21-0 run to turn a 48-28 score into a 69-28 advantage with under four minutes remaining. Illinois shot over 54 percent for the game and held the Spartans to just 32 percent shooting.

Michigan State's 40 points tied the fewest points scored by an Illini opponent in conference play in Assembly Hall history. MSU's 40 points were also the lowest point total of Tom Izzo's eight-year tenure and the 30-point loss registered as the Spartans second-largest defeat under Izzo.

Freshmen guards Dee Brown and Deron Williams combined for 36 points, six rebounds, eight assists and nine steals to lead the Illini.

Self Defense is Tops
After 22 games this season, Illinois opponents are shooting just 37.1 percent from the field, including just 27.0 percent from 3-point range. The Illini rank second in the nation (as of Feb. 17) in field goal percentage defense.

The 37.1 percent shooting by Illini opponents would be the lowest allowed since 1956, and just the second time since that teams shot under 40 percent. The other was in 2001, also under Bill Self.

The 27.0 percent three-point field goal percentage defense is the lowest in school history.

Against Coppin State on Dec. 30, Illinois held the Eagles to just 12 field goals, the fewest made shots in the 40-year history of the Assembly Hall, and to just 29 percent shooting from the field, the second Illini opponent this season to shoot under 30 percent. In the Big Ten opener, Illinois held Minnesota to 30.5 percent shooting on its home floor, as the Gophers made just 19.2 percent (5-26) from three-point range. In a 70-40 defeat of Michigan State on Feb. 18, the 40 points scored by the Spartans tied the fewest points allowed by Illinois in Big Ten play in Assembly Hall history.

Illinois has now held 12 of its last 16 opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field, and has a total of 14 such defensive efforts this season. Coppin State's 37 points were the fewest allowed by the Illini since defeating Northwestern 63-30 on Feb. 19, 2000.

Illinois leads the Big Ten in field-goal percentage defense and 3-point percentage defense, and is second in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of just 60.5 points.

In the latest national statistics (as of Feb. 17) compiled by the NCAA, Illinois ranks second in field-goal percentage defense and eighth in scoring margin (+14.3), while ranking 23rd in scoring defense (60.5). Un-Self-ish Play
The 2002-03 Fighting Illini season has been trademarked with unselfish play. Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the nation (as of Feb. 17) in assists per game (18.14 avg.), highlighted by a season-high 25 assists vs. Oakland, 24 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 23 against Western Illinois, North Carolina and Penn State. In the win over Coppin State, the Illini were credited with 21 assists on 22 made baskets, an amazing 96 percent of shots made. Illinois has tallied 20 or more assists in eight games and has recorded assists on over 67 percent of its baskets (399 assists on 594 FG) on the season. Guards Dee Brown and Deron Williams rank second and fourth, respectively, in the Big Ten in assists with averages of 4.77 and 4.50 per game.

High-Scoring Illini
Illinois has opened the 2002-03 season by averaging 74.8 points per game, outscoring its opponents by an average of 14.3 points per. Illinois is shooting 48.4 percent from the field, ranking 18th in the nation in field goal percentage (NCAA Rankings as of Feb. 17), and has shot 50 percent or better in 11 of 22 games this season.

Illinois leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.484) and scoring margin (+14.3), and ranks second in 3-point field goal percentage (.370) and scoring average (74.8). Four of Illinois' top six scorers are shooting 50 percent or better from the field.

The Book on Cook
Senior Brian Cook, a preseason Big Ten Player of the Year selection, is proving the recognition was deserved. He may deserve more - as in National Player of the Year candidate. Cook leads the Big Ten in scoring at 19.8 points per game (37th nationally as of Feb. 17), while ranking fourth in rebounding at 7.0 boards per contest. He also ranks sixth in the league in field-goal shooting (.517) and eighth in free throw percentage (.817). Cook has been Illinois' leading scorer 15 times and leading rebounder 12 times in his 20 games this season.

Cook's 31 points against Wisconsin Jan. 11 were a career high and the most by an Illinois player since Kevin Turner scored 35 vs. Indiana on Jan. 3, 1998.

In one of the most inspiring performances in Illini hoops history, Cook scored 26 second-half points (to Michigan's 27) in leading the Illini from an 11-point deficit in knocking off the previously conference-undefeated Wolverines. Cook scored 19 points in the final 9:15 to finish with 30 for the game.

Cook had a streak of consecutive made free throws come to an end at 32 on Jan. 4 against Oakland, tying Rob Judson and Andy Kaufmann for second place in school history for consecutive free throws.

Cook enters the Northwestern game with 1,545 career points, sixth on the UI career scoring list and 108 points shy of Mark Smith for fifth place.

After sitting out the first two games of the season (along with teammate Jerrance Howard) as an NCAA penalty for playing in an unsanctioned summer basketball tournament, Cook returned and immediately established himself in the Illini lineup.

Cook has scored at least 15 points in all but three games this season, reaching 20 points or more 13 times. He's also had at least eight rebounds nine times.

Cook's best scoring game came against Wisconsin with a career-high 31 points, with other top games against Michigan with 30 points, Minnesota and Temple with 25 points, 22 against North Carolina, Oakland, Purdue and Ohio State, 21 against Eastern Illinois and Memphis, and 20 vs. Coppin State, Iowa and Purdue.

In the win over No. 11 Missouri, Cook scored 17, making all 10 of his free-throw attempts, and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

Cook has been named one of 20 finalists for the Naismith Award, is one of 30 midseason candidates for the Wooden Award, is one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award, and most recently was named a first team NABC All-District 11 selection.

Top 25 Streak Continues
Illinois began the week ranked No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, extending its streak to 53 consecutive polls in which the Illini have been ranked, including every poll during Bill Self's tenure. Illinois is also ranked No. 20 in this week's AP Top 25.

The Illini had a school record-streak of 30 straight polls in the Top 10 snapped in January, 2002, but has never dropped out of the Coaches' Top 25 under Self.

Dee - Lightful, Dee-Pendable ... No Dee-Bate, Dee Can Play
Who is the best freshman point guard in college basketball? It's hard to find a rookie guard that has made more of an impact than Illinois' Dee Brown. Brown has started every game and leads the Illini in minutes played (33.8 avg.). He has scored in double figures in 12 games games and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 points. Brown exploded for a career-high 25 points against Eastern Illinois on Dec. 10, hitting 10-of-14 shots, including a career-high five 3-pointers.

In two December performances in front of national television audiences, Brown first had a game-high 21 points with seven assists and five rebounds in Illinois' victory over No. 11 Missouri to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Dec. 21. He then followed with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and three assists and three boards with no turnovers in 37 minutes against Memphis. Brown had his best game in conference play against Michigan State on Feb. 18, scoring a game-high 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting with five rebounds, five assists and a career-high five steals.

Brown is second in the Big Ten in assists with 4.77 per game and also leads the league with an assist/turnover ratio of 2.62. He ranks 21st in the Big Ten in scoring at 11.8 points per game. One of the quickest guards in America, Brown's 1.59 steals per game leads the team and ranks seventh in the Big Ten.

Through 11 Big Ten games, Brown has totaled 54 assists with only 14 turnovers, leading the conference with an assist/turnover ratio of 3.86 in league play.

Among the top freshmen in the League, he ranks among the top four in assists (second), points (fourth) and steals (first) per game.

In head-to-head matchups with other heralded freshman point guards, Brown held North Carolina's Raymond Felton to 9 points (2-6 FG), three assists and eight turnovers. Against Michigan, Daniel Horton was 3-17 from the field (7 points) with two assists and seven turnovers.

Twice as Nice - Williams Joins Brown in All-Freshman Backcourt
Deron Williams and Dee Brown make up one of the best freshmen backcourts in the nation. The two rank first and second, respectively, in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover-ratio and have the Illini leading the Big Ten in team assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. Brown leads the team in minutes at 33.8 per game, but Williams is third at 27.0 minutes. Williams is averaging 6.7 points, is second to Brown for the team lead in assists with 99, and is second on the team in steals with 28. He ranks second in the Big Ten in assist-turnover ratio at 2.11 and is fourth in assists with an average of 4.50.

That's a Three Sean Harrington
Senior Sean Harrington has been hot from behind the arc this season. He has made 49-of-110 treys, leading the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage at 44.5 percent. Harrington nailed a career-high six 3-pointers in Illinois' win over North Carolina on Dec. 3 en route to 20 points, and tied his mark by making six-of-eight treys on his way to 18 points against Coppin State. Harrington tied it again with six-of-nine treys on his way to a career-high 22 points against Minnesota. Against Oakland, Harrington had 20 points, connecting on five 3-pointers.

In his five games as a starter this season, Harrington averaged 13.8 points per game, including an average of 20.0 points in his first three starts. It was the first time in his career at Illinois that he scored in double figures in three straight games.

Harrington is third on the team with 50 assists and has just 20 turnovers for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.50. He is third on the team with 22 steals. In games played at the Assembly Hall, Harrington is 32-63 (.508) from 3-point range.

Harrington ranks fifth on the UI career list with 176 three-point field goals.

Augie Hot
Another member of the heralded Illini freshman class to shine has been newcomer James Augustine. He has bolstered the UI frontcourt, averaging 7.3 points and is second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, shooting 58.8 percent from the field. He has scored in double figures seven times, recorded his first career double-double with season highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds vs. Penn State and followed with another against Michigan with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Augustine is also second on the team behind Brian Cook in rebounding, averaging 6.2 boards. He has been Illinois' top-rebounder in seven games, highlighted by his 12-rebound performance against Penn State. Augustine ranks ninth in the Big Ten in rebounding at 6.2 per game and 11th in blocked shots at 1.09 per game.

Bench Play
The Illinois bench has been productive this season, averaging 19.9 points and 9.3 rebounds, while limiting the opponents' bench to 16.5 points and 9.8 rebounds. Illinois' bench is outscoring the opponents' by 3.4 points per game and nearly matching opponents in rebounding.

National Exposure
For the 2002-03 season, Illinois is scheduled to appear at least 13 times on national television with five games on ESPN, four games on ESPN2 and four games on CBS. CBS has until March 3 to announce a choice for the March 8 or 9 games to be televised, including the Minnesota at Illinois contest.

Self Leads Big Ten All-Star Squad
Illinois coach Bill Self led a Big Ten All-Star squad on a tour through Germany, Belgium and Holland during the summer of 2002. Big Ten players on the trip included Roger Powell and Sean Harrington of Illinois, Tom Coverdale of Indiana, Jared Reiner of Iowa, Bernard Robinson of Michigan, Chris Hill of Michigan State, Ben Johnson of Minnesota, Winston Blake of Northwestern, Velimir Radinovic of Ohio State, Jason McDougald of Penn State, Ivan Kartelo of Purdue and Dave Mader of Wisconsin.