Illinois Game Notes vs. Valparaiso
December 17, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2004
Champaign, Ill. -
Illinois Men's Basketball Game Notes vs. Valparaiso in PDF Format
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FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #10: #1 Illinois (9-0) vs. Valparaiso (2-5)
No Television • 4 p.m. CT • Las Vegas Holiday Classic
Dec. 19, 2004 • Champaign, Ill. • Assembly Hall (16,500)
Probable Starters
#1 ILLINOIS (9-0)
F - 43 Roger Powell, Jr. (Sr., 6-6, 235, 13.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
F - 40 James Augustine (Jr., 6-10, 230, 9.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
G - 4 Luther Head (Sr., 6-3, 185, 16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.0 apg)
G - 5 Deron Williams (Jr., 6-3, 210, 12.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 6.9 apg)
G - 11 Dee Brown (Jr., 6-0, 185, 13.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.4 apg)
Off The Bench ...
G - 15 Calvin Brock (Fr., 6-4, 185, plans to redshirt)
G - 33 Rich McBride (So., 6-3, 215, 4.6 ppg, 1.6 apg)
F - 34 Fred Nkemdi (Sr., 6-5, 235, 0.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg)
F - 41 Warren Carter (So., 6-9, 210, 4.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
C - 45 Nick Smith (Sr.-r, 7-2, 250, 3.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
C/F - 50 Jack Ingram (Sr.-r, 6-10, 245, 2.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
F - 55 Shaun Pruitt (Fr., 6-8, 245, 1.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg)
Injured
F - 42 Brian Randle (So., 6-7, 210, 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg in 2004)
Illinois Head Coach: Bruce Weber
Overall Record: 138-61/.694 (7th year)
At Illinois: 35-7/.833 (2nd year)
Big Ten: 13-3/.813
Vs. Valparaiso: 0-0
Assistant Coaches: Wayne McClain (4th year), Jay Price (2nd year), Tracy Webster (1st year)
Assistant to the head coach: Gary Nottingham (2nd year)
Trainer: Al Martindale (22nd year at Illinois)
Valparaiso Head Coach: Homer Drew
Overall Record: 525-324/.587 (28th year)
At Valparaiso: 256-202/.558 (16th year)
Vs. Illinois: 0-1
Assistant Coaches: Matt Bowen, Rex Walters and Luke Gore
On the Air
No Television
Radio
Illini Sports Network - 47 stations: Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Stephen Bardo, expert analyst; Loren Tate, pregame/halftime/postgame interviews.
Series Notes: Valparaiso
Illinois leads the all-time series, 4-0, with all four appearances coming in Champaign. The last meeting was a 53-49 Illini victory on Nov.l 30, 1998. Other Illinois victories in the series came Dec. 4, 1972 (80-62), Dec. 3, 1974 (69-58) and Dec. 2, 1982 (94-59).
Quick Shots
• For the third year in school history, the Illini are ranked No. 1 in the nation. Illinois last stood atop the national polls the week of January 23-29, 1989. Illinois' first tenure at No. 1 came the final week of January, 1952.
• This is the first time in school history that Illinois has spent consecutive weeks ranked No. 1 in the polls. In 1952 and 1989, the Illini spent just one week at the No. 1 spot.
• Illinois' victory over Chicago State on Dec. 6 marked the first time in school history that the Illini have won their first game after earning the No. 1 ranking. In 1989, No. 1 Illinois lost at Minnesota and in 1952, the No. 1 Illini lost at DePaul. The Illini are now 5-2 all-time when ranked No. 1, with wins over Indiana in 1989 and at Purdue in 1952, in addition to victories over Chicago State, Georgetown and Oregon this season.
• Illinois defeated a No.1-ranked team for the second time in school history and the first since 1979 on Dec. 1 when the Illini cruised past then-No. 1 Wake Forest 91-73.
• Illinois has won all nine games by double figures, and is outscoring its opponents by an average of 20 points per game on the year. Illinois ranks 14th in the nation in scoring margin.
• After nine games, the Illini are shooting an eye-popping 52.7 percent (281-533) from the field and 43.1 percent (104-144) from 3-point range. Illinois ranks fifth in the NCAA in field goal percentage and 14th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage.
• In the first half of games this season, Illinois is averaging 47.6 points (428 pts.) on 55.5 percent shooting (161-290), and enjoys an average halftme lead of 17.6 points.
• Illinois has trailed in the scoring column for just 21:32 out of 360 minutes of play this year, meaning Illinois has held the lead in 94 percent of the minutes played to date in the 2004-05 season. Included in that streak, the Illini have held the lead the entire second half of every game this year. Illinois trailed Delaware State for a total of 7:01, all in the first half, Florida A&M for the first 50 seconds of the game, Arkansas for 1:34 of the first half, Chicago State for the first 47 seconds of the game, and Georgetown for a total of 11:20, all in the first half. The Illini have held the lead the entire way in four games this year, against Oakland, Gonzaga, Wake Forest and Oregon.
• Playing against ranked teams in consecutive games (No. 24 Gonzaga and No. 1 Wake Forest), Illinois combined for an amazing assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.92. The Illini had 24 assists with only seven turnovers against Gonzaga and tallied a season-high 27 assists with a season-low six turnovers against top-ranked Wake Forest.
• Four of Illinois' five starters are averaging in double-figure scoring after nine games.
• Illinois has led the Big Ten in scoring each of the last four seasons. The Illini currently rank 19th in the nation in scoring, averaging 83.3 points this year through nine games.
• Illinois has been credited with assists on 69.8 percent of its baskets this season (196 assists on 281 field goals). The Illini lead the nation in assists, averaging 21.8 per game.
• The Illini have three players - Dee Brown, Luther Head and Roger Powell - shooting over 45 percent from 3-point range.
• The Illini are averaging 9.3 three-pointers per game this season, which ranks 11th in the NCAA. Illinois tied its school record for 3-pointers in a game with 14 vs. Gonzaga on Nov. 27.
• In its win over Gonzaga, Illinois set a number of Wooden Tradition team records, including points (89), assists (24), steals (13), three-pointers (14), as well as individual records, including assists (Luther Head, 9), steals (Luther Head-tied, 4), and 3-pointers (Deron Williams-tied, 5).
• In the season opener on Nov. 19, Illinois and Delaware State combined to set the Illinois all-time and Assembly Hall records for combined field goal percentage. The teams joined to shoot 60.8 percent (59-97), with the Illini making 35-of-55 attempts and the Hornets connecting on 24-of-42 shots.
Hot Start
Illinois is one of only 18 teams in the country to boast a perfect record. Illinois' 9-0 record ties the eighth best start in the 100-year history of Fighting Illini basketball and is the Illini's best start since opening at 9-0 during the 1995-96 campaign.
Illini Remain No. 1
For just the third time in school history - and for the second straight week - Illinois is the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. Illinois remained atop both the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Poll. This marks the first time in school history that the Illini have been ranked first for more than one week in the same season.
Prior to this year, the last time Illinois was ranked No. 1 was the week of Jan. 23-29, 1989. The UI was also ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll for a week during the final week in January, 1952. In each of the previous two seasons when the Illini achieved a No. 1 ranking, they went on to advance to the NCAA Final Four.
Experimental Rules in Effect
Illinois' games as part of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic - Sunday's game vs. Valparaiso and the Dec. 27 game vs. Longwood in addition to the two games in Las Vegas on Dec. 30-31 - will be played with experimental rules. This includes the 3-point line extended to 20 feet, 6 inches, a free throw lane that has been widened 1-and-a-half feet on each side, and an arc drawn two feet from the center of the hoop to assist with charge/block calls.
Home Cookin'
Illinois is 56-2 (.966) at the Assembly Hall over the last four-plus years, with the only losses coming to Michigan State on Feb. 3, 2002 and to Purdue on Jan. 10, 2004 ... The Boilermakers broke a 23-game Illini winning streak at the Hall that at the time ranked fourth in the nation ... Illinois is 68-3 (.958) at the Assembly Hall over the past five-plus seasons, the best home mark in the nation over that period ...The Illini have also won 36 in a row at the Assembly Hall against non-conference opponents ... Illinois has won 35 of its last 37 (.946) Big Ten games at the Assembly Hall ... Below is a look at Illinois' home record the past five seasons:
Year Overall Big Ten 2004-05 5-0 0-0 2003-04 12-1 7-1 2002-03 14-0 7-0 2001-02 13-1 7-1 2000-01 12-0 8-0 1999-2000 12-1 7-1 Total 68-3 (.958) 36-3 (.923)
Last Time Out: vs. Oregon
Illinois won its 11th straight game at the United Center in Chicago, and improved to 9-0 on the season with an 83-66 victory over Oregon on Dec. 11. The Illini jumped out to a 12-2 lead just three minutes into the game and never looked back. Illinois shot 58 percent for the game and had its best performane of the season from the free throw line, connecting on 19-of-22 foul shots for 86.4 percent accuracy. Luther Head scored a season-high 23 points - the most by an Illini player this season - to lead the charge of all five starters scoring in double figures. Deron Williams had 17 points and a game-high seven assists, while Dee Brown added 13 points, five assists and three steals.
Williams Fifth-Straight Illini Chosen Preseason Player of the Year Pick
Junior guard Deron Williams became the fifth straight Illini to be named Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year at the recent Big Ten Media Day in Chicago. Williams, also named to the All-Big Ten First-Team last season, is just the third Big Ten player ever to lead the league in assists in each of his first two seasons, joining Michigan State's Magic Johnson (1978-79) and Illinois' Bruce Douglas (1983-84). Williams has also earned Preseason All-America honors from Playboy Magazine and is among 50 preseason candidates for the Wooden, Naismith and Rupp Awards.
Williams is fourth on the team in scoring this season, averaging 12.8 points. He leads the Big Ten and ranks 11th in the nation in assists, averaging 6.9 apg. Williams tied his career-high vs. Wake Forest on Dec. 1, dishing out 11 assists. He boasts an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.07 through nine games. Williams is also third on the team in rebounding with 3.8 boards per game.
Great Guard Play
Illinois has what many believe is the top backcourt in the country in the three-guard lineup of senior Luther Head and juniors Dee Brown and Deron Williams. They comprise three of Illinois' top four scorers and steals leaders as well as the top three assists leaders. The trio has accounted for 51.5 percent of Illinois' scoring and 77.4 percent of its 3-pointers. They have also totaled 79.6 percent of Illinois' assists and 51.7 percent of its steals. Perhaps most impressive is that despite playing the most minutes and handling the ball for the majority of the game, the three guards boast an incredible combined assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.20. Below is a statistical look at Illinois' starting backcourt.
PPG APG RPG ST 3FG Head 16.3 5.0 3.2 14 28 Brown 13.8 5.4 2.9 12 22 Williams 12.8 6.9 3.8 5 15 Total 42.9 17.3 9.9 31 65
Taking Down No. 1
Illinois' victory over No. 1 Wake Forest on Dec. 1 marked the second time in school history that the Illini have defeated an opponent ranked atop the Associated Press poll. The last time came on Jan. 11, 1979, when Illinois defeated Michigan State 57-55. Illinois is now 2-19 all-time against No. 1-ranked opponents.
Sharing the Wealth
One reason why Illinois ranks fifth in the nation in field goal percentage (.527) is unselfish play. The Illini have been moving the ball well and making the extra pass to set up an open shot. Illinois has been credited with 196 assists on its 281 baskets, an impressive 69.8 percent assist-to-made field goals percentage. Illinois leads the nation in assists, averaging 21.8 apg, and has recorded at least 20 assists in eight of nine games on the year. The Illini recorded a season-high 27 assists against Wake Forest on Dec. 1.
First-Half Dominance
Illinois' play has been especially crisp in the first half of games this season. The Illini have shot 50 percent or better in seven of the nine first halves so far, and are averaging 55.5 percent shooting in the first half of its games. Illinois has scored 45 or more points in six of the nine first halves and is averaging 47.6 points in the first half. Illinois has also taken a double-digit lead into halftime seven of nine times this year and goes into the locker room with an average lead of 17.6 points. Below is a breakdown of Illinois' dominance in the first half:
UI UI UI
Opponent FG% PTS LEAD
Delaware St. 64.5 50 13
Florida A&M 58.8 58 29
Oakland 60.0 47 19
Gonzaga 55.0 58 31
Wake Forest 60.0 54 21
Arkansas 48.4 40 9
Chicago St. 54.5 47 15
Georgetown 41.9 31 7
Oregon 56.0 43 14
Avg. 55.5 47.6 17.6
The Head of the Class
Guard Luther Head entered the season as one of the most underated players in the nation, and has been playing like an All-America candidate to begin his senior year. Head leads the Illini in scoring at 16.3 points per game (5th in Big Ten) and steals with 14, and is also contributing 5.0 assists per game (4th in Big Ten). He is shooting 53.5 percent (53-99) from the field, and 48.3 percent (28-58) from 3-point land with a Big Ten-leading 28 treys. Head opened the season by scoring in double figures in five straight games - a career-best streak - with 15 points vs. Delaware State, 13 vs. Florida A&M, a game-high 22 points vs. Oakland, 20 points vs. Gonzaga and 16 points vs. Wake Forest. After his streak ended with eight points against Arkansas, Head has responded with three straight in double figures: a game-high 17 points vs. Chicago State, 13 at Georgetown and a season-high 23 vs. Oregon (which also marked the second highest total of his career).
Head has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.5 on the year to lead the team. In consecutive games vs. Gonzaga and Wake Forest, he combined for 14 assists with only two turnovers. He tied his career-high in assists with nine dimes apiece in back-to-back games vs. Oakland and Gonzaga.
Dee Lighting it Up
Dee Brown has had a hot shooting hand to start the season. Through nine games, the junior guard is shooting 59.2 percent (45-76) from the field. That percentage is even more impressive when considering that nearly 60 percent of his shots have come from 3-point range. And Brown is dialed in from downtown as well, shooting 49 percent (22-45) from behind the arc. Brown's 59.2 field goal percentage ranks 45th nationally, and stands second among NCAA Div. 1 guards.
He is second on the Illini in scoring at 13.8 points per game.
Brown broke into Illinois' Top-50 career scoring list Nov. 24 against Oakland, becoming the first player on the current UI roster to join the elite list. Brown currently stands 40th on the Illini all-time scoring chart with 948 points, and needs just 52 points to become the 36th career 1,000-point scorer in Illinois history.
Like his backcourt teammates, Brown has also been taking care of the ball and making good decisions. He has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.13 on the season and in the two games vs. Gonzaga and Wake Forest, Brown combined for 15 assists without a turnover. In three games last week he combined for 20 assists with just four turnovers (season-high nine assists with one turnover vs. Chicago State; game-high six assists with two turnovers at Georgetown; five assists with one turnover vs. Oregon).
The Rev Rises to the Occasion
Senior forward Roger Powell, Jr., is averaging 13.6 points and is second on the team with 5.2 rebounds after nine contests, while shooting 69.4 percent from the field (50-of-72). His field goal percentage leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth nationally. Standing 6-foot-6 and playing the power forward position, Powell is often undersized against his opponent. But he causes a match-up problem for the defense with his quickness and ability to step out and face the basket and either drive or hit the outside shot. Powell began the season as a career 59-percent shooter from the field.
Powell had his best game of the season Dec. 1 vs. Wake Forest, scoring a season-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, which included a pair of 3-pointers. He followed that performance with a team-high 19 points and career-high 11 rebounds in a victory over Arkansas. Powell was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Dec. 6 for his performance in those two games.
In a victory at Georgetown on Dec. 9, Powell led the Illini with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
Powell is scheduled to graduate with his bachelor's degree in speech communications in December. He is a licensed minister in the Pentecostal church.
Augie Off to Strong Start
Junior James Augustine is off to a strong start by shooting 64.7 percent from the field (33-51) and averaging a team-high 6.9. His field goal percentage ranks second in the Big Ten behind Powell, and he ranks fifth in the league in rebounding. He grabbed 11 rebounds vs. Oakland on Nov. 24 - the highest total by an Illini player this season - which was Augustine's 13th career double-digit effort on the boards. After nine games he is fifth on the team with an average of 9.6 points per game and leads the Illini with 16 blocked shots (5th in Big Ten).
* For complete set of Illinois men's basketball game notes, click on .pdf link at the top of this page.
