Illinois Game Notes vs. Wisconsin
January 23, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 23, 2005
Illinois Men's Basketball Game Notes vs. Wisconsin in PDF Format
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FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #20: #1 Illinois (19-0, 5-0) at #24/23 Wisconsin (13-3, 4-1)
Jan. 25, 2005 •8 p.m. CT •ESPN
Madison, Wis. •Kohl Center (17,142)
Probable Starters
#1 ILLINOIS (19-0, 5-0)
F - 43 Roger Powell, Jr. (Sr., 6-6, 235, 12.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
F - 40 James Augustine (Jr., 6-10, 230, 9.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg)
G - 4 Luther Head (Sr., 6-3, 185, 16.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.2 apg)
G - 5 Deron Williams (Jr., 6-3, 210, 12.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 7.1 apg)
G - 11 Dee Brown (Jr., 6-0, 185, 13.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.1 apg)
Off The Bench ...
G - 15 Calvin Brock (Fr., 6-4, 185, plans to redshirt)
G - 33 Rich McBride (So., 6-3, 215, 3.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
F - 34 Fred Nkemdi (Sr., 6-5, 235, 0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg)
F - 41 Warren Carter (So., 6-9, 210, 3.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg)
C - 45 Nick Smith (Sr.-r, 7-2, 250, 4.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
C/F - 50 Jack Ingram (Sr.-r, 6-10, 245, 3.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
F - 55 Shaun Pruitt (Fr., 6-8, 245, 1.4 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
Injured
F - 42 Brian Randle (So., 6-7, 210, 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg in 2003-04)
Illinois Head Coach: Bruce Weber
Overall Record: 148-61/.708 (7th year)
At Illinois: 45-7/.865 (2nd year)
Big Ten: 18-3/.857
Vs. Wisconsin: 1-2
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)
Wisconsin Head Coach: Bo Ryan
Overall Record: 464-134/.776 (20th year)
At Wisconsin: 81-31/.723 (4th year)
Vs. Illinois all-time: 4-4
Assistant Coaches: Rob Jeter, Gary Close and Greg Gard
On the Air
Television
ESPN: Dan Shulman, play-by-play; Dick Vitale, expert analyst; Erin Andrews, sideline reporter
Radio
Illini Sports Network - 47 stations: Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Stephen Bardo, expert analyst; Loren Tate, pregame/halftime/postgame interviews.
Series Notes: Wisconsin
Illinois leads the all-time series 102-68 over Wisconsin, but the Badgers lead, 50-36, in games played at Madison. The Badgers took two of three from the Illini last season, winning in Madison and Indianapolis in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game. The Illini victory came in Champaign. Illinois' only win at the Kohl Center came in 1998, as the Badgers have won the last five in Madison.
Illini and Badger Streaks on the Line
Something has to give Tuesday night when the Illini travel to Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers. Illinois will put it its No. 1 ranking and school-record start on the line against Wisconsin's 38-game homecourt winning streak. Illinois' 19-game winning streak is the longest current streak in NCAA Div. 1, while Wisconsin's 38 consecutive victories at the Kohl Center is the longest current homecourt streak in NCAA Div. 1.
Undefeated Illini
Illinois is one of only three teams in the country to boast a perfect record, and with 19 victories has the most wins in the nation. The following is a list of the remaining undefeated teams in Div. I.
Illinois 19-0 (next; Tues. at Wisconsin) Duke 15-0 (next; Wed. vs. Maryland) Boston College 16-0 (next; Wed. at Providence)
Hot Start
Illinois' current 19-0 record has set a school record for the best start to a season in the 100-year history of Fighting Illini basketball, and also ranks as the longest single-season winning streak in school history. The 19 straight wins also stands as the second longest winning streak in school history. Only the 25-game winning streak that included parts of three seasons from Feb. 21, 1914, through Feb. 9, 1916, bests the Illini's current string of victories.
Illinois' 19-0 mark also ranks as the fifth best start ever by a Big Ten team, and is the best start by a Big Ten team in 29 years, since Indiana went a perfect 32-0 during the 1975-76 season. The following is a list of the all-time best starts by Big Ten teams.
Rank School Start Year 1. Indiana 32-0 * 1975-76 2. Indiana 31-0 1974-75 3. Ohio State 27-0 1960-61 4. Ohio State 22-0 1961-62 5. Illinois 19-0 2004-05 6. Iowa 18-0 1986-87 T7. Ohio State 17-0 1990-91 T7. Illinois 17-0 1988-89 * Indiana went undefeated during the 1975-76 season.
Big Ten Streakin'
Illinois has won 15 straight Big Ten games - its final 10 conference games last season and the first five this season. This is Illinois' longest conference winning streak since 1951 and 1952 when the Illini won 15 straight from Jan. 20, 1951 through Feb. 2, 1952.
Illinois' 15-game Big Ten winning streak ties the second-best conference run in school history. The following are the Illini's all-time best Big Ten winning streaks:
Rank Streak Dates 1. 17 Feb. 21, 1914 through Feb. 9, 1916 T2. 15 Feb. 3, 2004 - CURRENT T2. 15 Jan. 20, 1951 through Feb. 2, 1952 4. 14 March 7, 1942 through Jan. 3, 1944 T5. 13 Feb. 26, 1955 through Feb. 20, 1956 T5. 13 Feb. 23, 1924 through Feb. 21, 1925
Illinois has also tied a school record with its current streak of eight straight Big Ten road victories - its final six conference away games last season and its first two road games this season. This ties the school-record streak of eight straight Big Ten road wins, which has now happened three times. The Illini first accomplished the feat with eight straight conference road wins from Feb. 21, 1914 through Feb. 9, 1916 and most recently won eight straight Big Ten road games from Feb. 5, 1951 through Feb. 2, 1952.
Hot Big Ten Start
At 5-0 in conference play, Illinois is off to its best Big Ten start in 35 years, since winning its first five Big Ten games in 1970. This is the 10th time in school history that Illinois has won at least its first five games to open conference play. The following are the Illini's all-time best Big Ten starts:
Rank Start Year T1. 12-0 * 1942-43 T1. 12-0 * 1914-15 3. 10-0 1955-56 T4. 7-0 1941-42 T4. 7-0 1924-25 T6. 6-0 1962-63 T6. 6-0 1951-52 T8. 5-0 2004-05 T8. 5-0 1969-70 T8. 5-0 1919-20 *Illinois went unbeaten in Big Ten play during the 1942-43 and 1914-15 seasons.
Illini Seek Sixth Straight 20-Win Season
Illinois is one victory away from recording its sixth straight 20-win season, which would also be its eighth in the last nine years and 24th all-time. Illinois is also trying to reach the 20-win plateau the fastest in school history in terms of both calendar date and number of total games. The quickest Illinois has recorded its 20th win in a season by calendar date was during the 1988-89 season, when the UI won its 20th game on Feb. 11, 1989. In terms of total games, the fastest that Illinois has recorded its 20th win has been in 23 games. This has happened four times; during the 1948-49, 1951-52, 1983-84, and 1988-89 seasons.
Illini Remain No. 1
For just the third year in school history - and for the eighth straight week - Illinois is the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. This marks the first time in school history that the Illini have been ranked first for more than one week in the same season. Illinois' first tenure at No. 1 came the final week of January, 1952. Illinois' eight straight weeks at No. 1 is the longest streak by any team since Duke owned the top spot the first eight weeks of the 2001-02 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.
Williams Racks Up Assists at Record Pace
Deron Williams is on pace this season to shatter various school, as well as Big Ten, assists records. He has 134 assists, which is on pace to break the Illinois school record for assists in a season (200 by Bruce Douglas in 1985). His average of 7.05 assists per game is on pace to break the Illinois record for assists average in a season (6.40 apg by Tony Wysinger in 1987). In Big Ten games only, Williams is averaging 8.6 assists per game. That is on pace to break the Big Ten record for assists average in conference games (7.83 apg by Michigan State's Eric Snow in 1995).
Just midway through his junior campaign, Williams already ranks fourth all-time at Illinois with 464 career assists. At his current pace, Williams will finish this season No. 2 on the UI career assists chart.
3-Point Attack
With the outstanding play of the Illini guards this year, it's no surprise that Illinois is enjoying one of its best seasons ever from behind the arc. The Illini rank second in the Big Ten and 10th in the NCAA (as of Jan. 17) with 8.8 three-pointers per game. The Illini have made 10 or more threes in seven games this season (12 vs. Delaware State, 12 vs. Oakland, 14 vs. Gonzaga, 11 vs. Wake Forest, 10 vs. Longwood, 11 vs. Purdue and 15 vs. Penn State), highlighted by a school-record 15 treys vs. Penn State on Jan. 15. Illinois' average of 8.8 three-pointers per game is on pace to set a school record, with the current record of 7.5 per game set during the 1995-96 season.
The Illini have been accurate as well as prolific from behind the arc, ranking second in the Big Ten and 20th in the nation (as of Jan. 17) with a 3-point field goal percentage of 39.4 percent.
Luther Head leads the way with a Big Ten-leading 3.1 treys per game on 44.4 percent accuracy from 3-point range (5th in Big Ten). Dee Brown is next with 2.4 threes per game (4th in Big Ten) on 44.1 percent accuracy (7th in Big Ten). Deron Williams is averaging 1.6 threes per contest. Illinois' three starting guards have accounted for 80.4 percent of Illinois' 3-pointers this season (135-of-168).
Illini in Control
Illinois has trailed in the scoring column for just 54:54 out of 760 minutes of play this year, meaning Illinois has either held the lead or been tied in 92.8 percent of the minutes played to date in the 2004-05 season. The Illini have also never trailed during the second half in 18 of 19 games this year. The Jan. 8 game at Purdue has marked the only time all season that Illinois trailed entering the second half of play. Illinois has never trailed by double figures at any point this season. Its largest deficit - nine points - came at Purdue on Jan. 8. The Illini have held the lead the entire way in nine of 19 games this year (Oakland, vs. Gonzaga, Wake Forest, vs. Oregon, Valparaiso, vs. Missouri, Longwood, vs. Northwestern State and vs. Cincinnati), which included a streak of six straight games from Dec. 11 (Oregon) through Dec. 31 (Cincinnati) that was broken against Ohio State in the Big Ten opener on Jan. 5. Following is a list of time that Illinois has been behind this season:
Opponent Time Trailed Delaware State 7:01 Florida A&M 0:50 vs. Arkansas 1:34 Chicago State 0:47 at Georgetown 11:20 Ohio State 7:11 at Purdue 21:46 Penn State 0:33 at Northwestern 0:22 Iowa 3:30 TOTAL 54:54
Quick Shots
• For the third year in school history - and the eighth straight week - the Illini are ranked No. 1 in the nation. Prior to this season, 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. Illinois' eight straight weeks at No. 1 is the longest streak by any team since Duke owned the top spot the first eight weeks of the 2001-02 season.
• Luther Head enters the Wisconsin game with 992 career points, just eight points away from becoming the 37th 1,000-point scorer in Illini history.
• This is the first time in school history that Illinois has spent multiple weeks ranked No. 1 in the polls. In 1952 and 1989, the Illini spent just one week at the No. 1 spot.
• The Illini are averaging 8.8 three-pointers per game this season, which ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th in the NCAA (as of Jan. 17). Illinois set a school record for 3-pointers in a game with 15 vs. Penn State on Jan. 12.
• Dee Brown recorded his 1,000th career point against Cincinnati on Dec. 31. Brown currently ranks 34th on the school career scoring chart with 1,076 points.
• Illinois has won 16 of 19 games by double figures, and is outscoring its opponents by an average of 18.9 points per game on the year. Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh in the nation (as of Jan. 17) in scoring margin.
• The Illini are shooting 49.7 percent (574-1155) from the field and 39.4 percent (168-426) from 3-point range. Illinois ranks second in the Big Ten in both field goal pct. (12th in NCAA, as of 1/17) and 3-pt. field goal pct. (20th in NCAA, as of 1/17).
• In the first half of games this season, Illinois is averaging 44.4 points (844 pts.) on 51.1 percent shooting (317-620), and enjoys an average halftime lead of 14.3 points.
• Four of Illinois' five starters are averaging in double-figures this season.
• Illinois has led the Big Ten in scoring each of the last four seasons. The Illini currently lead the Big Ten and rank 14th in the nation (as of Jan. 17) in scoring, averaging 81.4 points per game.
• Illinois has been credited with assists on 66.6 percent of its baskets this season (382 assists on 574 field goals). The Illini lead the Big Ten and rank second in the nation in assists (behind North Carolina), averaging 20.1 assists per game.
• Luther Head and Dee Brown are both shooting over 44 percent from 3-point range.
• 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 15-2 all-time when ranked No. 1, with wins over Indiana in 1989 and at Purdue in 1952, in addition to the 13 straight victories this season while sitting atop the polls.
• 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.
• 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 just six turnovers against top-ranked Wake Forest.
• 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.
Last Time Out: Iowa
Illinois survived its toughest test to date this season, defeating No. 23 Iowa 73-68 in overtime on Thursday at the Assembly Hall. The Illini had an uncharacteristic performance, shooting a season-low 33 percent and committing 19 turnovers with just 12 assists. But what the Illini lacked on offense, they made up for it defensively. Illinois tallied a season-high 15 steals while forcing Iowa into 22 turnovers. Luther Head was Illinois' go-to-guy once again, scoring 25 points with a career-high six steals and six rebounds in 42 minutes of play. James Augustine tied his career high with 14 rebounds as Illinois tied its season-high rebounding total with 46 boards, including a season's best 18 on the offensive end.
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 Big Ten Media Day in Chicago on Oct. 31. 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). Once again leading the conference in assists this season, Williams is on pace to become the only player in Big Ten history to accomplish that feat in each of his first three seasons. Williams has also earned Preseason All-America honors from Playboy Magazine and is among 50 candidates for the Wooden, Naismith and Rupp Awards. He has also been named a finalist for the Bob Cousy College Point Guard of the Year award.
Williams is third on the team in scoring this season, averaging 12.9 points. He leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth in the nation (as of Jan. 17) in assists, averaging 7.05 apg. Williams dished out a career-high 12 assists vs. Penn State on Jan. 12. He boasts an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.35 through 19 games (6th in Big Ten). Williams is also fourth on the team in rebounding with 3.8 boards per game.
Williams had one of his best games of the season in Illinois' win over Missouri on Dec. 22, scoring 19 points - 15 of which came in the second half - with five assists. He then had a season-high 23 points with four 3-pointers vs. Longwood (Dec. 27).
Williams was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic after scoring 14 points with a game-high six assists vs. Northwestern State and a game-high 18 points with six rebounds and four assists vs. Cincinnati.
He played 39 minutes in the Big Ten opener vs. Ohio State, finishing with 14 points and a game-high eight assists.
Williams notched the fourth double-double of his career on Jan. 12 vs. Penn State, scoring 11 points in addition to his career-high 12 assists. He also tied his career high in steals with four against the Nittany Lions.
Williams is headed towards numerous assists records this season. He has 134 assists, which is on pace to break the Illinois school record for assists in a season (200 by Bruce Douglas in 1985). His average of 7.05 assists per game is on pace to break the Illinois record for assists average in a season (6.40 apg by Tony Wysinger in 1987). In Big Ten games only, Williams is averaging 8.6 assists per game. That is on pace to break the Big Ten record for assists average in conference games (7.83 apg by Michigan State's Eric Snow in 1995).
Just midway through his junior campaign, Williams already ranks fourth all-time at Illinois with 464 career assists. At his current pace, Williams will finish this season No. 2 on the UI career assists chart.
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 Illinois' top three scorers, assists and steals leaders. The trio has accounted for 52.7 percent of Illinois' scoring and 80.4 percent of its 3-pointers. They have also totaled 80.9 percent of Illinois' assists and 57.6 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 2.47. Below is a statistical look at Illinois' starting backcourt.
PPG APG RPG ST 3FG
Head 16.8 4.2 4.1 37 59
Williams 12.9 7.1 3.8 15 31
Brown 13.3 5.1 2.6 31 45
Total 43.0 16.4 10.5 83 135
Sharing the Wealth
One reason why Illinois ranks 12th in the nation in field goal percentage (as of Jan. 17) at 49.7 percent 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 382 assists on its 574 baskets, an impressive 66.6 percent assist-to-made field goals percentage. Illinois ranks second in the nation in assists, averaging 20.1 apg, and has recorded at least 20 assists in 12 of 19 games on the year. The Illini recorded a season-high 27 assists vs. 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 12 first halves so far, and are averaging 51.1 percent shooting in the first half of its games. Illinois has scored 45 or more points in nine first halves and is averaging 44.4 points in the first half. Illinois has also taken a double-digit lead into halftime 13 times this year and goes into the locker room with an average lead of 14.3 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
Valparaiso 57.1 49 26
Missouri 41.9 38 15
Longwood 57.5 56 13
N'western St. 50.0 42 14
Cincinnati 35.5 35 11
Ohio State 56.3 46 6
Purdue 37.9 33 -6
Penn State 50.0 41 16
Northwestern 47.1 42 8
Iowa 35.3 34 9
Avg. 51.1 44.4 14.3
The Head of the Class
Guard Luther Head entered the season as one of the most underrated players in the nation, and has been playing like an All-American in this his senior year. Head leads the Illini in scoring at 16.8 points per game (5th in Big Ten), and also tops the squad with 37 steals (4th in Big Ten), while also contributing 4.2 assists per game (7th in Big Ten). He is shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point land (5th in Big Ten, 17th in NCAA as of Jan. 17) with a Big Ten-leading 59 treys. Head is on pace to break the Illinois school record for 3-pointers in a season (96 by Cory Bradford in 2000).
Head opened the season by scoring in double figures in five straight games 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 against Arkansas, Head responded with a career-long streak of eight straight games in double figures: a game-high 17 points vs. Chicago State; 13 at Georgetown; game-high 23 vs. Oregon; 11 against Valparaiso; 20 vs. Missouri; 20 vs. Longwood; game-high 18 vs. Northwestern State; and 11 vs. Cincinnati. That streak came to an end vs. Ohio State on Jan. 5, but Head has picked it right back up since then. He has been Illinois' leading scorer the past four games, with 15 points at Purdue; 19 vs. Penn State; a season-high 26 at Northwestern; and 25 vs. Iowa on Thursday.
He was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 17 after averaging 22.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals against Penn State and Northwestern.
Head has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.72 on the year to lead the team and rank second in the Big Ten. 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. Head also had nine assists with no turnovers vs. Valparaiso.
Head moved into the Illinois Top 50 scoring list on Dec. 27 vs. Longwood and is currently 37th in school history with 992 career points. He is just eight points shy of becoming the 37th 1,000-point scorer in Illini history.
Dee Lighting it Up
Dee Brown has had a hot shooting hand to start the season, shooting 53.8 percent (91-169) from the field. That percentage is even more impressive when considering that 60 percent of his shots have come from 3-point range. And Brown has been dependable from downtown as well, shooting 44.1 percent (45-102) from behind the arc (7th in Big Ten).
Brown is second on the Illini in scoring at 13.3 points per game. He recorded his 1,000th career point against Cincinnati on Dec. 31, becoming the 36th 1,000-point scorer in Illini history. Brown currently ranks 34th on the school career scoring chart with 1,076 points.
Like his backcourt teammates, Brown has also been taking care of the ball and making good decisions. He is third in the Big Ten in assists, averaging 5.1 per game. He also an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.46 on the season (4th in Big Ten). In the two games vs. Gonzaga and Wake Forest, Brown combined for 15 assists without a turnover. In a three-game stretch vs. Chicago State, Georgetown and Oregon, he combined for 20 assists with just four turnovers (game-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). Against Longwood on Dec. 27, Brown had a career-high 13 assists, tying the third highest single-game assist total in UI history.
The Rev Rises to the Occasion
Senior forward Roger Powell, Jr., is averaging 12.7 points and is second on the team with 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 55 percent from the field (93-of-169). His field goal percentage ranks 11th in the Big Ten. 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 currently ranks fourth on the UI career field goal percentage chart at 57.8 percent (374-647).
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 season-high tying 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 moved into the Illinois Top 50 scoring list on Dec. 27 vs. Longwood and is currently 42nd in school history with 953 career points.
Powell is scheduled to graduate with his bachelor's degree in speech communications in May. 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 61.8 percent from the field (68-110) and averaging a team-high 7.7 rebounds. His field goal percentage ranks second in the Big Ten, and he ranks fourth in the league in rebounding. He tied his career high in rebounds with 14 vs. Iowa on Thursday, which also ranks as the highest total by an Illini player this season. Augustine recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds vs. Northwestern State on Dec. 30.
Augustine was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 10 after notching the 12th double-double of his career vs. Ohio State on Jan. 5 with a career-high tying 21 points and 10 boards, and adding eight points and a game-high nine boards at Purdue on Jan. 8. On the week, Augustine averaged 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds while shooting 71.4 percent from the field (10-14).
Augustine is fifth on the team in scoring with an average of 9.8 points and leads the Illini with 26 blocked shots (6th in Big Ten).
*For complete set of Illinois men's basketball game notes, click on the .pdf link at the top of this page.
