March 5, 2005
Illinois Men's Basketball Game Notes vs. Ohio State in PDF Format
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FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #30: #1 Illinois (29-0, 15-0) vs. Ohio State (18-11, 7-8)
March 6, 2005 •11 a.m. CT / Noon ET •CBS - National
Columbus, Ohio •Value City Arena (19,200)
Probable Starters
#1 ILLINOIS (29-0, 15-0)
F - 43 Roger Powell, Jr. (Sr., 6-6, 235, 12.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
F - 40 James Augustine (Jr., 6-10, 230, 10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
G - 4 Luther Head (Sr., 6-3, 185, 16.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.8 apg)
G - 5 Deron Williams (Jr., 6-3, 210, 12.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 6.7 apg)
G - 11 Dee Brown (Jr., 6-0, 185, 14.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.7 apg)
Off The Bench ...
G - 15 Calvin Brock (Fr., 6-4, 185, plans to redshirt)
G - 33 Rich McBride (So., 6-3, 215, 3.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
F - 34 Fred Nkemdi (Sr., 6-5, 235, 0.7 ppg, 0.4 rpg)
F - 41 Warren Carter (So., 6-9, 210, 2.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
C - 45 Nick Smith (Sr.-r, 7-2, 250, 3.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
C/F - 50 Jack Ingram (Sr.-r, 6-10, 245, 3.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
F - 55 Shaun Pruitt (Fr., 6-8, 245, 1.4 ppg, 0.9 rpg)
Injured
F - 42 Brian Randle (So., 6-7, 210, 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg in 2003-04)
Illinois Head Coach: Bruce Weber
At Illinois: 55-7/.887 (2nd year)
Overall Record: 158-61/.722 (7th year)
Big Ten: 28-3/.903
Vs. Ohio State: 3-0
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)
Ohio State Head Coach: Thad Matta
Overall Record: 120-42 (5th year)
At Ohio State: 18-11 (1st year) Vs. Illinois: 0-1
Assistant Coaches: John Groce, Alan Morgan and Dan Peters
On the Air
Television
CBS - National: Gus Johnson, play-by-play; Bill Raftery, expert analyst.
Radio
Illini Sports Network - 47 stations: Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Stephen Bardo, expert analyst; and, Loren Tate pregame/halftime/ postgame interviews.
Series Notes: Ohio State
Illinois leads 100-59 in the all-time series, including a 39-37 advantage in games played at Columbus. The Illini have won five in a row. The last Buckeye win came March 9, 2002 at the Big Ten Tournament at Indianapolis. Illinois posted an 84-65 victory over Ohio State on Jan. 5 in the Big Ten opener for both teams. James Augustine tied his career high with 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Illini.
Illini Try for Undefeated Regular Season
Illinois takes its 29-0 overall record into the final game of the 2004-05 regular season Sunday at Ohio State. The UI is trying for its second undefeated regular season in school history, to go along with a 16-0 mark in 1914-15. Illinois is also trying to become the first Big Ten team in 29 years (since Indiana in 1976) to go undefeated in the regular season, the 10th team all-time in the 100-year history of Big Ten basketball to post an undefeated regular season, and just the fourth team in Big Ten history to post an undefeated regular season since 1939 (inception of NCAA Tournament). Following is the all-time list of Big Ten teams to go undefeated during the regular season:
Reg. Season Final
School Record Record Season
Indiana 27-0 32-0 1975-76
Indiana 29-0 31-1 1974-75
Ohio State 24-0 27-1 1960-61
Minnesota 13-0 Same 1918-19
Illinois 16-0 Same 1914-15
Wisconsin 15-0 Same 1913-14
Wisconsin 15-0 Same 1911-12
Purdue 12-0 Same 1911-12
Chicago 12-0 Same 1908-09
Illini Also Aiming For Perfect Big Ten Run
Illinois also brings a conference record of 15-0 into Sunday's game at Ohio State. The UI is trying for its third undefeated Big Ten season in school history, to go along with a pair of 12-0 records in 1914-15 and 1942-43. The Illini are trying to become the first Big Ten team in 29 years (since Indiana in 1976), the 13th Big Ten team all-time, and just the sixth Big Ten team since 1939 (inception of NCAA Tournament), to go undefeated in conference play. Following is the all-time list of teams to go undefeated in Big Ten play:
Big Ten
School Record Season
Indiana 18-0 1975-76
Indiana 18-0 1974-75
Iowa 14-0 1969-70
Ohio State 14-0 1960-61
Illinois 12-0 1942-43
Purdue 10-0 1929-30
Minnesota 10-0 1918-19
Illinois 12-0 1914-15
Wisconsin 12-0 1913-14
Wisconsin 12-0 1911-12
Purdue 10-0 1911-12
Chicago 12-0 1908-09
Illini Tie 12th Best Start in NCAA History
With its 29-0 record this year, Illinois has tied the 12th best start (in terms of most wins) to a season in NCAA Div. I history, equaling the 29-0 record that San Francisco had in 1955-56 when it won the NCAA Championship. With a win Sunday at Ohio State, Illinois would join an exclusive group, as just 11 teams in NCAA history have won 30 or more games to start a season. Following is a list of the best undefeated starts in NCAA Div. I history:
Year School Start Final Result of Season
1. 1991 UNLV 34-0 34-1 NCAA Final Four
2. 1979 Indiana State 33-0 33-1 NCAA Runner-Up
T3. 1957 North Carolina 32-0 Same NCAA Champion
T3. 1976 Indiana 32-0 Same NCAA Champion
T5. 1975 Indiana 31-0 31-1 NCAA Regional Finalist
T5. 1968 Houston 31-0 31-2 NCAA Final Four - 4th Place
T5. 1976 Rutgers 31-0 31-2 NCAA Final Four - 4th Place
T8. 1964 UCLA 30-0 Same NCAA Champion
T8. 1967 UCLA 30-0 Same NCAA Champion
T8. 1972 UCLA 30-0 Same NCAA Champion
T8. 1973 UCLA 30-0 Same NCAA Champion
T12. 2005 ILLINOIS 29-0 ??? ???
T12. 1956 San Francisco 29-0 Same NCAA Champion
Head Named Rupp Award Finalist
Illini senior Luther Head is one of 10 finalists for the Adolph Rupp Trophy, presented by the Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky. Joining Head as finalists for the Rupp Player of the Year Award are Andrew Bogut (Utah), Ike Diogu (Arizona State), Joey Graham (Oklahoma State), Sean May and Rashad McCants (North Carolina), Chris Paul (Wake Forest), J.J. Redick (Duke), Wayne Simien (Kansas) and Hakim Warrick (Syracuse). The finalists have been chosen by a committee of coaches, administrators and journalists. A 5-player Rupp All-America Team will be announced at the conclusion of the regular season, and the winner of the Rupp Trophy will be announced on March 31 in St. Louis.
Weber Named Finalist for Naismith Coach of the Year Award
Bruce Weber has been named one of 20 finalists for the Naismith Award, which is given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. The finalists have been compiled by the Club's Board of Selectors, which is comprised of coaches, adminsitrators and journalists from throughout the country. The winner will be announced at the Naismith Awards Banquet on April 8 in Atlanta.
Weber Named Finalist for Jim Phelan Coach of the Year
Bruce Weber has been named one of 10 finalists for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year, which is presented by CollegeInsider.com. The voting is done by a 21-member panel made up of current and retired head coaches, athletic administrators and members of the media. In addition to Weber, other finalists are Ray Giacoletti (Utah), Bobby Lutz (Charlotte), Bruce Pearl (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Skip Prosser (Wake Forest), Al Skinner (Boston College), Tubby Smith (Kentucky), Bob Thomason (Pacific), Ralph Willard (Holy Cross) and Roy Williams (North Carolina). The winner will be announced on April 1 in St. Louis.
Illini Trio Named Finalists for Oscar Robertson Player of the Year
Illinois leads the way with three players named to the list of 16 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Player of the Year, as voted on by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Starting guards Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Luther Head all appear on the USBWA ballot for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which will be awarded on April 1 in St. Louis.
Undefeated Illini
Illinois is the only remaining NCAA Div. I team in the country to boast a perfect record, and with 29 victories has the most wins in the nation.
Weber Makes History as Illini Clinch Second Straight Outright Big Ten Championship
Following Michigan State's loss at Indiana on Feb. 27, Illinois clinched its second straight outright Big Ten title. This is the program's fourth Big Ten title in the last five years and fifth in the last eight years, and is the 17th conference championship in school history for the Illini.
This is first time in 53 years and the third time in school history that the Illini have won back-to-back outright league championships, along with 1942 & 1943 and 1951 & 1952. Illinois becomes the first Big Ten team to win back-to-back outright titles since Purdue won three straight outright titles from 1994 through 1996.
Bruce Weber has also entered the record books, becoming the first coach in the 100-year history of Big Ten basketball to win consecutive outright championships in each of his first two seasons.
Illini Own Pair of Nation's Longest Winning Streaks
Illinois sits atop the NCAA Div. I charts with two winning streaks. The Illini's 29-game winning streak is the longest winning streak in the nation, and Illinois' 14-game road winning streak is the longest road winning streak in the nation. Illinois won its last six road games last year and has won its first eight road games this season. Next up is the UI's final road game of the year, at Ohio State on Sunday.
Illini Notch Second-Winningest Season in School History
With its 29 victories, Illinois has recorded its second-winningest season in school history in terms of total wins. The Illini school record for wins in a season is 31, set by the 1988-89 squad, which finished 31-5. Following are the winningest seasons in school history, in terms of total wins:
Season Wins Record
1. 1988-89 31 31-5 (.861)
2. 2004-05 29 29-0 (1.000)
3. 2000-01 27 27-8 (.771)
T4. 2003-04 26 26-7 (.788)
T4. 2001-02 26 26-9 (.743)
T4. 1984-85 26 26-9 (.743)
T4. 1983-84 26 26-5 (.838)
8. 2002-03 25 25-7 (.781)
Illini in Midst of Record-Setting Season
Illinois' current record of 29-0 has set a school record for the best start to a season in the 100-year history of Fighting Illini basketball. The 29 straight wins also ranks as the longest winning streak in school history, breaking the previous mark of 25 consecutive wins that spanned parts of three seasons from Feb. 21, 1914, through Feb. 9, 1916
Illinois' 29-0 mark is also the third 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.
School Start Season
1. Indiana 32-0 * 1975-76
2. Indiana 31-0 1974-75
3. Illinois 29-0 2004-05
4. Ohio State 27-0 1960-61
5. Ohio State 22-0 1961-62
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 a school-record 25 straight Big Ten games - its final 10 conference games last season and the first 15 this season. Illinois' 25-game Big Ten winning streak broke the school's previous best mark of 17-straight Big Ten wins from Feb. 21, 1914 through Feb. 9, 1916. The following are the Illini's all-time best Big Ten winning streaks:
•25 - Feb. 3, 2004 - CURRENT
•17 - Feb. 21, 1914 through Feb. 9, 1916
•15 - Jan. 20, 1951 through Feb. 2, 1952
•14 - March 7, 1942 through Jan. 3, 1944
•13 - Feb. 26, 1955 through Feb. 20, 1956
•13 - Feb. 23, 1924 through Feb. 21, 1925
Illinois' 25-game conference winning streak ranks third in Big Ten history and is the longest since Indiana won a league-record 37 straight Big Ten games from Dec. 27, 1975 through Jan. 7, 1978. Ranking second on the list is Ohio State's 27-game Big Ten winning streak from March 5, 1960 through Feb. 26, 1962.
Illinois has also set a school record with its current streak of 13 straight Big Ten road victories - its final six conference away games last season and its first seven this season. This broke the previous school-record streak of eight straight Big Ten road wins, which happened twice. The Illini won eight straight conference road games from Feb. 21, 1914 through Feb. 9, 1916 and again from Feb. 5, 1951 through Feb. 2, 1952.
Big Ten Perfection
At 15-0 in Big Ten play, Illinois has now recorded its most wins ever to start a conference season. The Illini had twice won its first 12 Big Ten games, with a pair of undefeated conference runs in 1915 and 1943.
This is the best conference start by any Big Ten team in 29 years, since Indiana went a perfect 18-0 in 1976. The following are the Illini's all-time best Big Ten starts:
Start Season
1. 15-0 2004-05
T2. 12-0 * 1914-15
T2. 12-0 * 1942-43
4. 10-0 1955-56
T5. 7-0 1941-42
T5. 7-0 1924-25
T7. 6-0 1962-63
T7. 6-0 1951-52
*Illinois went unbeaten in Big Ten play during the 1942-43 and 1914-15 seasons.
Illini Tie Winningest Big Ten Season in School History
With its 15 Big Ten victories so far this season, Illinois has tied its winningest Big Ten season in school history in terms of total wins. This year's run has equaled the school record for Big Ten wins in a season, set by the 1984 Illini squad, which won 15 contests en route to a Big Ten co-championship with a 15-3 league record. Illinois has also recorded its most Big Ten wins since the league went to a 16-game conference schedule in 1998 due to the Big Ten Tournament. Following are the winningest Big Ten seasons in school history, in terms of total wins (* marks season in which Illini also won the Big Ten title):
Season Wins Record
T1. 2004-05 * 15 15-0 (1.000)
T1. 1983-84 * 15 15-3 (.833)
T3. 1988-89 14 14-4 (.778)
T3. 1952-53 14 14-4 (.778)
T5. 2003-04 * 13 13-3 (.813)
T5. 2000-01 * 13 13-3 (.813)
T5. 1997-98 * 13 13-3 (.813)
T5. 1986-87 13 13-5 (.722)
T5. 1950-51 * 13 13-1 (.929)
T5. 1941-42 * 13 13-2 (.867)
Illini Remain No. 1
For just the third year in school history - and for the 13th 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' 13 straight weeks at No. 1 is the longest streak by any team in eight years, since Kansas owned the top spot for the final 15 weeks of the 1996-97 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.
*For complete set of Illinois men's basketball game notes, click on .pdf link at the top of this page.
