Illinois Men's Basketball Game Notes - Chicago Invitational Challenge in PDF Format
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FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Chicago Invitational Challenge • Hoffman Estates, Ill. • Sears Centre (10,000)
Game #6: Illinois (5-0) vs. Miami OH (2-2) • Nov. 24, 2006 • 7:30 p.m. CT
Game #7: Illinois vs. Bradley (4-0) or Rutgers (1-2) • Nov. 25, 2006 • 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. CT
On the Air
TV
WCIA: Dan Roan, play-by-play; Doug Altenberger, expert analyst.
Radio
Illini Sports Network - 47 stations: Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Jerry Hester, expert analyst; Loren Tate pregame/halftime/ postgame interviews.
Illini Probable Starters
F - 41 Warren Carter (Sr., 6-9, 220, 11.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 bpg)
C - 55 Shaun Pruitt (Jr., 6-10, 245, 11.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
G - 25 Calvin Brock (r-So., 6-5, 195, 12.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg)
G - 1 Trent Meacham (r-So., 6-2, 195, 12.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 3.2 apg)
G - 3 Chester Frazier (So., 6-2, 190, 12.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.8 apg, 1.6 spg)
Off the Bench
G - 2 Chris Hicks (Jr., 6-2, 190, 1.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg)
C - 21 Brian Carlwell (Fr., 6-11, 265, 3.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
G - 31 Jamar Smith (So., 6-3, 185, 19.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg)
G - 33 Rich McBride (Sr., 6-3, 205, 16.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg)
F - 34 C.J. Jackson (r-Fr., 6-8, 260, 2.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
F - 42 Brian Randle (r-Jr, 6-8, 220, 7.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg)
F - 44 Marcus Arnold (r-Sr., 6-8, 245, 3.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
F - 50 Richard Semrau (Fr., 6-9, 230, 3.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber
Overall Record: 197-70/.738 (9th year)
At Illinois: 94-16/.855 (4th year)
Big Ten: 39-9/.813
Vs. Miami (OH): 0-0
Vs. Bradley All-Time: 5-7
Vs. Rutgers: 1-0
Assistant Coaches: Wayne McClain (6th year), Jay Price (4th year), Tracy Webster (3rd year)
Assistant to the head coach: Gary Nottingham (4th year)
Trainer: Al Martindale (24th year at Illinois)
Miami Head Coach: Charlie Coles
Overall Record: 269-212/.559 (17th year)
At Miami: 177-128/.580 (11th year)
Vs. Illinois: 0-0
Assistant Coaches: Jermaine Henderson, Frankie Smith, Ryan Pedon
Bradley Head Coach: Jim Les
Overall Record: 66-60/.524 (5th year)
At Bradley: Same
Vs. Illinois: 0-0
Assistant Coaches: Eric Buescher, Lennox Forrester, Chuck Buescher
Rutgers Head Coach: Fred Hill
Overall Record: 1-2/.333 (1st year)
At Rutgers: Same
Vs. Illinois: 0-0
Assistant Coaches: Jim Carr, Darren Savino, Craig Carter
Series Notes: Miami (OH)
This is the first game in 49 years and just the fifth all-time between Illinois and Miami. Illinois is 4-0 vs. Miami, with the most recent victory a 93-75 win at Huff Gym in Champaign on Dec. 28, 1957.
Series Notes: Bradley
Illinois owns a 12-2 advantage over Bradley in the all-time series. The two schools played a three-game series from 1997 through 1999 with the Illini winning all three contests, 69-69 at the Assembly Hall on Nov. 17, 1997; 53-48 at the United Center on Dec. 5, 1998; and 72-62 at the Peoria Civic Center on Nov. 22, 1999.
Series Notes: Rutgers
Illinois is 1-0 all-time vs. Rutgers after defeating the Scarlet Knights 77-57 last season (Nov. 26, 2005) in the championship game of the South Padre Island Invitational.
Illini Carry Nation's Longest Regular Season Non-Conference Winning Streak
Illinois has won 38 consecutive regular season non-conference games over the last three-plus seasons, which is the longest active streak in the nation. And while Illinois' streak dates back to the 2003-04 season, no other school in the country has a streak that goes back further than 2004-05. Washington ranks second on the list, 17 wins behind the Illini with an active streak of 21 straight wins. Washington next plays on Nov. 24 vs. Eastern Washington.
Illinois' streak began on Dec. 11, 2003 with a win over Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Illini won their last five regular season non-conference games of the 2003-04 season, posted back-to-back undefeated non-conference records of 14-0 in 2004-05 and 2005-06, and have won their first five games of the 2006-07 season to extend the streak to 38.
Illinois is 42-2 (.955) overall in regular season non-conference games under Weber, with the only losses coming in 2003 to North Carolina (Dec. 2) and Providence (Dec. 9).
Chicago Invitational Challenge Schedule
Friday, Nov. 24
Game #1 (Noon) • Jackson State vs. Savannah State
Game #2 (2:30 p.m.) • Illinois-Chicago vs. Florida A&M
Game #3 (5 p.m.) • Bradley vs. Rutgers
Game #4 (7:30 p.m.) • Illinois vs. Miami (OH)
Saturday, Nov. 25
Game #5 (11:30 a.m.) • Loser Game #1 vs. Loser Game #2
Game #6 (2 p.m.) • Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2
Game #7 (5 p.m.) • Loser Game #3 vs. Loser Game #4
Game #8 (7:30 p.m.) • Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4
Illini Winners of Three Straight In-Season Tourneys
Illinois looks to extend its current streak of three consecutive regular-season tournament titles. That run began when the Illini won the 2001 Las Vegas Invitational with victories over Eastern Illinois, Penn, Georgia Tech and Southern Illinois. It continued with Illinois' championship in the 2004 Las Vegas Holiday Classic with wins over Valparaiso, Longwood, Northwestern State and Cincinnati. The Illini won their third straight in-season tournament last year, claiming the title at the 2005 South Padre Island Invitational with wins over Texas-Pan American, Texas Southern, Wichita State and Rutgers.
The last time Illinois did not win a regular season tournament was the 2000 Maui Invitational when the Illini fell to Arizona in the championship game.
Last Time Out
Illinois won its fifth straight game to open the season, dominating Savannah State on Tuesday by the score of 81-34. Chester Frazier had a career-high 17 points while Shaun Pruitt recorded the first double-double of his career with 10 points and a career high-tying 10 rebounds.
Savannah State's 34 points tied the lowest point total in Assembly Hall history. Illinois' defense held the Tigers to just 10 baskets on the evening, setting a record for the fewest field goals in the 45-year history of the Assembly Hall. Illinois' 47-point victory was its largest margin since defeating Bethune-Cookman by 50 points (97-47) on Dec. 28, 1999.
Illini Own Nation's Longest Non-Conference Homecourt Winning Streak
The victory over Savannah State on Tuesday marked Illinois' 51st consecutive win at the Assembly Hall over a non-conference opponent. That ranks as the longest active non-conference homecourt winning streak in the nation, leading Oklahoma (48) by three wins. Oklahoma next plays at home on Dec. 2 vs. TCU.
Illini Through Five Games...
• Illinois is averaging 81.2 points (2nd in Big Ten) and is outscoring its opponent by an average of 33.8 points (1st in Big Ten).
• Illinois has shot better than 50 percent in three of its five games and is shooting 51.1 percent from the field on the season (2nd in Big Ten).
• Illinois has shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range in four of five games and is shooting 43.2 percent from behind the arc on the season (2nd in Big Ten).
• Illinois is holding its opponents to an average of just 47.4 points (1st in Big Ten) on 33.3 percent shooting (1st in Big Ten) and 30 percent from 3-point range. No opponent has scored more than 63 points, while four of five opponents have shot under 35 percent from the field.
• Illinois has outrebounded all five opponents and is outrebounding its opponent by an average of 16.2 boards (1st in Big Ten).
• Chester Frazier is second in the Big Ten in assists with an average of 6.8 apg. He had a career-high 10 assists vs. Florida A&M on Sunday and had nine assists vs. Jackson State (Nov. 15).
• Trent Meacham is third in the Big Ten in 3-point shooting at 51.6 percent (16-31), while Brock is tied for fourth at 50 percent (6-12).
• Seven players are averaging in double figures, led by Jamar Smith at 19.0 ppg and followed by Rich McBride (16.0), Trent Meacham (12.8), Chester Frazier (12.2), Calvin Brock (12.2), Shaun Pruitt (11.2) and Warren Carter (11.0).
• Warren Carter, who averaged 1.9 rebounds over the first three years of his career, leads the Illini in rebounding this season with an averaging of 6.2 rpg. He had his first career double-double vs. Jackson State (Nov. 15) with career bests of 16 points and 15 rebounds. Carter's 15 boards are the most by a Big Ten player to start the season.
• Shaun Pruitt is shooting 59 percent from the field (23-39), while Calvin Brock is shooting 54.3 percent (25-46).
Frazier On Point
Chester Frazier has taken over the reins at point guard following the graduation of Dee Brown. The sophomore from Baltimore has been very productive in all facets of the game. He is averaging 12.2 points and ranks second in the Big Ten with an average of 6.8 assists. He is also fourth on the Illini with an average of 5.2 rebounds and leads the team in steals, averaging 1.6 spg.
Frazier has scored in double figures in each of the last four games, led by a career-high 17 points in his most recent outing vs. Savannah State on Tuesday. He recorded his first career double-double vs. Florida A&M on Sunday with 13 points and a career-high 10 assists.
While continuing to rack up the assists, Frazier has also done a good job cutting down on his turnovers lately. After totaling 13 turnovers in the first two games, he has combined for just six turnovers over the past three games. His assist-to-turnover ratio the past three games is 2.83.
Hometown Hero
Trent Meacham starred at Champaign Centennial High School and initially went to Dayton on a full scholarship. After playing as a true freshman at Dayton in 2004-05, Meacham returned to Illini country, choosing to walk-on to the Illinois squad. Meacham sat out last season as a transfer and has been awarded a scholarship for this season.
After an injury to Jamar Smith in the season opener vs. Austin Peay, Meacham found himself in the starting lineup just two days later, playing all 40 minutes vs. Jackson State (Nov. 15), scoring eight points with a career-high six assists.
Meacham has been Illinois' leading scorer two of the past three games, scoring 19 points vs. Georgia Southern (Nov. 17) followed by a career-high 24 points vs. Florida A&M on Sunday. He tied the school record for 3-pointers in a game with eight vs. FAMU en route to his 24 points.
Meacham ranks third on the Illini in scoring, averaging 12.8 points on the year, is second on the team in assists (3.2 apg), and is shooting 51.6 percent from 3-point range (16-31) and 83.3 percent from the free throw line (10-12).
Brock Stepping Up
Sophomore Calvin Brock is making the most of his opportunity in the Illini lineup. With Brian Randle unavailable, Brock has started the past four games. He totaled 14 points on 6-9 shooting and six rebounds vs. Jackson State (Nov. 15), had 17 points on 7-11 shooting vs. Georgia Southern (Nov. 17), and tallied the first double-double of his career vs. Florida A&M on Sunday with career highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds along with a career-best seven assists.
Brock, who totaled 23 points all of last season as a redshirt freshman, has already scored 61 points this year (12.2 ppg), 55 of which have been in the last four games. Brock is tied for fourth on the team in scoring and is shooting 54.3 percent from the floor (25-46) and 50 percent from 3-point range (6-12) on the year.
Pruitt A Consistent Contributor
Shaun Pruitt started every game last season and is once again the Illini's starting center this year. He has scored in double figures in four of five games, averaging 11.2 points on the season. Pruitt had a season-high 15 points on 7-9 shooting vs. Jackson State (Nov. 15) and most recently recorded the first double-double of his career with 10 points and a career high-tying 10 rebounds vs. Savannah State on Tuesday. Pruitt is second on the team in rebounding with an average of 6.0 boards and has been an efficient scorer, shooting 59 percent from the field (23-39).
*For complete set of Illinois men's basketball game notes, click on .pdf link at top of this page.
