Dec. 16, 2014
* Stats from 2013-14 season
Head Coach John Groce
Career Record: 135-87/.608 (7th year)
At Illinois: 50-31/.617 (3rd year)
Series Notes vs. Hampton
Series Record: First meeting
Groce vs. Hampton: First meeting
Illini Items
• After wrapping up a stretch of five out of six games away from home, Illinois returns to State Farm Center on Wednesday night, hosting Hampton. The Illini carry a 34-game homecourt winning streak against non-conference opponents, the nation's third-longest active streak.
• Following the Hampton game, the Illini travel to St. Louis to face Missouri and will conclude non-conference play at home vs. Kennesaw State. Illinois then opens Big Ten play with four out of five games on the road. Altogether, Illinois will endure a stretch of 10 out of 14 games away from home from Nov. 27-Jan. 14. Illinois is the only team from the six major conferences that over the course of 14 consecutive games this season will play 10 games away from its home arena.
• Illinois plays a combined six road/neutral games during non-conference play, tied for the most among Big Ten teams this season. The Illini have played the most road/neutral games in the Big Ten in each of Coach Groce's three seasons, totaling 19 over his tenure. Michigan State has the second-highest total in the league over that period with 16.
• Illinois has held its opponent to less than 70 points in six of seven wins this season, and 32 of its last 34 victories dating back to Feb. 10, 2013 during Groce's first season.
• Illinois ranks second in the nation in turnover percentage (.138), sixth in turnovers (9.7 avg.), ninth in turnover margin (+5.5) and 12th in assist/turnover ratio (1.49).
• Illinois ranks 20th in the nation in scoring (80.0 ppg) and fifth in free throw percentage (.772).
• Senior Rayvonte Rice is one of only three players to rank in the Big Ten's top 10 in both scoring (fourth, 17.8 ppg) and rebounding (10th, 6.7 rpg), joined by Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky and Nebraska's Shavon Shields.
• Rice has an offensive rating of 128.5 on the season, ranked 10th nationally among players with at least 24 percent of possessions used (KenPom).
• Rice has improved his shooting this season. He is currently shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 47.5 percent from 3-point range (seventh in Big Ten), after entering his senior year as a 42.4 percent career shooter, including 28 percent from behind the arc.
• Rice has scored in double figures in every non-conference game of his Illini career (25 games).
• Rice is averaging 19.8 points through five road/neutral games this season (99).
• Sophomore Malcolm Hill entered his sophomore year with a career-high of 11 points. He has surpassed or equaled that total in nine of 10 games this season.
• Hill has more than tripled his scoring average this year (13.7 ppg) compared to his freshman campaign (4.4 ppg).
• Hill has an offensive rating of 115.1 on the season, ranked 57th nationally among players with at least 24 percent of possessions used (KenPom).
• Hill leads the Illini with 27 offensive rebounds, owning an offensive rebound percentage of 11.4. He grabbed 21 offensive rebounds all of last season.
• Senior Nnanna Egwu has tallied 159 career blocked shots, 18 away from equaling the Illini all-time record.
• Egwu is averaging 8.0 rebounds over the last five games (40).
• Egwu is averaging 8.3 rebounds (33), including an average of 4.3 offensive boards (17) in four games this season against teams from the six major conferences.
• Egwu has knocked down six 3-pointers through 10 games after totaling five treys all of last season. He is shooting 37.5 percent from behind the arc this year.
• Sophomore Kendrick Nunn has increased his scoring average to 8.5 points after averaging 6.2 points as a freshman. Nunn is tied for third on the team in scoring despite playing the sixth-most minutes.
• Nunn is shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range after shooting 38.8 percent from behind the arc last season.
• Senior Ahmad Starks has made at least one 3-pointer in every game this season, while junior Aaron Cosby has knocked down at least one triple in all but one game on the year.
Non-Conference Homecourt Success
Illinois carries a 34-game winning streak at State Farm Center against non-conference opponents. The Illini last lost at home to a non-Big Ten foe on March 24, 2010, against Dayton in the NIT Quarterfinal. The UI active non-conference home winning streak ranks third nationally.
Rice Dominant In Non-Conference Play
Rayvonte Rice is averaging 17.8 points 10 games into his senior season, continuing to excel against non-conference competition. Last season Rice averaged 18.7 points in 15 games against non-Big Ten opponents. He has scored double figures in every non-league game of his Illinois career and currently boasts an average of 18.3 points (458) on 51.1 percent shooting (162-317) over 25 non-conference games as an Illini.
Taking Care of the Rock
Last season's Fighting Illini squad set a school record for fewest turnovers (by average), turning the ball over just 10.3 times per game. Illinois is off to an even better start at taking care of the rock this season, averaging just 9.7 turnovers through 10 games and ranking second in the nation in turnover rate (.138).
The Illinois defense, meanwhile, is forcing an average of 15.2 turnovers. And the Illini are capitalizing on those extra possessions, outscoring the opponent by an average of 7.0 points per game off turnovers.
Home Sweet Home
Illinois has been undefeated in regular season non-conference home games for five-plus seasons. Last year the Illini won all seven games at State Farm Center prior to Big Ten play. The Illini have won 45 consecutive regular season home games against non-conference opponents heading into the Hampton game on Wednesday. The UI's last loss in a regular season non-conference home game was to Clemson on Dec. 2, 2008.
