Head Coach John Groce
Career Record: 153-103/.598 (8th year)
At Illinois: 68-47/.591 (4th year)
Big Ten: 24-30/.444
Series Notes vs. South Dakota
All-Time Series Record: Illinois leads 1-0
Series Streak: Illinois W-1
Record at Champaign: Illinois leads 1-0
Series Streak at Champaign: Illinois W-1
Last Meeting: Illinois 96, South Dakota 56Â (Dec. 7, 1971 at Champaign)
Groce vs. South Dakota: First meeting
Opening Tip
Illinois enters Saturday's contest vs. South Dakota looking to extend its season-best winning streak to four games, and record a victory in its final non-conference game of the year at State Farm Center.
Final Exams Provide Schedule Break
Illinois took a week off from game competition while final exams were conducted on campus. The Illini wrap up non-conference play with just two games over a span of 17 days, a drastic change from 11 games in 30 days to start the season.
Big Two
Juniors Kendrick Nunn and Malcolm Hill are leading the charge for the Illini offensive attack, ranking as the highest-scoring duo in the Big Ten, and second-highest among the six major conferences so far this season:
-    38.8 points    Kevin Punter (23.0 ppg) & Armani Moore (15.8 ppg)    Tennessee    SEC  Â
-    36.9 points    Kendrick Nunn (19.8 ppg) & Malcolm Hill (17.1 ppg)    Illinois            Big Ten
-    36.4 points    Buddy Hield (22.1 ppg) & Isaiah Cousins (14.3 ppg)    Oklahoma     Big 12  Â
Taking Care of the Rock
Illinois has been one of the best teams in the country under Coach John Groce in taking care of the basketball. Last year's team set a school record for fewest turnovers, averaging just 9.9 per game. That broke the previous school mark of 10.4 per game set by Groce's 2014 squad.
This year the Illini are currently averaging 10.5 turnovers per game, ranking second in the Big Ten and 25th nationally. Illinois also stands second in the conference with a +3.0 turnover margin (40th in NCAA).
Illinois tied its home record for fewest turnovers in a game with only three versus Notre Dame on Dec. 2. The Illini then had a five-turnover performance the following week against Yale (Dec. 9).
Capitalizing Off Turnovers
Over the last four games, Illinois has averaged just 8.8 turnovers (35) while the opponent is nearly double in that category, averaging 16.3 turnovers (65). The Illini have made the most from those extra opportunities, outscoring the opposition 79-to-35 in points off turnovers over this four-game stretch, a margin of 11.0 points per game.
Illini Trends
• Illinois has started a different lineup in nine of its first 11 games but started the same lineup over the last two contests, marking the first time this season the UI started the save five in back-to-back games.
• Five different players have been the Illini's leading scorer in a game this season.
• Illinois is getting an average of 29.1 points from its bench, outscoring the opposing bench in all but one game, and by an average of 11.6 points per game. Last season the UI averaged 18.7 points in bench scoring.
• Illinois has received at least 30 points from its bench in seven games, including three of the last four.
• Illinois ranks ninth nationally in bench minutes, with 41.4 percent of the playing time coming from the bench.
• Malcolm Hill has scored in double figures in every game this season and currently ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring with an average of 17.1 points.
• Hill has nine career 20-point games, but has recorded back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in his career with 20 vs. Yale and 22 vs. UIC.
• Hill has shot 50 percent or better from the field in four of the five last five games. His 22 points vs. UIC came on just eight field goal attempts, as he scored 11 points at the foul line.
• Hill is currently averaging 3.9 assists this season (12th in Big Ten), after entering the year with a career average of 1.0 assists.
• Kendrick Nunn has scored in double figures in all six games since making his season debut Nov. 27 and is currently averaging 19.8 points.
• Nunn's scoring average would lead the Big Ten, but he is currently not listed among the conference statistical leaders because he has yet to play in 75 percent of Illinois' games.
• Nunn, who led the team in 3-pointers last year, has combined for 20 treys over his six games. His average of 3.3 made threes per game would rank second the Big Ten, while his 3-point shooting accuracy of 46.5 percent would stand sixth in the league.
• Nunn has shot better than 46 percent from the field in five of his six games.
• Since Nunn's return to the lineup, either Nunn (3 times) or Malcolm Hill (3 times) has been the Illini's leading scorer each of the last six games.
• Michael Finke is averaging 14.3 points (57) on 62.9 percent shooting (22-35) over the last four games, scoring in double figures three times.
• Jalen Coleman-Lands has made a 3-pointer in eight games this season, and has drained three or more treys in five games. His average of 2.1 made threes is 14th in the Big Ten.
• Alex Austin ranks fourth in the Big Ten with a 4.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Last Time Out: Illini 83, UIC 79Â (Dec. 12)
After letting a double-digit lead slip away, the Illini used a strong rally in the second half to defeat UIC on Saturday at the United Center.
The Illini seemed in control, leading 41-30 at the half and still maintaining a 10-point advantage with 14:30 remaining. But UIC would not go away easily and responded with a 14-0 run to take a 58-54 lead with under 10 minutes left. The lead changed hands multiple times until Jalen Coleman-Lands hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put the Illini on top, 66-65. The Orange and Blue did not trail again, expanding the lead to as many as eight points and then finishing it off at the free throw line while the Flames tossed in four 3-pointers during the final minute.
Two key areas in this game for the Illini were free throws and turnovers. Illinois shot 35 free throws, making 24, compared to 10-of-14 at the line for UIC. The Illini also enjoyed a 17-to-9 advantage in points off turnovers, often getting baskets in transition following UIC errors.
Malcolm Hill was one of four Illini in double figures, scoring a game-high 22 points. He drained 5-of-8 shots and made a living at the foul line, hitting a career-high 11-of-14. Coleman-Lands cashed four treys en route to 15 points, while Kendrick Nunn and Michael Finke chipped in 14 points and five rebounds each.
