March 4, 2015
Illinois is...
...ranked 24th nationally & 1st in Big Ten in steals (10.9 spg)
...ranked 30th nationally & 2nd in B1G in TO margin (+5.0)
...ranked 71st nationally & 5th in B1G in 3FG made (6.5 pg)
...4th in the Big Ten in 3-pt defense (30.3%)
...5th in the Big Ten in scoring defense (63.5)
...the #10 seed for the fourth time (0-3)
...received a first-round bye for the firs time since 2007
...0-2 in the Big Ten Tournament under Coach Bollant
...14-6 when scoring 60+ points
...9-1 when shooting more FTs than its opponent
...12-4 when holding opponents under 40% FG shooting
...8-3 when White leads or shares team lead in scoring
Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament
Illinois has an overall record of 17-20 in the Big Ten Tournament and is 0-2 under Matt Bollant. The Illini have advanced to the title game three times, in 1997, '99 and 2008, and have reached the semifinal round six times, most recently in 2011. Illinois looks for is first tournament victory under Bollant, after bowing out in the first round in each of the past two seasons, including a heartbreaking 58-57 loss to #11-seed Wisconsin in 2013.
• Underdog Succes: While the Illini may be a #10 seed, Illinois has a history of makinG noise as an underdog in tournament action. Since 2008, the Illini are 7-2 against higher seeds in the Big Ten Tournament, with a total of 10 upset wins in program history. In 2001, the sixth-seeded Illini downed #3 Wisconsin and in 2008 the ninth-seeded Illini topped #8-seed Wisconsin, #1-seed Ohio State and #5-seed Michigan State en route to the title game. Earning the #9 seed in 2009 and 2010, the Illini upset #8-seeds Penn State and Indiana in consecutive seasons. The following year, the #11-seed Illini made a run to the semifinals, upsetting #6-seed Wisconsin and #3-seed Michigan on the way.
Illini Notables
• Illinois Turns Defense Into Offense: With that turnover margin of +5.0 per game, the Illini also have out-scored their opponents 575-454 off turnovers for an average edge of +4.2 points per game.
• Defense Does It For Illinois: After leading the Big Ten for the past two years, the Illini rank second in the league in 2014-15 with a +5.0 turnover margin this season, with the help of the a league-leading 10.9 steals per game. UI led the Big Ten in steals per game (11.0 spg) and turnover margin (+5.2) in 2013-14, ranking eighth in the nation in steals and 13th in turnover margin. The Illini stand 30th nationally in turnover margin and 24th in steals per game this season, and have three individuals (Carter, Crawford, White) ranked in the top ten in the conference in steals.
Illinois leads the Big Ten in turnovers forced for the second-straight year and has raised the bar this season, forcing 21.4 per game compared to 19.1 in 2013-14. UI has forced 20-plus turnovers in 20 of 30 games thus far, including 34 on Michigan State on Feb. 25.
Additionally, the Illini are fifth in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing 63.5 ppg, due in part to its D at the perimeter, ranking fourth in three-point defense (.303).
• Illinois Turns Defense Into Offense: With that turnover margin of +5.0 per game, the Illini also have out-scored their opponents 601-479 off turnovers for an average edge of +4.1 points per game.
• Foes Can't Find Stroke From Long Range: Illinois ranks fourth in the Big Ten in three-point field-goal defense (30.3 percent), a marked improvement over last season's 33.7 percent allowed that ranked last in the Big Ten and 278th nationally. The Illini held No. 9 Kentucky without a three-pointer on Nov. 27, breaking UK's streak of 367 games with a trey. They also limited Purdue (twice), Penn State, Nebraska (twice), Michigan State, Maryland, Northwestern (twice), Minnesota and Rutgers to a combined 44-of-170 (25.9 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. Illinois has limited 16 of its 30 opponents to five or fewer trifectas.
• Teams Face Tough Sledding Versus Illini: Illinois has held 21 of its 30 opponents under 70 points, including in 12 of its 14 wins, with a 77-71 triumph over No. 9 Kentucky and a 91-76 victory at Penn State the only outliers. The Illini also have held five teams under 20 points in a half this season: Robert Morris (15, 1st half), Southern (15, 2nd), Southern Illinois (15, 1st), Valparaiso (19, 1st) and Murray State (11, 1st).
• Crawford Back In Lineup: While Illinois knocked off No. 17 Iowa on Jan. 8 despite Ivory Crawford only playing five minutes before suffering a knee injury, the Fighting Illini clearly missed their leading scorer in the next six games, topping the 60-point mark only once. But in Crawford's second game back after returning, Illinois hung 95 on Minnesota (Feb. 5), its highest point total this season. In 23 games with Crawford in the lineup this season, Illinois is 14-9. In the nearly seven games without her, the Illini went 1-6.
• Single-Game Treys Record Falls: Illinois shattered the school record for three-pointers in a single game at Valparaiso on Dec. 13, making 15-of-28 (53.6 percent). The outing surpassed the previous mark of 12 treys, which was set in 1997 and tied in 2003 and 2013. UI then hit 12 triples at Penn State, breaking the school record for three-pointers in a Big Ten game. The Illini drained 10 treys against Minnesota, marking the 16th time in Matt Bollant's 88 games as Illinois' head coach - and fourth time this season - that the Illini have made 10-plus treys in a game.
• UI Finds Shooting Touch in Paradise: Illinois started the season by missing its first 24 three-pointers and was just 6-of-65 (9.2 percent) from long range through four games. But the Illini found their touch since going to Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands, hitting 80-of-213 (37.6 percent) from downtown in 11 games through the Iowa contest. Illinois cooled during the middle of Big Ten play, going 43-of-140 (30.7 percent) on treys in the seven games after the Iowa contest before hitting 19-of-50 (38 percent) against Minnesota and Northwestern. Illinois has made 38 more three-pointers than its opponents in its last 23 games, an average of +5.0 points per game.
• Illini Post Best Non-Conference Mark in 8 Years: Illinois finished non-conference play with a 9-3 record, its best mark prior to the start of the Big Ten schedule in eight years, since the 2006-07 squad went 10-2 to start the season.
• Illini Surge Back at Mackey: Despite being limited to just 16 points in the first half, shooting 26.5 percent in the game, and suffering an 0-for-20 FG stretch in the first half, Illinois catapulted itself back from down by as many as 13 points to defeat Purdue, 47-46, on Feb. 21. Although she scored just seven points in the game, Ivory Crawford had three late steals that led to seven points in the Illini's comeback run, including forcing the turnover that would set up Kyley Simmons for the game-winning three-point shot - a trey to give Illinois its first lead of the afternoon with 1:16 to play in the game.
Although the buckets weren't falling, Illinois forced 10 more turnovers (22-12), out-scoring the opposition 17-8 on those TOs, and led 18-4 in steals to hold Purdue to just 46 points in the game and remain in a position to win.
The win marked the first for the Illini since 2005 at Mackey Arena and the second in West Lafayette against the perennial powerhouse since 1984.
The Illini have won just three games in program history while scoring less than 47 points, all three of which occurred in 1975. Illinois defeated Danville JC, 43-31, on Feb. 17, 1975, during the first season of Illinois women's basketball, then topped Northern Illinois, 46-44, on March 1, 1975, and defeated George Williams, 44-41, in the following season's opener on Dec. 1, 1975. The 47 points against Purdue are the fewest in an Illinois victory in the three-point era.
• Illini Stifle High-Scoring Buckeyes: Ohio State entered State Farm Center on Feb. 14 ranked eighth in the nation with an average of 80 points per game, but the Illini defense limited the Buckeye offense to just 55 points, tying their lowest point total of the year. The loss marked Ohio State's first double-digit margin of defeat in Big Ten play this season, dropping the other four by a total of 27 points.
The Illini held the nation's leading scorer, Kelsey Mitchell, scoreless for the first 16:38, limiting her to just one field goal in the first half. A key to the success was great rebounding, leading 40-31 off the glass, including 12 offensive boards. Additionally, the Illini forced 19 turnovers and led 8-3 in steals.
• Orange & Blue Knock Off #17 Iowa: The Illini upset No. 17 Iowa, 73-61, on Jan. 8, marking Illinois' second win over a ranked opponent this season and fourth in Matt Bollant's Illini career.
• Illini Notch Memorable Win at Penn State: Illinois beat Penn State 91-76 on Jan. 4, marking the Illini's first win in State College since 1998 and snapping an 11-game skid at the Bryce Jordan Center. UI sunk 12 three-pointers in the win, setting the school record for a conference game It also marked the most points the Illini have scored against Penn State since 1999 and only the third time Illinois has topped 90 against the Lady Lions.
• Simmons' Shooting Lights Out: Junior guard Kyley Simmons has caught fire from downtown, hitting 15-of-25 (60 percent) three-pointers over three games from Feb. 1-8 to vault up the three-point percentage leaderboards in the Big Ten and nationally. Her .403 (71-for-176) 3FG percentage is the best career mark in Illinois program history and ranks fourth in the Illini single-season record books, while sitting in seventh in the Big Ten and 37th in the nation this season. She has made the fifth-most single-season three-pointers in Illinois history, and ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 60th in the NCAA with 2.4 per game.
Simmons went 0-for-1 at Nebraska on Jan. 29, only her second game this season without a trey, before draining four against Wisconsin, a career-high six against Minnesota and five at Northwestern. With her team trailing by nine late against Purdue, she hit two threes down the stretch, including the game-winning bucket with 1:16 to play, to lead the Illini to victory.
In addition to her propensity to shoot the three, Simmons ranks third in the Big Ten in minutes played (36.7 mpg) and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6).
• Crawford Comes Back Strong: Senior guard Ivory Crawford - who ranks 10th in the Big Ten in scoring (15.5 ppg) - scored in double figures in 17-straight full games she played in, including six 20-point performances, before being limited to seven points at Purdue on Feb. 21. She suffered a knee injury after only five minutes against Iowa on Jan. 8 and missed the next six games before returning with 12 points and six rebounds against Wisconsin on Feb. 1. Crawford then nearly recorded what would have been the second triple-double in school history, posting 23 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds against Minnesota on Feb. 5. She is averaging 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game since returning from the injury.
• Grant Gets Going: Sophomore forward Jacqui Grant - who was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor roll on Feb. 9 - is 12th in the conference with 5.8 defensive boards per game in Big Ten play. She notched consecutive double-doubles - the fourth and fifth of her career - with 13 points and 12 rebounds against Northwestern on Jan. 22, and 17 points and 10 boards at Michigan on Jan. 26. Grant averaged 20.5 points and 8.0 rebounds against Minnesota and Northwestern to earn mention on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll and grabbed double-digit rebounds in four of six games from Jan. 8-26. She also scored in double figures in six of seven games from Jan. 22-Feb. 11 - including a career-high-tying 29 against Minnesota on Feb. 5 - averaging 13.6 ppg over that stretch.
• White Announces Her Presence with Authority: Chatrice White has put together one of the best freshman campaigns in Illinois history, breaking two freshman records and sitting in the top four in two more categories, earning herself a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. The center became the all-time leading freshman scorer at Purdue on Feb. 21 with her 401st point, then broke the freshman blocking record against Michigan State on Feb. 25 with her 58th block. She ranks third among Illini freshmen in rebounding and fourth in steals, while her 60 blocks this season rank sixth in the overall single-season records and are already 15th in career history.
A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree (11/24, 12/8, 1/12), she ranks 14th in the conference in scoring (14.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg). She has scored in double figures in 27 of Illinois' 30 games including a 30-point outing against Michigan (Feb. 28) and six double-doubles.
White ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 62nd nationally in blocks (2.0 bpg), eighth in offensive rebounds (3.1 pg) and ninth in steals (1.9 spg). She tied the UI single-game blocked shots record with seven at No. 8 Maryland (Jan. 18).
• Carter Makes It All Stick: Senior guard Brittany Carter has proved to be a stat-sheet stuffer after transferring from Ball State during the summer. She is averaging 8.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while ranking third in the Big Ten and 36th in the nation with 2.6 steals per game. She ranked second in the Big Ten in conference games with 2.7 spg. She has 2+ assists in 24 games, 2+ steals in 21 games, and 5+ rebounds in 20 games.
• New Faces Contribute for Illini: Between freshmen and transfers, the Illini have six players on the roster who have made their Orange and Blue debuts this season; senior transfer Brittany Carter, junior transfer Kyley Simmons, redshirt-freshman Kennedy Cattenhead, and true-freshmen Amarah Coleman, Brooke Kissinger and Chatrice White. Through 30 games, that sextet has scored 1,223 of Illinois' 2,002 points (61.1 percent) and has grabbed 50.2 percent of its rebounds (540 of 1,075).
• Crawford Starts Season Among 1,000-Point Club: Senior Ivory Crawford became only the 15th player in school history to score 1,000 points with eligibility remaining when she reached the milestone last season. She continues to climb up the list, currently in 13th with 1,390 points. Crawford needs 60 points to pass former teammate Amber Moore (2009-14) into 12th place. She also sits in fifth in steals, seventh in three-pointers made and attempted, 13th in offensive rebounds and 19th in total rebounds, and 14th in free throws made and attempted. On Feb. 17, Crawford became the seventh Illini in program history to sink 100 career three-pointers, and needs 13 to past Allison Curtin (1998-01) for sixth place.
Scouting the Huskers
• The Huskers began the season ranked No. 16 in both polls and remained in the top 20 until midway through February, dropping out of the top 25 in the AP Poll prior to the final week of the regular season. The Huskers are 20-9 on the season, with eight of those losses coming to teams in the top 50 in the RPI, including four losses to #6 Maryland and #7 Iowa.
• Nebraska runs a solid defense, leading the Big Ten by allowing just 59.7 points per game and ranking second with a .374 field goal defense. That said, the Huskers rank 13th in both blocks and steals, relying primarily on keeping their opponents from getting good looks. When Nebraska opponents take bad shots, the Huskers are the most likely team to grab the board, leading the conference in defensive rebound percentage (.741), despite ranking last in offensive rebound percentage (.289).
• Two Huskers were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, leading scorer Rachel Theriot and senior Emily Cady. Cady ranks 15th in the nation in defensive boards (8.0 pg), third in total rebounds (10.4 rpg) and 44th in double-doubles (11). Hailie Sample has the second-best field goal percentage in the Big Ten (.611).
• Nebraska suffered a difficult loss midway through February, as leading scorer Rachel Theriot, who was averaging 16.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in her junior campaign, sustained an ankle injury that required season-ending surgery on Feb. 19. The forward was clutch in the postseason last year, leading the Huskers to their first Big Ten Tournament title and earning all-tournament MVP.
Series History Against Nebraska
Illinois has faced Nebraska a total of 11 times and will take on the Huskers in the Big Ten Tournament for the first time ever. The Huskers lead the all-time series, 8-3, including winning the last four straight.
This Season vs. Nebraska
Nebraska swept the season series with the Illini, but won the pair of games by a total of seven points, both of which were without Illini leading scorer Ivory Crawford, who missed six games with a knee injury.
In the pair's first meeting on Jan. 16, Illinois led for most of the game but No. 19 Nebraska scored 15 of the contest's final 19 points to pull out a 58-53 win in front of a season-high crowd of 3,263 at State Farm Center. Amarah Coleman tied her career high with 18 points and Kyley Simmons added 10 in Illinois' first full game without Crawford.
When the Illini traveled to Lincoln, they once again led for over 36 minutes, but Nebraska hit a three-pointer late in the shot clock with 1:11 remaining in the game and held on for a 59-57 win. Chatrice White starred in her first collegiate game in her home state, posting a then-career-high-tying 23 points, including a career-high 4-of-8 three-pointers, and grabbed seven boards.
