| Illinois Probable Starters (from the previous game) |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
13 |
Tracy Abrams |
6-2 |
185 |
Gr. |
11.9 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
59.2% 3FG |
| G |
5 |
Jalen Coleman-Lands |
6-3 |
190 |
So. |
8.4 |
2.2 |
1.0 |
27 3FG |
| G |
21 |
Malcolm Hill |
6-6 |
225 |
Sr. |
18.4 |
6.3 |
2.2 |
3rd in B1G in PPG |
| F |
12 |
Leron Black |
6-7 |
220 |
r-So. |
11.7 |
6.7 |
0.8 |
CH 21 pts vs. CMU |
| C |
33 |
Mike Thorne Jr. |
6-11 |
280 |
Gr. |
6.4 |
4.3 |
0.4 |
61.0% FG |
| Off the Bench |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
0 |
D.J. Williams |
6-7 |
210 |
So. |
3.0 |
1.3 |
0.5 |
4 BLK |
| G |
1 |
Jaylon Tate |
6-3 |
170 |
Sr. |
3.7 |
1.7 |
4.1 |
2.2 A/TO |
| F |
2 |
Kipper Nichols |
6-6 |
225 |
r-Fr. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Illini debut vs. BYU |
| G |
3 |
Te'Jon Lucas |
6-0 |
170 |
Fr. |
3.0 |
0.7 |
1.4 |
70.6% FG |
| C |
22 |
Maverick Morgan |
6-10 |
245 |
Sr. |
9.0 |
4.2 |
0.5 |
16.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg last 2 |
| G |
23 |
Aaron Jordan |
6-5 |
190 |
So. |
1.8 |
0.9 |
0.3 |
5-12 3FG |
| G |
35 |
Samson Oladimeji |
6-5 |
195 |
Fr. |
0.7 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
First PTS vs. CMU |
| G |
41 |
Clayton Jones |
6-0 |
170 |
r-Jr. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
3 G |
| F |
43 |
Michael Finke |
6-10 |
230 |
r-So. |
7.5 |
5.5 |
0.5 |
2.2 OREB/G |
| G |
44 |
Alex Austin |
6-4 |
190 |
r-Sr. |
0.7 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
3 OREB |
| Sitting Out |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
10 |
Drew Cayce |
6-1 |
165 |
So. |
- |
- |
- |
Redshirting (transfer) |
| F |
45 |
Cameron Liss |
6-6 |
220 |
Jr. |
0.6 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
Redshirting (last year's stats) |
Head Coach John Groce
Career Record: 172-120/.589 (9th year)
At Illinois: 87-64/.576?(5th year)
Big Ten: 29-43/.403
Series Notes vs. Maryland
Series Record: Maryland leads 6-5
Series Streak: Maryland W-1
Record at College Park: Maryland leads 3-1
Series Streak at College Park: Maryland W-1
Last Year's Meeting: #14 Maryland 81, Illinois 55 (March 3, 2016 at College Park)
Groce vs. Maryland: 1-1
Opening Tips
Illinois enters Tuesday's conference opener at Maryland on a six-game winning streak, tied for the third-longest active streak in the Big Ten … This is Illinois' longest win streak entering league play since the 2008-09 season (six games), and its longest streak overall since also claiming six straight to start the 2014-15 season (Nov. 14-28, 2014) … The Illini are trying to win seven in a row for the first time since the beginning of the 2013-14 season (Nov. 8-29, 2013) … Illinois is also looking to snap a four-game road skid. The Illini's most recent win on an opponent's home court was a 110-101 victory in triple overtime at Rutgers last season (Feb. 3, 2016).
Illini in Big Ten Openers
A charter member of the conference, Illinois opens its 112th season of Big Ten basketball on Tuesday … Illinois is 67-44 all-time in Big Ten openers, and has won 12 of its last 17 league openers … The Illini are 23-26 all-time when beginning conference play on the road … Illinois is looking to start 1-0 in the Big Ten when opening on the road for the first time since the 2010-11 season (87-77 win at Iowa, Dec. 29, 2010).
Illini Items
• Illinois will play its first road game of the season Tuesday at Maryland. The Illini's non-conference schedule consisted of eight home games and five neutral-site contests.
• During its current six-game winning streak, Illinois is averaging 79.8 points (479) on 49.4 percent shooting (167-338), including 41.1 percent from 3-point range (46-112).
• The Illini have made better than 46 percent from the field in five of those six games, and have hit at least 38 percent from behind the arc in all six contests.
• Illinois has also tightened its defense during the win streak, allowing an average of 68.2 points over the last six games (409). That is a strong contrast to the 81.7 points per game given up during the UI's previous three-game skid.
• Illinois has not been outrebounded during its current winning streak, claiming the battle on the glass in five games while equaling VCU. The Illini have earned a rebound margin of +6.7 rpg over this stretch (40).
• Illinois has shot better than 46 percent from the field in eight of its 10 wins, and has made at least 50 percent during the second half in all but two victories on the year.
Notes from the Last Time Out: Illini 75, Missouri 66 (Dec. 21)
• Illinois won its fourth straight Braggin' Rights game over Missouri, improving to 24-12 all-time over the Tigers since the series became an annual game played in St. Louis.
• Illinois won its sixth straight game, extending the team's longest winning streak of the season. The Illini have now won six straight for the first time since November 14-28, 2014.
• Illinois' 75 points were its most in a Braggin' Rights game since 2008 (also scored 75).
• Illinois led for 38:48 of the game. It was tied for 1:12 and Missouri never led.
• Illinois was 16-of-26 shooting as a team in the first half (61.5%), its best shooting first-half of the season.
• Maverick Morgan set a season high in points (19) and career high in rebounds (11) for his third career double-double and second straight (14 pts, 10 reb vs. BYU).
• Morgan had one career double-double in his first 111 career games, before getting two in his last two games.
• Malcolm Hill had a game-high 21 points, his sixth 20-point game of the season and 26th of his career. Hill posted identical totals of 21 points and five rebounds in each of his last two Braggin' Rights games.
• Morgan (13) and Hill (12) combined for 25 of the Illini's 36 second-half points.
• Jalen Coleman-Lands led the Illini in the first half with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting including two three-pointers. He finished with 12 points.
Strong Scheduling
Illinois felt it had constructed a competitive non-conference schedule prior to the season. With the start of Big Ten play now here, numbers from the NCAA are showing that to be the case. Illinois currently ranks No. 21 overall in Strength of Schedule (SOS), with five of its 12 games against Div. I opponents standing in the top 100 of the RPI. Illinois has the second-highest SOS nationally among Big Ten teams.
Age is Just a Number
Chicago native Tracy Abrams will finally suit up for his final Big Ten season beginning on Tuesday at Maryland. The last time Abrams faced a conference opponent was Michigan in the 2014 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal in Indianapolis.
The sixth-year point guard has overcome injuries that sidelined him for the entirety of back-to-back seasons. During his recovery, Abrams earned bachelor's and master's degrees and is now working on his second master's. He will turn age 25 on Feb. 6. Abrams is older than five Chicago Cubs who played in Game 7 of the World Series and helped his hometown clinch a world championship:
Player – Birth Date
Tracy Abrams – Feb. 6, 1992
Willson Contreras – May 13, 1992
Javier Baez – Dec. 1, 1992
Kyle Schwarber – March 5, 1993
Addison Russell – Jan. 23, 1994
Albert Almora Jr. – April 16, 1994
Note: Kris Bryant (born Jan. 4, 1992) is one month older than Abrams
Post Production
Illinois has received strong play from its center rotation lately, with fives Mike Thorne Jr. and Maverick Morgan combining to average 22.0 points on 66.7 percent shooting and 14.3 rebounds over the last three games.
Illini Team Trends
• Illinois ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 68th in the NCAA in scoring offense, averaging 79.8 ppg. The Illini have scored at least 75 points in nine of its 10 wins.
• Illinois is currently shooting 47.8 percent from the field, ranking fifth in the Big Ten and 49th in the NCAA. It is the UI's first season topping 47 percent since 2004-05 (.484).
• The Illini rank third in the Big Ten and 34th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage at 39.7 percent. Illinois has made better than 40 percent behind in six games.
• Through 13 games, the Illini have already had six different players lead the team in scoring in a game.
• Illinois has been strong on the offensive glass, recording double digits in eight games – including six of the last eight – and averaging 10.2 o-boards per game. Last season Illinois ranked last in the Big Ten with 7.6 offensive rebounds per contest.
• The Illini have shot better from the field in the second half compared to the first in nine of 13 games.
• Illinois has shot at least 50 percent during the second half in eight of its 10 wins.
• Illinois is shooting 51.2 percent in six games at State Farm Center (248-484), compared to 41.9 percent in five games away from home (117-279).
• Illinois is earning its way to the free throw line on offense, ranking 84th in the nation with a 39.8 free throw rate against D1 opponents (FTA/FGA). That is Illinois' highest free throw rate since the 2001-02 season (44.6).
• Illinois has done an outstanding job taking care of the basketball under Coach John Groce, with each of the last three seasons ranking as the fewest average turnovers in school history (2015-9.9, 2014-10.4, 2016-10.5). So it is uncharacteristic to see Illinois currently averaging 14.0 turnovers through 13 games this year.
Illini Player Trends
• Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy candidate Malcolm Hill ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring (18.4 ppg).
• Hill has scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games against Div. I opponents, with six outings of 20+ points and two 30-plus point performances.
• Hill has reached double figures in each of the last seven games.
• Hill ranks 12th on the Illinois career scoring chart (1,482 points). At his current season average, Hill would finish as the Illini's No. 3 all-time leading scorer.
• Hill has six kenpom game MVP accolades so far this season, tied for the fourth-most nationally.
• Hill's career-high 40 points vs. Northern Kentucky (Nov. 13) is tied for the No. 6 scoring performance in the NCAA so far this season.
• Hill has scored in double figures in just the second half of seven games this season.
• Hill is currently shooting 41.8 percent from 3-point range after never topping 39 percent in any of his first three seasons and entering his senior year as a 35 percent career 3-point shooter.
• Hill has made 28 threes in 13 games after making 37 treys in 34 games last season.
• Hill continues to be one of the nation's best at getting to the line. He ranks 30th in the NCAA with 67 made free throws (second in B1G). His 76 attempts, meanwhile, also rank 86th nationally (first in B1G).
• Hill ranks fourth all-time at Illinois with 428 career made free throws. Last season he went 193 of 235 from the line, ranking as the second-highest single-season totals for free throws made and attempted.
• Hill is drawing 6.7 fouls per 40 minutes, ranking 75th nationally.
• After missing the last two years due to injury, sixth-year senior Tracy Abrams has scored in double figures in seven games, ranking second on the team in scoring (11.9 ppg).
• Abrams ranks third in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (min. 2 made/game), shooting 59.2 percent from 3-point range (29-49) after entering his final season as a 27 percent career 3-point shooter.
• Abrams has drained at least three treys in six games on the season, including four of the last six.
• Abrams is shooting 53.5 percent overall, his first season at better than 41 percent from the field.
• Abrams is the top-shooting guard in the Big Ten.
• Abrams has made at least 50 percent from the field and 3-point range in eight games.
• Sophomore Leron Black has scored in double figures in six games, ranking third on the team in scoring (11.7 points). He entered the year as a 4.9 ppg career scorer.
• Black has scored in double figures six times through nine games, after totaling seven double-digit scoring performances in 40 career games entering the season.
• Black has been the Illini's leading rebounder in four games and leads the team on the season, averaging 6.7 boards.
• Senior Maverick Morgan has averaged 14.7 points (44) and 9.3 rebounds (28) over the last three games while shooting 66.7 percent from the field (18-27).
• Sophomore Jalen Coleman-Lands is shooting 41.7 percent from 3-point range over the last four games (10-24).
• Coleman-Lands has scored in double figures in four of the last six games, including back-to-back 12-point performances the last two times out vs. BYU and Missouri.
• Senior Mike Thorne Jr. is shooting 69.8 percent from the field over the last 10 games (30-43).
• Senior Jaylon Tate has tallied 16 assists with only four turnovers in a total of 70 minutes over the last three games.
