Game 6: ILLINOIS (5-0) vs. North Carolina Central (2-4)
Date	Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 | 6:30 p.m.
Location	Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center (15,544) | Fan Guide
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Printable Notes	Illinois | N.C. Central
2017-18 Stats	Illinois | N.C. Central | Big Ten
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Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 114-27/.809 (5th year)
At Illinois: 5-0 (1st year)

Series Notes vs. North Carolina Central

Record: First meeting
Streak: N/A
Record at Champaign: First meeting
Streak at Champaign: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A
Underwood vs. N.C. Central: First meeting

Opening Tips

• Friday's match-up with North Carolina Central marks the fourth game in an eight-day stretch for the Illini, and concludes a six-game home stand to start the season.

• Friday also marks the third of seven one-day preps Illinois has on its schedule this season.

• Illinois is looking to start 6-0 for the first time since also winning its first six games of the 2014-15 season. 

• Illinois' current nine-game winning streak at State Farm Center is its longest since winning 13 straight home games from Feb. 7, 2013-Jan. 4, 2014.

• The Illini have been balanced on offense, with five players owning a scoring average in double figures.

• The Illini rotation currently has nine players averaging more than 17 minutes per game.

• Illinois' 118 made throws ranks first in the nation among teams with five games played.

• Illinois' 157 free throw attempts, meanwhile, is fourth-most in the NCAA among teams with five games.

• The Illini have grabbed at least 11 offensive rebounds in all five contests, averaging 15.2 per game.

• Illinois is averaging 29.6 points per game off of turnovers. 

Illini Nationally This Season (via Kenpom) …

Note: Kenpom ratings only count games against Div. I opponents, so below data does not include Augustana game

• The UI defense ranks 26th in turnover rate, forcing turnovers on 24.8 percent of opponent possessions.

• The Illini have grabbed 39.4 percent of their own misses, ranking 17th in offensive rebound percentage.

• 27.3 percent of Illinois' points have been scored at the free throw line, which ranks 15th.

• The Illini rank 29th in free throw rate (48.8).

• Illinois ranks 72nd in defensive efficiency (98.4) and 60th in effective field goal percentage defense (45.5).

Game 5 Notes from Win over Augustana (Ill.)

• The Illinois defense forced 29 Augustana turnovers, converting those extra possessions into 36 points. It marked the most turnovers by a UI opponent since Chicago State also had 29 on Dec. 10, 2008. It was Illinois' most points off turnovers, meanwhile, since scoring 37 in the Chicago State game nine years ago.

• Illinois' 13 steals were its most since also recording 13 vs. Minnesota on Feb. 28, 2016.

• The Fighting Illini knocked down 10-of-24 three-pointers, recording double-digit makes for the first time this season and eclipsing the previous season high of seven made threes set last time out vs. Marshall.

• The Illini tied their season high in assists by dishing out 19 for the second consecutive game.

• Illinois had 22 second-chance points, equaling its season high set against DePaul.

• The Illini had five players score in double figures for the third time in five games on the season.

• Junior Michael Finke posted his second career double-double and first of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. It marked his second career 20-point game, trailing only his career high of 24 set as a freshman vs. Western Carolina (Dec. 5, 2016). Finke's 10 boards, meanwhile, were his most since grabbing 11 last season vs. Northern Kentucky (Nov. 13, 2016).

• Junior Leron Black did his damage in the first half, pouring in all of his 15 points before intermission.

• Mark Smith scored 13 points, becoming the first Illinois freshman to score in double figures in four straight games since Kendrick Nunn during the 2013-14 season (3/4/14-3/14/14).

• Junior Aaron Jordan continued his breakout season with 12 points while shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from behind the arc. Jordan is now 11-of-18 from downtown this season (.611).

• Freshman Trent Frazier tied his season high with 10 points for the second straight game. He also had four steals, the most by an Illini player so far this season.

• Sophomore Te'Jon Lucas recorded a season-high assists, followed by senior Mark Alstork's season-best five assists. Together they combined for 11 assists with only two turnovers in 42 minutes.

Illini Team Trends

• Illinois is shooting 43.6 percent from 3-point range over the last two games (17-39) after opening the season at 23.1 percent behind the arc through the first three games (15-65).

• Illinois has totaled a 2.11 assist-to-turnover ratio over the last two games (38 assists, 18 turnovers) after combining for a 1.04 ratio through the first three games (48 assists, 46 turnovers).

• Illinois has scored at least 75 points in all five games this season, with four outings of more than 80 points and three 90-plus point performances. 

• The Illini have outshot and outrebounded all five opponents.

• Illinois has grabbed 14 or more offensive rebounds in four of five games so far this season. Last year the Illini tallied at least 14 offensive rebounds in just five of 35 games.

• Illinois has forced 17 or more turnovers in all five games this season. Last year the Illini tallied at least 17 offensive rebounds in a total of five games.

• Illinois has shot at least 26 free throws in all five games on the season. Last year the Illini attempted at least 26 free throws in only six games.

• Illinois has recorded 17 or more assists in four of five games this season. Last year the Illini tallied at least 17 assists in just eight games.

• The Illini have already had six different players serve as leading scorer in a game this season.

• A different player has been the Illini's top rebounder through each of the first five games.

Illini Player Trends

• Junior Leron Black has nearly doubled his scoring average this season, currently leading the Illini at 15.4 ppg after averaging 8.1 ppg last year.

• Black has recorded at least 14 points in four of five games.

• Black has made at least 50 percent from the field in all five games and is shooting 60 percent on the year (30-50).

• Black has made 84.2 percent of his free throws this season (16-19) after entering the year as a 70 percent career shooter at the line.

• Black has 14 assists in five games this season after finishing last year with 13 assists in 31 games.

• Freshman Mark Smith is second on the Illini in scoring at 13.8 points per game. 

• Smith is the No. 2 freshman scorer in the Big Ten behind Rutgers' Geo Baker (14.0 ppg).

• Smith has scored at least 13 points in each of the last four games, averaging 15.0 ppg over this stretch.

• Smith is the first Illini freshman to score in double figures in four straight games since Kendrick Nunn in 2014. The last UI rookie with five straight in double digits was Brian Cook in 2000.

• Smith is shooting 57.1 percent on 2-pointers (20-35).

• Junior Michael Finke is third on the team in scoring at 13.2 ppg. He averaged 6.9 points last season.

• Finke has scored at least 12 points in four of five games while shooting at least 50 percent from the field in all but one game.

• Finke has made 6-10 from 3-point range over the last two games after opening the season 1-8 from the arc over the first three games.

• Junior Aaron Jordan is averaging 11.0 points this season, scoring in double figures in three of five games. He averaged 2.3 points last year as a sophomore.

• Jordan has also increased his rebounding to 4.6 rpg so far this season compared to 1.0 rpg last year.

• Jordan is shooting 61.1 percent on 3-pointers this season (11-18) after entering the year as a 30 percent career shooter from 3-point land.

• Jordan has recorded two steals in each of the last three games.

• Sophomore Kipper Nichols has scored in double figures in three of five games this season, averaging 10.6 points. That is more than double his 4.9 scoring average as a freshman.

• Nichols has totaled six offensive rebounds over the last two games.

• Nichols has already surpassed his free throw totals from last year, currently at 18-24 through five games after going 13-21 in 21 games last season.

• Freshman Trent Frazier has scored 10 points in each of the last two games.

• Frazier is shooting 68.8 percent on 2-pointers (11-16).

• Senior Mark Alstork has dished out at least three assists in four of five games and is averaging 3.7 assists over the last three games (11).

• Alstork had eight points vs. Augustana after combining for eight points over the previous three games.

• Freshman Da'Monte Williams is averaging 6.3 points over the last three games (19).

• Williams has totaled four steals over the last two games.

• Sophomore Te'Jon Lucas has combined for 11 assists with only two turnovers over the last two games.

• Lucas has grabbed at least one steal in every game this season.

Smith's Streak

Illini rookie Mark Smith began his career by draining his first 21 free throw attempts before finally seeing his streak come to an end with a miss against Augustana. Smith now stands 23 of 24 at the line on the season, shooting 95.8 percent. 

» Complete Illinois-North Carolina Central Game Notes