| Illinois Starters (from last game) |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
3 |
Te'Jon Lucas |
6-1 |
180 |
So. |
5.1 |
1.4 |
4.0 |
Team-high 9 steals |
| G |
13 |
Mark Smith |
6-4 |
225 |
Fr. |
11.0 |
2.0 |
1.7 |
.857 FT% (24-28) |
| G |
24 |
Mark Alstork |
6-5 |
190 |
Gr. |
6.7 |
3.9 |
3.1 |
15 offensive rebounds |
| F |
12 |
Leron Black |
6-7 |
230 |
r-Jr. |
14.1 |
5.7 |
2.3 |
.826 FT% (19-23) |
| F |
43 |
Michael Finke |
6-10 |
235 |
r-Jr. |
12.9 |
6.0 |
1.6 |
.557 FG% (34-61) |
| Off the Bench |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
1 |
Trent Frazier |
6-1 |
170 |
Fr. |
6.3 |
1.4 |
2.1 |
10 pts vs. Marshall & Augie |
| F |
2 |
Kipper Nichols |
6-6 |
225 |
r-So. |
11.6 |
4.9 |
0.7 |
14 p, 7 r vs. Wake Forest |
| F |
4 |
Matic Vesel |
6-10 |
215 |
Fr. |
0.0 |
1.3 |
0.0 |
Native of Slovenia |
| G |
10 |
Drew Cayce |
6-1 |
175 |
r-So. |
1.3 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
UI walkon |
| F |
11 |
Greg Eboigbodin |
6-9 |
225 |
Fr. |
0.4 |
1.3 |
0.1 |
Native of Nigeria |
| G |
20 |
Da'Monte Williams |
6-3 |
190 |
Fr. |
4.7 |
3.0 |
1.0 |
7 pts vs. Wake Forest |
| G |
23 |
Aaron Jordan |
6-5 |
210 |
Jr. |
13.0 |
4.4 |
0.6 |
Leads NCAA in 3FG% (.655) |
| G |
35 |
Samson Oladimeji |
6-4 |
200 |
So. |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
UI walkon |
| F |
45 |
Cameron Liss |
6-6 |
220 |
r-Jr. |
0.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
B1G Distinguished Scholar |
| Sitting Out (*2016-17 Stats listed) |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
32 |
Tyler Underwood |
6-1 |
165 |
r-So. |
0.6* |
0.2* |
0.1* |
Sitting out season (transfer) |
| G |
41 |
Clayton Jones |
6-0 |
170 |
r-Sr. |
0.4* |
0.0* |
0.0* |
Recovering from torn ACL |
Career Record: 115-28/.804 (5th year)
At Illinois: 6-1 (1st year)
Series Notes vs. Northwestern
Record: Illinois leads 134-40
Streak: Illinois W-2
Record at Rosemont: First meeting
Streak at Rosemont: N/A
Underwood vs. Northwestern: First meeting
Last Year's Meetings:
Illinois 68, Northwestern 61 // Feb. 7, 2017 at Evanston
Illinois 66, Northwestern 50 // Feb. 21, 2017 at Champaign
Opening Tips
• Illinois plays its second straight road game on Friday night, opening Big Ten play against Northwestern. The game will be held at Allstate Arena in Rosemont due to renovations at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
• Dec. 1 marks Illinois' earliest Big Ten opener in school history, surpassing the Dec. 15, 1964 opener at Wisconsin.
• Northwestern is the third in a stretch of four straight games for the Illini against 2017 NCAA Tournament participants.
• This is Illinois' first visit to Allstate Arena since the 2005 NCAA Chicago Regional, when the top-ranked Illini beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Sweet 16 and fought back from a 15-point deficit with four minutes left in regulation to defeat Arizona in overtime in the Elite Eight (see p. 2 for Illini all-time results in Rosemont).
• Friday's game is the lone scheduled match-up this season between Illinois and Northwestern. The Illini and Wildcats are guaranteed to meet twice annually beginning in 2018-19 when the Big Ten schedule expands to 20 games.
• Illinois won both meetings last year, defeating Northwestern 68-61 in Evanston and 66-50 in Champaign.
• Illinois ranks sixth in the NCAA in turnovers forced (20.0 per game) and eighth nationally in turnover margin (+6.7), while scoring 25.9 points per game off turnovers.
• Junior Aaron Jordan leads the NCAA in 3-point shooting at 65.5 percent (19-29).
Illini in Rosemont
Illinois owns a record of 11-1 at Allstate Arena. Here is a list of the UI's all-time games in Rosemont:
» Nov. 28, 1981 - Illinois 87, Loyola 83
» Jan. 3, 1983 - Illinois 74, Iowa State 57
» Nov. 25, 1983 - Illinois 99, Utah 65
» Nov. 26, 1983 - Illinois 70, Loyola 53
» Dec. 18, 1984 - #4 Illinois 87, Cincinnati 65
» Dec. 22, 1984 - Loyola 63, #4 Illinois 62
» Dec. 30, 1985 - #16 Illinois 64, Iowa State 62
» Dec. 29, 1989 - #4 Illinois 97, Grambling 73
» Dec. 30, 1989 - #4 Illinois 83, #15 Memphis 71
» Dec. 29, 2000 - #9 Illinois 77, UIC 64
» March 24, 2005 - #1 Illinois 77, Milwaukee 63
» March 26, 2005 - #1 Illinois 90, Arizona 89 (OT)
Looking Back at Last Year's Illinois-Northwestern Games
• Illini 68, Northwestern 61 (Feb. 7, 2017 at Evanston)
Illinois closed the game on a 12-2 run to earn its first road win of the season at Northwestern.
The Illini reeled off 15 unanswered points early in the game to take a 19-10 lead. The hosts then battled back before the teams entered the locker room tied at 28 at the half.
A 3-pointer by Vic Law gave Northwestern a 59-56 lead with 3:31 remaining, but the Illini tied it on a Michael Finke trey and took the lead on a pair of Malcolm Hill free throws.
After the Wildcats tied it at 61 on two Bryant McIntosh free throws, the Illini scored the game's final seven points. Jalen Coleman-Lands found Te'Jon Lucas wide open underneath the basket for the go-ahead layup with 1:37 left. Finke then made plays at both ends, stealing the ball from McIntosh and scoring on a turnaround in the lane to put the Illini up by four with 1:09 to go.
Northwestern missed four shots and turned it over twice in the final minute, and the Illini hit three of their last four free throws to close out the victory.
Illinois stepped up on both sides of the ball after intermission, shooting 58.3 percent (14-24) while holding the Wildcats to 33.3 percent (8-24) in the second half.
Malcolm Hill scored all 14 of his points in the second half as part of a stellar all-around game that included nine rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Te-'Jon Lucas tallied 11 points and five rebounds while dishing out a game-high six assists.
Michael Finke and Maverick Morgan also finished in double figures, adding 11 points apiece.
• Illini 66, Northwestern 50 (Feb. 21, 2017 at Champaign)
Illinois led nearly the entire way in a home win over Northwestern to record a season sweep of the Wildcats.
The Illini broke away in the second thanks to strong defense. Leading 45-42 at the 10:27 mark, Illinois held the visitors without a field goal over the next 9:16. The Illini outscored the Wildcats 19-5 over that stretch – with all five NU points coming at the free throw line – to take its largest lead of the game at 17 points.
Illinois held NU to just five second-half baskets and 18 points – the fewest allowed by the Illini in a half on the season. Northwestern's totals of 50 points, 18 field goals, 32.1 percent shooting and five assists all marked season lows for the Wildcats.
Malcolm Hill led all scorers with 18 points while dishing out a game-high five assists. The Illini front court also performed well, with Leron Black registering 11 points and eight rebounds, Maverick Morgan finishing with nine points and a game-high 10 boards, and Michael Finke adding five points and seven boards.
Current Illini vs. Northwestern
Te'Jon Lucas (2 G): 10.0 ppg (20), 3.5 rpg (7), 4.5 apg (9)
Highlights: 11 points, five rebounds and game-high six assists last year in Evanston … Nine points last year in Champaign.
Kipper Nichols (2 G): 7.5 ppg (15), 3.0 rpg (6)
Highlights: Nine points last year in Evanston … Six points and three blocks last year in Champaign.
Michael Finke (3 G): 6.3 ppg (19), 4.0 rpg (12)
Highlights: 11 points and three steals last season in Evanston … Seven rebounds last year in Champaign.
Leron Black (4 G): 4.8 ppg (19), 4.3 rpg (17)
Highlights: Six rebounds in 2015 in Champaign … 11 points and eight rebounds last year in Champaign.
Aaron Jordan (3 G): 0 pts, 3 reb
Uptempo Illini
The Fighting Illini are currently averaging 86.7 points per game, ranking third in the Big Ten and 31st in the NCAA in scoring. One goal for an Underwood-led team is to always push the pace. Illinois is currently averaging more than 76 possessions through seven games, leading the Big Ten and ranking 35th nationally.
Illini Nationally This Season (via Kenpom)
Kenpom ratings only factor games against Div. I opponents; following data does not include Augustana game Nov. 22.
• The Illini have grabbed 38.3 percent of their own misses, ranking 16th in offensive rebound percentage.
• The UI defense ranks 19th in turnover rate, forcing turnovers on 24.4 percent of opponent possessions.
• 24.9 percent of Illinois' points have been scored at the free throw line, which ranks 23rd.
• The Illini rank 47th in free throw rate (42.9).
• Illinois ranks 82nd in defensive efficiency (99.2) and 69th in 2-point defense (45.2).
Illini Team Trends
• Illinois is shooting 42.3 percent from 3-point range and making an average of 10.3 treys over the last four games (41-97) after opening the season at 23.1 percent behind the arc with an average of 5.0 makes through the first three games (15-65).
• Illinois has scored more than 70 points in all seven games this season, with five outings above 80 points and three 90-plus point performances.
• Illinois has grabbed 14 or more offensive rebounds in five of seven 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 six of seven games this season. Last year the Illini defense forced at least 17 turnovers in a total of five games.
• Illinois has shot at least 24 free throws in six of seven games on the season. Last year the Illini attempted at least 24 free throws in only seven games.
• Illinois has recorded 17 or more assists in five of seven games this season. Last year the Illini tallied at least 17 assists in just eight games.
• Illinois' 149 made throws ranks fourth in the NCAA among teams with seven games played. The UI's 195 free throw attempts, meanwhile, is also fourth-most in the nation among teams with seven games.
• The Illini have been balanced on offense, with five players owning a scoring average of at least 11 points.
• The Illini have already had six different players serve as leading scorer in a game this season.
• The Illini rotation currently has nine players averaging at least 16 minutes per game.
Illini Player Trends
• Junior Leron Black has increased his scoring average by 6.0 points this season, currently leading the Illini at 14.1 ppg (16th in Big Ten) after averaging 8.1 ppg last year.
• Black has scored in double figures in six of seven games.
• Black has made at least 50 percent from the field in six of seven games and is shooting 52.7 percent on the year.
• Black has made 82.6 percent of his free throws this season (10th in Big Ten) after entering the year as a 70 percent career shooter at the line.
• Black has 16 assists in seven games after finishing last year with 13 assists in 31 games.
• Junior Aaron Jordan ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.0 points. He averaged 2.3 points last year as a sophomore.
• Jordan ranks eighth nationally in kenpom offensive rating at 149.6.
• Jordan has scored in double figures in five of seven games, including an active streak of three straight. He is averaging 16.0 ppg over the last three contests (48).
• Jordan has also increased his rebounding to 4.4 rpg so far this season compared to 1.0 rpg last year.
• Jordan currently leads the NCAA in 3-point shooting at 65.5 percent (19-29) after entering the year as a 30 percent career shooter from 3-point land.
• Jordan has made 12-of-15 from 3-point range over the last three games (80 percent), draining four treys in each of the three games.
• Junior Michael Finke is third on the team in scoring at 12.9 ppg. He averaged 6.9 points last season.
• Finke averaged 21.0 points in last week's two wins (20 vs. Augustana, 22 vs. N.C. Central), recording back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in his career.
• Finke has made 11-23 from 3-point range over the last four games (47.8 percent), after opening the season 1-8 from the arc over the first three games.
• Finke has scored at least 12 points in five of seven games while also shooting at least 50 percent from the field five times.
• Freshman Mark Smith is fifth on the Illini in scoring at 11.0 points per game.
• Smith has scored at least 13 points four times.
• Smith scored in double figures in four straight games from Nov. 12 through Nov. 22, becoming the first Illini freshman to do so since Kendrick Nunn in 2014.
• Smith is shooting 50 percent on 2-pointers (22-44).
• Sophomore Kipper Nichols is the team's fourth-leading scorer with an average of 11.6 points. That is more than double his 4.9 scoring average as a freshman.
• Nichols ranks 21st nationally in kenpom offensive rating at 120.2 (at least 28 percent possessions used).
• Nichols has scored in double figures in five of seven games on the this season.
• Nichols has already surpassed his free throw totals from last year, currently at 28-35 through seven games after going 13-21 in 21 games last season.
• Sophomore Te'Jon Lucas has totaled 21 assists with only three turnovers in a combined 86 minutes over the last four games, owning an assist-to-turnover ratio of 7.0 during this stretch.
• Lucas has grabbed at least one steal in six of seven games.
• Senior Mark Alstork has dished out at least three assists in five of seven games and is averaging 3.6 assists over the last five games (18).
• Freshman Trent Frazier is shooting 68.8 percent on 2-pointers this season (11-16).
» Complete Illinois-Northwestern Game Notes
