| Illinois Starters (from last game) |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| G |
1 |
Trent Frazier |
6-1 |
170 |
Fr. |
10.6 |
1.7 |
2.5 |
27 pts, 7 3FG vs. Iowa |
| G |
20 |
Da'Monte Williams |
6-3 |
190 |
Fr. |
4.5 |
3.3 |
1.2 |
Late 3 sealed GC win |
| G |
24 |
Mark Alstork |
6-5 |
190 |
Gr. |
6.4 |
4.0 |
2.5 |
.829 FT% (34-41) |
| F |
12 |
Leron Black |
6-7 |
230 |
r-Jr. |
14.5 |
5.5 |
1.1 |
14 double-figure games |
| F |
43 |
Michael Finke |
6-10 |
235 |
r-Jr. |
10.3 |
5.3 |
1.2 |
Team-high 41 Off. Rebs. |
| Off the Bench |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
Note |
| F |
2 |
Kipper Nichols |
6-6 |
225 |
r-So. |
8.9 |
4.9 |
0.6 |
15.0 ppg in last 2 |
| G |
3 |
Te'Jon Lucas |
6-1 |
180 |
So. |
5.8 |
2.1 |
3.2 |
Team-high 55 assists |
| F |
4 |
Matic Vesel |
6-10 |
215 |
Fr. |
0.3 |
1.2 |
0.3 |
Native of Slovenia |
| G |
10 |
Drew Cayce |
6-1 |
175 |
r-So. |
1.0 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
UI walkon |
| F |
11 |
Greg Eboigbodin |
6-9 |
225 |
Fr. |
2.3 |
2.2 |
0.2 |
9.0 ppg, 13-17 FG in last 3 |
| G |
13 |
Mark Smith |
6-4 |
225 |
Fr. |
7.7 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
.816 FT% (31-38) |
| G |
23 |
Aaron Jordan |
6-5 |
210 |
Jr. |
10.4 |
3.5 |
0.8 |
Leads B1G in 3FG% (.529) |
| G |
35 |
Samson Oladimeji |
6-4 |
200 |
So. |
0.0 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
UI walkon |
| F |
45 |
Cameron Liss |
6-6 |
220 |
r-Jr. |
0.5 |
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: 119-35/.773 (5th year)
At Illinois: 10-8 (1st year)
Big Ten: 0-5
Series Notes vs. Nebraska
Record: Illinois leads 13-6
Streak: Illinois W-1
Record in Lincoln: Illinois leads 4-3
Streak in Lincoln: Illinois W-1
Last Season's Meeting: Illinois 73, Nebraska 57 // Feb. 26, 2017 at Lincoln
Underwood vs. Nebraska: First meeting
Opening Tips
• Illinois has another week away from home to close out a current stretch of four out of five games on the road. Up first is a visit to Nebraska on Monday night (8 p.m., BTN). Overall, Illinois' Big Ten schedule starts with five of its first seven games on the road.
• Freshman Trent Frazier has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games, averaging 16.5 points (132) while shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range (21-45) over that stretch.
• Frazier is coming off a career-high 27-point effort versus Iowa, the highest scoring total by an Illini freshman in the last 10 years (Demetri McCamey, 31 vs. Indiana, 2/7/08).
• After totaling nine points through the season's first 15 games, freshman Greg Eboigbodin is averaging 9.0 points (27) on 76.5 percent shooting (13-17) over the last three contests.
• Illinois made a season-high 14 three-pointers on 30 attempts last time out against Iowa. And the season-high mark of 46.7 percent (14-30) was a welcome change from the UI's 24.7 percent 3-point accuracy through its first four conference games (21-85).
Newcomers Playing Prominent Role
Illinois is undergoing a year of major transformation in its program. In addition to first-year head coach Brad Underwood implementing new offensive and defensive styles of play, the Illini have a number of new players taking on key roles. After losing two-thirds of its minutes from last year's NIT squad, Illinois has newcomers playing the most minutes of any Big Ten team this season with freshmen Mark Smith, Trent Frazier, Da'Monte Williams, Greg Eboigbodin and Matic Vesel, graduate transfer Mark Alstork and walk-on Drew Cayce accounting for a staggering 47.3 percent of minutes played. Illinois stands as the only team in the conference above the 40 percent threshold. The Illini rank second in the Big Ten, meanwhile, in percentage of points scored by newcomers at 39.4 percent.
Oh So Close
Illinois has dropped eight games this season, but has been in contention to win nearly every single one of those contests. The Illini have led during the second half in seven of its eight losses. In three of those games, Illinois had the ball with either the lead or in a tie with less than one minute remaining. And in three more, the Illini trailed by just one possession down the stretch. Three of Illinois' five Big Ten losses have gone to overtime … Here's a look at where the Illini stood in each loss during the second half:
• At Wake Forest – Trailed by three with 1:15 remaining … Led with 17 minutes left
• At Northwestern – Tied with 30 seconds left with ball … Also led in OT
• Maryland – Led by two with 4.6 seconds left with ball … Also led in OT
• At UNLV – Trailed by two with 3 minutes remaining … Led with eight minutes left
• Vs. New Mexico State – Tied with 33 seconds left with ball … Led with seven minutes left
• At Minnesota – Trailed by five with four minutes remaining … Trailed by four with 10 minutes left.
• At Michigan – Trailed by five with 11 minutes remaining … Led with 19 minutes left.
• Iowa – Made 3-pointer at the buzzer, sending the game into OT … Led for first 17 minutes of second half.
Game 18 Notes from Iowa
• Illinois made a season-high 14 three-pointers, topping its previous best of 12 treys against both North Carolina Central and Wake Forest.
• Illinois tied its season high for 3-point percentage, connecting on .467 behind the arc (14-30). The Illini doubled their makes and attempts from the Marshall game, where they made 7-of-15 for the same 46.7 percent.
• The Illini scored 54 points in the first half, its most in a half this season and highest scoring half since totaling 56 in the second half last year vs. N.C. State (Nov. 29, 2016).
• Illinois dished out a season-high 22 assists on its 36 field goals.
• Illinois played its third overtime through the first five Big Ten games, and while still in search of its first conference win, has now led during the second half four times in five league games.
• Iowa set a State Farm Center record by an opponent with 33 made free throws.
• Freshman Trent Frazier scored a career-high 27 points. It was his third 20-point game of the season and marked the highest scoring total by an Illini freshman in 10 years, since Demetri McCamey scored 31 as a freshman vs. Indiana (Feb. 7, 2008).
• Frazier made a career-high seven 3-pointers against the Hawkeyes, tying the single-game record by an Illini freshman while falling one shy of the overall UI school record of eight. Other Illini freshmen to drain seven threes in a game were Cory Bradford vs. Wisconsin (Feb. 6, 1999) and Demetri McCamey vs. Indiana (Feb. 7, 2008).
• Leron Black scored 18 points on 8-12 shooting, marking his fifth time in double figures in the last six games, and 14th time on the season.
• Aaron Jordan registered 18 points, his highest scoring total in a Big Ten game. Jordan made 6-10 from the field and tied his career high with four 3-pointers while also setting a career best with four assists in a career-high 34 minutes against the Hawkeyes.
• Kipper Nichols had 13 points off the bench against Iowa after leading the Illini 17 points at Michigan. Nichols has now scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time since Nov. 24 and Nov. 28.
Frontcourt Grads
Redshirt juniors Michael Finke and Leron Black have completed coursework in their undergraduate degree program of communication. The duo are now set to begin grad school with the start of the 2018 spring semester this week. Finke will pursue a master's degree in recreation, sport and tourism while Black will enroll in the master's program in education policy, organization and leadership.
Illinois Team Headlines
• After totaling 41 bench points against Iowa, Illinois' bench has now outscored the opposition in 16 of 18 games on the season, including each of the last 10. Illini reserves are averaging 33.9 points, with the Illinois bench outscoring the opponent bench by an average of 15.5 points per game.
• Illinois ranks sixth in the country with an offensive rebounding rate of 37.4 percent.
• Illinois ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds (14.1 rpg). Illinois has grabbed 14 or more offensive rebounds in 10 games. Last year the Illini tallied at least 14 offensive rebounds in a total of just five games.
• Illinois ranks fifth in the NCAA in turnovers forced (18.6 per game). Illinois has forced 17 or more turnovers in 11 games. Last year the Illini defense forced at least 17 turnovers in only five of 35 games.
• The Illini rank seventh nationally in turnover rate, forcing turnovers on 24.1 percent of opponent possessions.
• Illinois ranks 26th nationally in turnover margin (+3.8), while scoring 20.9 points per game off turnovers.
• Illinois ranks 45th in the NCAA in steals (7.8 spg). Illinois has collected eight or more steals in nine games. Last year the Illini tallied at least eight steals in only six games.
• In the Illini's 10 wins this season, no opponent has reached 75 points.
• Illinois leads the Big Ten and is 48th nationally in adjusted tempo by kenpom, averaging 72.2 possessions.
• Illinois has scored at least 77 points in seven of its 10 wins.
• Illinois is shooting 74.1 percent from the free throw line on the season (70th in NCAA), and leads the Big Ten during conference play at 78.3 percent.
• Illinois has shot at least 24 free throws in nine games. Last year the Illini attempted at least 24 free throws in only seven games.
• The Illini have had seven different players serve as leading scorer in a game this season.
• Five different Illini have recorded a 20-point performance.
• The Illini rotation has nine players averaging at least 16 minutes per game.
Illini Player Trends
• Junior Leron Black has increased his scoring average by 6.4 points this season, currently leading the Illini at 14.5 ppg (17th in Big Ten) after averaging 8.1 ppg last year.
• Black has now averaged 16.0 points (96) over the last six games, scoring in double figures five times and leading the team in scoring three times.
• Black has scored in double figures in 14 of his 17 games on the season, which included a career-long streak of seven straight that ended at UNLV when he left the game late in the first half with an injury.
• Black has made at least 50 percent from the field in 12 games and is shooting 53 percent on the year (88th in NCAA), compared to 45.3 percent from the field last year.
• Black is shooting 61.3 percent in 11 home games this season (65-106).
• Black has made 80.7 percent of his free throws this season (12th in Big Ten) after entering the year as a 70 percent career shooter at the line.
• Freshman Trent Frazier has been the Illini's leading scorer over the last eight games, averaging 16.5 points (132) with 2.1 steals (17) while shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range (21-45).
• Frazier ranked eighth on the Illini in scoring through the season's first 10 games at 5.8 ppg. Following the eight-game scoring binge he now ranks second on the team with an average of 10.6 points on the season.
• Frazier has scored in double figures in eight of the last 10 games overall.
• Frazier is the first Illini freshman with three 20-point games since Brandon Paul during the 2009-10 season. Paul is now in his rookie NBA season with the San Antonio Spurs.
• Junior Aaron Jordan is third on the team in scoring at 10.4 points per game after averaging 1.0 points last year as a sophomore (+9.4 ppg), the second biggest scoring jump in the Big Ten behind Ohio State's Keita Bates-Diop.
• Jordan leads the Big Ten in 3-point shooting at 52.9 percent (36-68). He entered the year as a 30 percent career shooter from 3-point land.
• Jordan made 4-of-8 threes against Iowa after going 3-for-12 from behind the arc the previous five games.
• Jordan has scored in double figures in 10 of 18 games on the season after entering the year with two games in double digits through his first 55 career games.
• Jordan ranks 13th in the Big Ten by averaging 2.0 made threes. He has totaled 36 treys in 18 games after making 28 triples over his first two seasons.
• Junior Michael Finke is the fourth Illini scoring in double figures at 10.3 ppg. He averaged 6.9 points last season.
• Finke ranks second on the Illini in rebounding at 5.3 rpg while leading the team with an average of 2.3 offensive boards (10th in B1G).
• Junior Kipper Nichols has totaled 30 points over the last two games after combining for 26 points in his previous five games.
• With 17 points at Michigan followed by 13 points vs. Iowa, Nichols has now registered double figures in consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 24 and Nov. 28.
• Nichols ranks sixth in the Big Ten in free throw shooting at 83 percent (42-50) and carries an active streak of 12 consecutive makes at the line.
• After making 13-of-17 shots over the last three games, freshman Greg Eboigbodin now leads the Big Ten in field goal shooting during conference play at 77.8 percent (14-18).
