ILLINOIS (6-1) vs. Miami (4-3) | Big Ten/ACC Challenge presented by Continental Tire
Date	Monday, Dec. 2, 2019 | 6 p.m. CT
Location	Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center (15,544) | Fan Guide
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2019-20 Stats	Illinois | Miami | Big Ten
Underwood Press Conf.	Dec. 1
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Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 141-67 (.678), 7th year
At Illinois: 32-40 (.444), 3rd year

Series Notes vs. Miami

Record: Miami leads 2-1
Record at Champaign: First meeting
Record in Big Ten/ACC Challenge: Miami leads 1-0
Last Meeting: #15 Miami 70, #24 Illinois 61 (Dec. 2, 2014 at Coral Gables)
Underwood vs. Miami: First meeting

Opening Tips

• Illinois closes out its five-game home stand on Monday night, hosting Miami in the 21st annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge presented by Continental Tire (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2).

• Illinois is 8-12 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and 5-3 at home. The Illini are aiming for its first Challenge victory since beating N.C. State in its last home game in the event in 2016.

• Illinois topped the 100-point mark in consecutive games for the first time since 2014 and also recorded its largest victory margin in the last five years during last Tuesday's rout of Lindenwood.

• Illinois leads the nation in offensive rebound percentage (46.6%) and rebound margin (+18.6).

• Illinois ranks third in the nation in scoring, averaging 88.3 points. 

• Illinois is currently fifth in the nation in defensive free throw rate (18.2) and 41st in free throw rate (40.5). These are dramatic early-season improvements compared to last year, when the Illini ranked 338th in defensive free throw rate (42.4) and 272nd in free throw rate (29.5).

• Illinois is the only team from the six major conferences with three players averaging 15+ points.

• Kofi Cockburn ranks seventh in the NCAA in rebounding – and No. 1 among freshmen – averaging 12.0 rpg. And he is second nationally in offensive rebounds with 4.6 offensive boards per game. 

Balanced Attack

Illinois' top three scoring leaders are within seven points of each other through seven games. Sophomore Ayo Dosunmu leads the Illini offense, averaging 16.3 points. Right behind him are freshman Kofi Cockburn and senior Andres Feliz, who are both at 15.3 ppg. The Illini are the only team from the six major conferences with three players averaging at least 15 points per contest (through Nov. 30). There are 10 teams with two players scoring at that clip:

3-Illinois, Big Ten: Dosunmu-16.3 ppg, Cockburn-15.3 ppg, Feliz-15.3 ppg
2-Duke, ACC: Carey-18.4 ppg, Jones-15.1 ppg
2-Texas Tech, Big 12: Ramsey-21.0 ppg, Holyfield-15.3 ppg
2-Baylor, Big 12: Butler-19.3 ppg, Teague-15.7 ppg
2-DePaul, Big East: Moore-17.1 ppg, Reed-15.3 ppg
2-Arizona, Pac-12: Nnaji-18.6 ppg, Mannion-16.1 ppg
2-Washington, Pac-12: Stewart-17.3 ppg, Carter-15.3 ppg
2-Vanderbilt, SEC: Nesmith-23.7 ppg, Lee, 16.3 ppg
2-Alabama, SEC: Lewis-19.1 ppg, Petty-15.1 ppg
2-Arkansas, SEC: Jones-18.5 ppg, Joe-15.7 ppg
2-LSU SEC: Mays-17.7 ppg, Williams-15.0 ppg

Illini Notables

• Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the nation in scoring offense (88.3 ppg), despite ranking 304th nationally in 3-point attempts (121).

• Illinois has shot better than 60% from the field in five consecutive halves, beginning with the second half vs. The Citadel on Nov. 20.

• The Illini are 6-0 this season, and 26-2 in the Underwood era, when shooting better than the opponent.

• Illinois has outrebounded six of its seven opponents by double digits and has totaled more than 50 rebounds in three games. 

• Illinois has made 59 more free throws (137) than its opponents have attempted (76). The Illini are currently outscoring foes by an average of 12.2 points per game at the free throw line. 

• Freshman Kofi Cockburn is averaging a double-double on the season, tied for second on the team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and ranking seventh in the NCAA in rebounding (12.0 rpg).

• Cockburn leads the nation in offensive rebound percentage (22.0%) and ranks 16th in defensive rebound percentage (31.0%).

• Cockburn is 22nd nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes (7.4).

• Cockburn leads the Big Ten and ranks 37th in the NCAA in free throw attempts (38).

• While Cockburn is shooting less than 60% at the foul line this season, he is 8-8 on FT the last two games. 

• Sophomore Ayo Dosunmu leads the Illini and ranks seventh in the Big Ten in scoring at 16.3 ppg. He has reached double digits in five of seven games with three 20-point outings.

• Dosunmu is averaging 18.0 points, meanwhile, in five home games (90).

• Senior Andres Feliz has netted double figures in five of seven games and is tied for second on the team in scoring (10th in Big Ten), averaging 15.3 points.

• Feliz leads the Big Ten in free throws made with 35 and is second in the league in free throw attempts (43).

• The 6-foot, 2-inch Feliz is ninth in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding (5.9 rpg).

• Feliz has tallied 22 assists with only 7 turnovers the last four games (3.14 ratio), a vast improvement over the 9 assists with 12 turnovers through his first three games.

• Dosunmu is shooting 60% on 2-pointers (36-60) while Feliz is connecting on 55% of his 2s (33-60).

• Sophomore Giorgi Bezhanishvili is 5-8 from 3-point range through seven games (62.5%) after going 5-30 from behind the arc as a freshman (16.7%).

• Bezhanishvili is averaging 12.5 points (50) and 2.8 assists (11) over the last four games.

• After starting the year 0-7 on 3-pointers, junior Trent Frazier is shooting 50% from 3-point range (12-24) over the last five games.

• Frazier ranks fifth in the Big Ten in free throw shooting at 84.2% (16-19).

• Frazier is averaging 4.3 assists (13) over the last three games.

• Junior Da'Monte Williams is averaging 6.0 rebounds (18) over the last three contests.

• Sophomore Alan Griffin has collected 12 of his 25 rebounds on the offensive end.

Illini By The Numbers: Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Record: 8-12
Current streak: L-2
At home: 5-3
On the road: 3-6
At neutral sites: 0-3
When ranked: 5-5
When unranked: 3-7
When playing a ranked opponent: 3-6
When playing an unranked opponent: 5-6
When both teams are ranked: 2-5
When neither team is ranked: 2-6
Longest winning streak: 4 (2009-12)
Longest losing streak: 3, three times (1999-2001, 2006-08 & 2013-15)
Largest winning margin: 27 points (2002)
Largest losing margin: 13 points (2001)
Closest margin: 1 point (2000)

Illinois' Big Ten/ACC Challenge History

Nov. 30, 1999 // #17 Duke 72,  #16 Illinois 69 // United Center, Chicago

No. 16 Illinois shot just 34 percent from the field in dropping a three-point decision to No. 17 Duke at the United Center. Duke's Chris Carrawell led all scorers with 21 points while Frank Williams and Cory Bradford led the Illini with 14 each.

Nov. 28, 2000 // #1 Duke 78,  #9 Illinois 77 // Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum

Turnovers cost the No. 9 Fighting Illini a chance at knocking off No. 1 Duke as Illinois committed 26 turnovers in a one-point loss to the Blue Devils at Greensboro, N.C. Illinois controlled the glass, outrebounding Duke 42-27. Frank Williams led the Illini with 19 points while Jason Williams led Duke with a game-high 23 points and Mike Dunleavy scored 21.

Nov. 27, 2001 // #5 Maryland 76,  #2 Illinois 63 // College Park, Md.

No. 5 Maryland won its 80th consecutive home game against non-conference opponents in the final season at Cole Field House, handing No. 2 Illinois its first loss of the season. Juan Dixon led all scorers with 25 points while Chris Wilcox scored 19. Blandon Ferguson scored 11 points off the bench to lead the Illini.

Dec. 3, 2002 // #25 Illinois 92,  #12 North Carolina 65 // Champaign, Ill.

No. 25 Illinois won its first Challenge game with a 27-point rout of No. 12 North Carolina in Champaign. Seniors Brian Cook and Sean Harrington led the way for the Illini. Cook scored a game-high 22 points with eight rebounds and five assists. Harrington came off the bench to nail six 3-pointers and finish with 20 points and five steals. Sean May led UNC with 21 points.

Dec. 2, 2003 // #10 North Carolina 88,  #11 Illinois 81 // Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum

No. 10 North Carolina outlasted No. 11 Illinois to claim a seven-point victory at the Greensboro Coliseum. Illinois trailed by just one point late, 79-78, but could not stop Carolina down the stretch. Sean May scored a game-high 23 points while Rashad McCants added 20 for the Tar Heels. Deron Williams led the Illini with 22 points and Roger Powell added 20.

Dec. 1, 2004 // #5 Illinois 91,  #1 Wake Forest 73 // Champaign, Ill.

No. 5 Illinois recorded its second win in school history over a top-ranked opponent, blowing past No. 1 Wake Forest in Champaign. Roger Powell was one of four Illini in double figures, scoring a game-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Dee Brown and Luther Head each scored 16 and Deron Williams dished out 11 assists to go along with eight points. Illinois came out of the game strong, was ahead 54-33 at halftime and led by as many as 32 points in the second half. Eric Williams led Wake Forest with 18 points. Following its victory, Illinois took over the No. 1 ranking in the polls and held that spot for the remainder of the regular season.

Nov. 29, 2005 // #12 Illinois 68,  North Carolina 64 // Chapel Hill, N.C.

In a rematch?of the 2005 NCAA?Championship game, Illinois topped North Carolina to end the Tar Heels' 21-game winning streak at the Dean Smith Center. Dee Brown led the Illini with 14 points while James Augustine recorded a double-double with 14 points and game-high 13 rebounds, which included six offensive boards. Tyler Hansbrough scored a game-high 17 points for UNC.

Nov. 28, 2006 // #23 Maryland 72,  Illinois 66 // Champaign, Ill.

No. 23 Maryland defeated Illinois by six points, breaking the Illini's 51-game homecourt winning streak over non-conferen  ce opponents. Mike Jones had a game-high 19 points while Greivis Vasques added 17 points off the bench. Shaun Pruitt led the Illini with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Warren Carter also had a double-double, tallying 13 points and 11 boards.

Nov. 28, 2007 // Maryland 69,  Illinois 61 // College Park, Md.

In a back-and-forth game that featured nine ties and 15 lead changes, Maryland went on a key 10-2 run midway through the second half to open up a 49-44 advantage. Illinois cut it to two late, but the Terrapins made 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the final minute to seal the win. Eric Hayes scored a game-high 18 points while James Gist added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Terps. Calvin Brock led the Illini with 13 points and seven rebounds, and Shaun Pruitt finished with 10 points and eight boards. 

Dec. 2, 2008 // Clemson 76,  Illinois 74 // Champaign, Ill.

The Illini dropped a two-point heartbreaker at home to Clemson. After the Illini led at halftime and for much of the second half, Clemson went on a 9-1 run to go up by five with two minutes remaining. Illinois made it a one-possession game and had the ball with a chance to win or force overtime, but the Illini could not get a shot off before the buzzer. Mike Davis erupted for a career-high 28 points while Demetri McCamey scored 20. Many of the baskets came courtesy of Chester Frazier, who dished out a career-high 12 assists. Demontez Stitt was one of four Clemson players to score in double figures, leading the Tigers with 18 points. Trevor Booker added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Dec. 2, 2009 // Illinois 76,  #18 Clemson 74 // Clemson, S.C.

Illinois trailed by as many as 23 points early in the second half before pulling off the biggest comeback in school history to defeat 18th-ranked Clemson on its homecourt. The Illini trailed 60-41 with 14:35 left but then went on a remarkable 22-1 run in less than six minutes to take a 63-61 lead with 8:47 remaining. Mike Tisdale hit a driving layup to put the Illini up 75-74 with 41 seconds left. Tisdale then blocked a shot on the defensive end and Brandon Paul hit one free throw with :8.4 remaining to make it a 2-point lead. Demontez Stitt missed a runner on Clemson's final possession. Mike Davis led the Illini with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting and nine rebounds while Brandon Paul scored 20. Stitt led the Tigers with 15 points.

Nov. 30, 2010 // #20 Illinois 79,  North Carolina 67 // Champaign, Ill.

Illinois played well from start to finish in a 12-point victory over North Carolina in Champaign. The Illini had five players score in double figures, led by Mike Davis, who tallied a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Demetri McCamey added 17 points and eight assists. Illinois shot 50.8 percent overall and was effective from long distance, hitting 8-of-12 three-pointers. John Henson led the Tar Heels with 16 points. The biggest difference in the game was Illinois' ability to capitalize off of turnovers. North Carolina had 18 turnovers, which the Illini converted into 26 points. UNC, meanwhile, scored just eight points off of Illinois' 14 turnovers.

Nov. 30, 2011 // Illinois 71,  Maryland 62 // College Park, Md.

Illinois improved to 7-0 on the season with a nine-point road win over Maryland. Illinois trailed by as many as nine points and faced its first halftime deficit of the year. But the Illini outscored the Terps 40-27 in the second half to secure the victory. Sam Maniscalco scored 24 points, hitting 5-of-8 from 3-point land. Brandon Paul had 17 points, 13 of which came in the first half. Maryland's Terrell Stoglin led all scorers with 25 points on the night.

Nov. 28, 2012 // #22 Illinois 75,  Georgia Tech 62 // Champaign, Ill.

Illinois won its fourth-straight Big Ten/ACC Challenge game, and recorded its seventh Challenge win overall, defeating Georgia Tech by 13 points. With the Illini trailing 58-54 late in the second half, Joseph Bertrand went on a solo 10-0 run to put the the Illini in control. Illinois finished the game on a 21-4 run over the last six-and-a-half minutes. Bertrand and Brandon Paul finished with game-highs of 15 points each. The Illini made a season-high 14 three-pointers. Kammeon Holsey led Georgia Tech with 14 points off the bench.

Dec. 3, 2013 // Georgia Tech 67,  Illinois 64 // Atlanta

Illinois was unable to maintain a late lead, suffering its first loss of the season at Georgia Tech. The Illini led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but the Yellow Jackets ended the game on a 19-4 run over the final 6:22 to claim the 3-point win. Rayvonte Rice led the Illini in scoring, pouring in a game-high 24 points. Robert Carter had 21 points and nine boards for Georgia Tech.

Dec. 2, 2014 // #15 Miami 70,  #24 Illinois 61 // Miami

Illinois suffered its first loss of the season at No. 15 Miami. After falling behind by as many as 13 points, the Illini opened the second half with a 10-0 run. Later on, Kendrick Nunn scored eight straight to pull Illinois within two. But Miami answered with a 7-0 run of its own, putting the game out of reach. Rayvonte Rice registered a double-double with 22 points and career-high 12 rebounds to lead the Illini, while Malcolm Hill added 13 points. Deandre Burnett had 19 points for Miami.

Dec. 2, 2015 // Notre Dame 84, Illinois 79 // Champaign

A key 25-9 second-half run pushed Notre Dame to a road victory, snapping the Illini's 36-game home court non-conference winning streak. Illinois had just three turnovers on the night, equaling the school record for fewest turnovers at State Farm Center. That helped the Illini own a 14-to-4 edge in points-off-turnovers. But Notre Dame shot 57.1 percent in the second half, scoring 51 points after the break. Malcolm Hill led the Illini with 19 points, while Demetrius Jackson and Steve Vasturia had 21 points apiece for the Irish.

Nov. 29, 2016 // Illinois 88, N.C. State 74 // Champaign

Illinois snapped its three-game skid in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, using a strong second half to defeat N.C. State in the dedication game of renovated State Farm Center. Illinois shot 67.9 percent after intermission, outscoring the Wolfpack 56-41. Malcolm Hill led all scorers with 22 points and nine rebounds while Tracy Abrams had 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting and Leron Black came off the bench to record 15 points and eight boards. Torin Dorn had 17 points and seven boards for N.C. State. 

Nov. 28, 2017 // Wake Forest 80, Illinois 73 // Winston-Salem, N.C.

Illinois' six-game winning streak to open the season came to an end at Wake Forest. The Illini trailed by 10 early in the second half before clawing their way to within two points. Illinois also made in a one-possession game twice down the stretch but could not get over the hump. Illinois drained 12 three-pointers but struggled from 2-point range, making just 12-of-39 inside the arc. The Illini also had 19 turnovers leading to 28 Wake Forest points. Aaron Jordan led the way with a career-high 20 points, while Kipper Nichols added 14. Bryant Crawford led Wake with 20 as well.

Nov. 27, 2018 // Notre Dame 76, Illinois 74 // South Bend, Ind.

Illinois' late-game comeback fell just short, as Trent Frazier's potential game-winning 3-pointer spun out at the buzzer. The Illini responded from a 13-point second-half deficit with a 15-4 run and had a chance to win it on the final possession, but Frazier's three would not fall despite. Aaron Jordan scored a career- and game-high 23 points while Giorgi Bezhanishvili recorded his first 20-point game with 22 to lead the Illini. D.J. Harvey and T.J. Gibbs scored 19 apiece for the Irish.

» Complete Illinois-Miami Notes (PDF)