CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A week after taking down No. 2 Stanford and No. 5 Minnesota at home, the fourth-ranked Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team heads west for a showdown against top-ranked Oklahoma. The four-time defending NCAA champion Sooners have won 109-straight meets. 

Scouting the Sooners

Illinois is 8-51 all time against the Sooners. 

» Floor Exercise - 71.483 (1st)
» Pommel Horse - 67.817 (3rd)
» Still Rings - 70.967 (1st)
» Vault - 73.217 (1st)
» Parallel Bars - 69.767 (2nd)
» High Bar - 69.533 (1st)
» Team - 422.183 (1st)

*Based on RTN 3Score Avg.

Last Time Out

The Fighting Illini registered season-high totals on four events in route to a season-best 413.050 to take down both No. 2 Stanford and No. 5 Minnesota on Saturday at Huff Hall. With the win, Illinois improved to 9-2 overall on the season and 2-1 in conference competition.

B1G Gymnast of the Week

After leading the Illini to wins over both No. 2 Stanford and No. 5 Minnesota on Saturday, Fighting Illini senior Alex Diab has been named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, as announced Tuesday by the league office. The honor is the second of Diab's career. 

The reigning still rings national champion secured season-best totals on three events, highlighted by a career-best and Illinois program record 15.200 on rings to mark his 25th career title on the event. The senior also picked up the event title on floor exercise with a season-high 14.800 and placed second on vault with a 14.500. The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native also helped Illinois to its best high bar rotation of the season, leading off with a season-best 13.550.

Ring King

Alex Diab now holds the Illini program record with 25 career still rings titles, two more than both Dave Romero and Kevin McMurchie. Diab also holds the program's top scores (under the current scoring system) on both floor (15.000) and still rings (15.200).

B1G Freshman of the Week x3

Clay Mason Stephens earned his second-straight B1G Freshman of the Week honor after Illinois' meet against Iowa, as the Australia native finished second overall on both floor (14.050) and parallel bars (13.700) and earned top-five finishes on vault (14.500) and all-around (78.600). Thr parallel bars score of 13.700 marked a new career high. 

After leading Illinois to its fifth-straight Windy City Invite title, freshman Stephens was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Stephens earned his first two career event titles at the event for the Illini and finished third on all-around, totaling a 79.650. The freshman finished in the top spot on floor (14.550) and vault (14.500) and posted the following scores: Pommel Horse (12.200), Still Rings (12.500), Parallel Bars (13.150) and High Bar (12.750).

Following an impressive performance in a win over UIC, Fighting Illini gymnast Michael Fletcher was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Fletcher earned the all-around crown in his first meet for the Orange and Blue, finishing with 80.050 total. The Nashua, N.H., native also tied for the top spot on high bar (13.500) and posted the following scores: Floor (13.250), Pommel Horse (13.100), Still Rings (13.000), Vault (14.400) and Parallel Bars (12.800). 

Illinois to Host 2019 NCAA Championships

The 2019 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships will be April 19-20, 2019 at the State Farm Center. It will mark the first time Illinois has hosted the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships since 2004.

Looking Ahead

Following Saturday's meet, the Illini will head to University Park, Pa., to take on both Penn State and Michigan. Meet competition is set for March 16, at 3 p.m. CT.