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Illini Cookin’ again

Illinois stifles Wisconsin-Milwaukee
[DEC. 7, 2000]  As the Illinois Fighting Illini prepare for a tough stretch in the schedule leading up to the Big Ten season, they simply took care of business Wednesday night. Led by Lincoln’s native son, Brian Cook, who finished the night with 17 points and four rebounds, the Illini blasted Wisconsin-Milwaukee 85-44. This is the same Panther team that entered the contest with a record of 5-2 equaling Illinois’ accomplishments to this point. It is also the same Panther team that only lost by four to a rapidly improving and scary-good group of Iowa Hawkeyes…and that game was AT Iowa!

Cook was 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-5 from the line and helped the Illini shoot 54 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point land. He also led a parade that saw 10 of the 12 Illinois players who saw action tally some points in the fray.

 

 


[Brian Cook receives last-minute instructions from
Illini head coach Bill Self.  Self continued to show confidence in Cook by starting him and making
sure the offense went through Cook early and often.  
(All photos by Brad Neal)]

Illinois committed only 11 turnovers and out-rebounded the Panthers 40-22. However, offense was really not the story of this ball game. It was the Illini defense that held center stage on this night. The Illini were stingier than Scrooge at the company Christmas party. Their smothering, tenacious pressure on the ball and their attacking double-teams limited Wisconsin-Milwaukee to 18 first-half points on just 27 percent shooting.

 


[The LDN always gives you loyal readers the inside scoop.  Here we are in the pre-game huddle.]

It didn’t get any better in the second half for the Panthers either. In fact, if they hadn’t made 10 free throws, it would’ve really been ugly. Illinois blanketed them with a hand constantly in their faces and great help-defense that resulted in the Panthers shooting only 18 percent in the second stanza.

 


[Brian Cook battles his way under the boards and back into his role as a major contributor to the Illini's win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.]

Hopefully a defensive effort that limited the opponents to only 22 percent shooting for the game should really get our team jacked up for Saturday’s special guests, the Seton Hall Pirates.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Illinois continued an exciting trend of balanced scoring as five players scored in double figures. Besides Cook’s 17, Cory Bradford had 13, Frank Williams and Sean Harrington had 11, and Lucas Johnson finished with 10. Bradford continued his march to become the Joe DiMaggio of college basketball. He made a 3-pointer for an incredible 72nd straight game. He is now one game away from tying the all-time NCAA record streak.

 


[Once again the LDN gives you backstage access, as we talk to the three stars of last night's game, Brian Cook, Cory Bradford and Sean Harrington, at the post-game press conference.  (All photos by Brad Neal)]

An announced crowd of 12,312 (although with the cold weather only about 8,000 actually made it to their seats) and a couple of LDN reporters, were glad to encourage Cook out of the funk he had been in the last few games.

 


[Brian Cook cans one of his team-leading 17 points in the Illini's 85-44 victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
(All photos by Brad Neal)]

The LDN has learned that Brian received a visit from one of his former coaches earlier in the week. Whatever that anonymous coach said to Cook…it seems to have worked…hopefully it will continue! In post-game comments, Brian remarked that he had not been taking a good mental approach to the last few games. He said that he needed an attitude adjustment, and apparently he either gave one to himself or someone else did it for him. Even though the Illini are becoming a scouting nightmare, in order for them to beat the upper-echelon teams, Brian needs to be cookin’ on all of the burners!

Next up for the Illini is a 1 p.m. nationally televised showdown Saturday against the Seton Hall Pirates. The game is already sold out!

[Jeff Mayfield]

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