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Probable
Illinois starters
F - 34 Brian Cook (senior, 6-10,
240, 20.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
G - 24 Sean Harrington (senior,
6-3, 185, 8.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
- or -
F - 23 Blandon Ferguson (senior,
6-3, 205, 3.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
F/C - 40 James Augustine
(freshman, 6-10, 220, 5.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
G - 11 Dee Brown (freshman, 6-0,
175, 14.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.6 apg)
G - 5 Deron Williams (freshman,
6-3, 210, 7.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.5 apg)
Off the
bench
C - 1 Aaron Spears (freshman,
6-9, 250, 3.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
G - 4 Luther Head (sophomore,
6-3, 175, 7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
G - 25 Jerrance Howard (junior,
6-1, 200, 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg)
G - 31 Nick Huge (junior, 6-4,
215, 0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg)
F - 32 Kyle Wilson (freshman,
6-8, 230, 3.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
F - 42 Clayton Thomas (senior,
6-7, 240, 0.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg)
F - 43 Roger Powell (sophomore,
6-6, 220, 10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
C - 45 Nick Smith (sophomore,
7-2, 240, 4.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Series
history
This is the first meeting between
Illinois and Oakland.
Coaching
Illinois head coach Bill Self: overall
record 191-99 (10th year), Big Ten 24-8; at Illinois 62-18 (third
year), versus Oakland 0-0
Associate head coach: Norm Roberts
(third year)
Assistants: Tim Jankovich (first year)
and Wayne McClain (second year)
Trainer: Rod Cardinal (30th year)
Oakland head coach Greg Kampe: at
Oakland 311-213 (19th season), versus Illinois 0-0; overall
record the same
Assistant coaches: Eric Stephan, Harold
Baber, Jeff Smith
On the
air
Television: ESPN-Plus local -- John
Rooney, play-by-play; Doug Altenberger, expert analyst
Radio: Illini Sports Radio Network, 43
stations
-- Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Loren Tate, expert analyst,
pre-game and halftime reports
Last time
out
Illinois
63, Coppin State 37
Brian Cook scored a game-high 20 points
and Sean Harrington added 18 by making six of eight 3-pointers in a
63-37 victory over Coppin State. Illinois stifled Coppin State by
holding the Eagles to an Assembly Hall record low of 12 field goals,
with their last made basket coming at 12:08 remaining in the game to
close within six at 38-32. From that point on, the Illini defense
stiffened, and Illinois outscored the Eagles 25-5 the remainder of
the way. Illinois made 10 of 18 3-pointers in the game.
Self
defense
After 10 games this season, Illinois
opponents are shooting just 37.0 percent from the field, including
just 31.2 percent from 3-point range.
In the last outing, versus Coppin
State, Illinois held the Eagles to just 12 field goals, the fewest
made shots in the 40-year history of the Assembly Hall, and to just
29 percent shooting from the field. Coppin was the second Illini
opponent this season to shoot under 30 percent.
Illinois has now held its last four
opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field for the game
and has a total of six such defensive efforts this season. Coppin
State's 37 points were the fewest allowed by the Illini since
defeating Northwestern 63-30 on Feb. 19, 2000.
Illinois ranks third in the league in
scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of just 58.4 points,
and second in field goal percentage defense, at .370. The Illini
also rank third in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (plus 5.8) and
sixth in steals per game (7.3).
Brown
becomes first Illini freshman to earn Big Ten Player of the Week
honors
Dee Brown became the first freshman in
Illinois history to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors. He was
honored on Dec. 23 after pouring in a game-high 21 points in the
Illini's victory over No. 11 Missouri.
The first-year point guard connected on
a trio of 3-pointers, recorded a game-high seven assists and added
five rebounds, including four on the offensive glass, in the win.
Against Missouri, Brown broke the 20-point barrier for the second
time on the season, while his seven assists against the Tigers also
ranked as the second best output of his career.
Brown leads the Illini and ranks fourth
in the Big Ten with 4.60 assists per game, while his 14.1 points per
contest rates second in the team and 16th in the league. Among the
top freshmen in the league, he ranks among the top two in assists
(first), points (second) and steals (second) per game. Brown is the
second Illini to earn Big Ten Player of the Week accolades this
season, as teammate Brian Cook was honored on Dec. 9.
Hot
start
Illinois' eight straight wins to open
the 2002-03 season tied the 10th best start in the 98-year history
of Fighting Illini basketball and was the Illini's best start since
beginning the 1995-96 season 9-0.
A win over Oakland on Jan. 4 would
improve Illinois' record to 10-1 and would be its best record
through December since the 1995-96 season, when the Illini entered
January with an 11-1 mark.
Bench
play
The Illinois bench has begun the season
in a very productive manner, averaging 24.7 points and 11.0 rebounds
while limiting the opponents' bench to 14.2 points and 8.9 rebounds.
Illinois' bench is outscoring the opponents by 10.5 points per game
and is out-rebounding the opponents by over two boards per game.
Bench
numbers (points-rebounds)
Illinois 32-9, Lehigh 9-7
Illinois 40-18, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
14-8
Illinois 32-9, Western Illinois 14-6
Illinois 39-14, North Carolina 7-1
Illinois 20-9, Arkansas 19-13
Illinois 12-13, Eastern Illinois 18-12
Illinois 13-3, Temple 8-8
Illinois 30-13, Missouri 26-11
Illinois 17-12, Memphis 11-15
Illinois 12-10, Coppin State 6-8
Illinois’ totals 247-110, opponents’
totals 142-89
Top 25
streak continues
Illinois began the week ranked No. 12
in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll, extending the streak to 46
consecutive polls in which the Illini have been ranked, including
every poll during Bill Self's tenure. Illinois is also ranked No. 11
in the AP top 25.
The Illini had a record streak of 30
straight polls in the top 10 snapped last January but have never
dropped out of the top 25.
Unselfish
play
The Fighting Illini have begun the
2002-03 season with unselfish play. Illinois leads the Big Ten in
assists (19.1 per game), highlighted by a season-high 24 assists
versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 23 against both Western Illinois and
North Carolina. In the win over Coppin State, the Illini were
credited with 21 assists on 22 made baskets, an amazing 96 percent
of shots made. Illinois has tallied 22 or more assists in four games
and has recorded assists on over 66 percent of its baskets (191
assists on 290 field goals) on the season. Guards Dee Brown and
Deron Williams rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Big Ten
in assists, with Brown averaging 4.6 and Williams averaging 4.5.
[to top of second column in this
article] |
The book
on Cook
Senior Brian Cook, a preseason Big Ten
Player of the Year selection, is proving the recognition was
deserved. He leads the Big Ten in scoring at 20.1 points per game
while ranking fourth in rebounding at 7.6 boards per contest. He
also ranks ninth in the league in field goal shooting (.524) and
third in free-throw percentage (.868).
He carries a streak of 31 consecutive
made free throws over the last four games, the third longest streak
in school history, into Saturday's contest versus Oakland. Take away
his five-of-10 free-throw shooting performance against Eastern
Illinois this season, and Cook is 91 of 95 from the free-throw line
since Jan. 1, 2002.
Cook also enters the Oakland game with
1,310 career points, 16th on the UI career scoring list.
After sitting out the first two games
of the season (along with teammate Jerrance Howard) as an NCAA
penalty for playing in an unsanctioned summer basketball tournament,
Cook returned and immediately established himself in the Illini
lineup. In his first game back, versus Western Illinois, Cook scored
a game-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds. He was Illinois' top
scorer and rebounder in the win over North Carolina, scoring a
game-high 22 points and pulling down eight boards. He scored a
game-high 18 points with four boards versus Arkansas, then racked up
21 points and had six rebounds versus Eastern Illinois. He had his
best game of the year against Temple, tying his career high with 25
points and pulling down a season-high 11 rebounds to record the
ninth double-double of his career. In the win over No. 11 Missouri,
Cook scored 17, making all 10 of his free-throw attempts, and pulled
down a game-high nine rebounds. Against Memphis, Cook scored a
game-high 21 points and led the Illini with nine rebounds. In his
last outing, against Coppin State, he led all scorers and rebounders
with 20 and eight, respectively.
Dee-lightful,
Dee-pendable... No Dee-bate, Dee can play
Who is the best freshman point guard in
college basketball? While it's still too early in the season to
begin that debate, it's hard to find a rookie guard who has made
more of an impact than Illinois' Dee Brown. Brown has started every
game and leads the Illini in minutes played (33.7 average). He has
scored in double figures in seven of 10 games and is second on the
team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points. Brown exploded for a
career-high 25 points against Eastern Illinois on Dec. 10, hitting
10 of 14 shots, including a career-high five 3-pointers.
In two December performances in front
of national television audiences, Brown first had a game-high 21
points with seven assists and five rebounds in Illinois' victory
over No. 11 Missouri to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors on
Dec. 21. He then followed with 19 points, including five 3-pointers,
along with three assists, three boards and no turnovers in 37
minutes against Memphis.
Brown ranks fourth in the Big Ten in
assists, with 4.6 per game, and ranks second in the league to
teammate Deron Williams with an assist-turnover ratio of 2.09. He
also ranks 16th in the Big Ten in scoring, at 14.1 points per game.
One of the quickest guards in America, Brown's 1.5 steals per game
ranks ninth in the Big Ten.
Twice as
nice -- Williams joins Brown in all-freshman backcourt
Deron Williams and Dee Brown make up
perhaps the best freshmen backcourt in the nation. The two rank
first and second in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio and have
the Illini leading the Big Ten in team assists and
assist-to-turnover margin. Brown leads the team in minutes at 33.2
per game, but Williams is third at 25.0 minutes. Williams is
averaging 7.4 points, is one assist behind Brown for the team lead
with 45, and is third on the team in steals with 12. Williams is
shooting 47 percent from the field, including 42 percent from
3-point range. He leads the Big Ten in assist-turnover ratio at 2.65
and is fifth in assists, with an average of 4.5.
The two freshmen guards are averaging a
combined 21.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 9.1 assists and just 3.9
turnovers per game.
That's a
three -- Sean Harrington
Senior Sean Harrington has been hot
from behind the arc this season. He has made 25 of 48 treys, ranking
second in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage at 52.1
percent. Harrington nailed a career-high six 3-pointers in Illinois'
win over North Carolina on Dec. 3 en route to a career-high 20
points, and he tied his mark by making six of eight treys on his way
to 18 points against Coppin State.
Harrington is third on the team with 24
assists and has just eight turnovers, for an assist-to-turnover
ratio of 3.00. He also ranks second on the team with 13 steals.
Harrington ranks sixth on the UI career
list with 152 3-point field goals.
Augie hot
Another member of the heralded Illini
freshman class to shine has been newcomer James Augustine. He has
bolstered the UI frontcourt, averaging 5.6 points and shooting over
61 percent from the field. He has scored in double figures twice,
with a season-high 12 points versus Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Augustine
is also second on the team, behind Brian Cook, in rebounding,
averaging 5.6 boards. He has been Illinois' top rebounder in three
games, highlighted by back-to-back nine-rebound performances versus
Lehigh and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Augustine is ranked 18th in the Big
Ten in rebounding, at 5.6 per game, and 11th in blocked shots, at
1.2 per game.
Cook
named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week following wins over UNC and
Arkansas
Brian Cook was named Big Ten Co-Player
of the Week on Dec. 9 after leading the Illini to victories over
North Carolina and Arkansas. He shared the award with Indiana's Tom
Coverdale.
Cook scored a game-high 22 points in
Illinois' 92-65 victory over No. 12 North Carolina. He connected on
eight of 12 shots from the field, grabbed a game-high eight rebounds
and tied his career high with five assists. Cook was also the
leading scorer in Illinois' 62-58 win over Arkansas, scoring 18
points in 39 minutes of action, the most playing time logged by an
Illini player this season. Cook made seven of 14 field goals and
added four rebounds and four assists versus the Razorbacks. On the
week, Cook averaged 20 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists per game
on combined 58 percent shooting.
High-scoring Illini
Illinois has opened the 2002-03 season
by averaging 79.7 points in 10 games, outscoring its opponents by an
average of 21.3 points per game. Illinois is shooting 49.8 percent
from the field and has shot better than 50 percent in six of 10
games this season.
Illinois leads the Big Ten in scoring
margin (plus 21.3) and field goal percentage (.498) while ranking
second in scoring average (79.7) and 3-point field goal percentage
(.400). Illinois' top seven scorers are all shooting 47 percent or
better from the field.
Spears
sidelined with knee injury
Freshman center Aaron Spears suffered a
torn lateral meniscus in his left knee during practice on Dec. 16
and had arthroscopic surgery on Dec. 27. He is expected to miss four
to six weeks of action. He averaged 3.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in
six games before he was injured.
Freshmen
bask in season opener
For the first time in school history,
Illinois opened the season with three freshmen in the starting
lineup. James Augustine, Dee Brown and Deron Williams were on the
floor for the opening tip versus Lehigh on Nov. 24. Two sophomores,
Roger Powell and Nick Smith, rounded out the starting lineup as the
youngest in school history. The five starters had combined for a
total of four starts (all by Nick Smith) to begin the season.
The previous time Illinois started
three freshmen in any game was Feb. 20, 1991, when Rennie Clemons,
Scott Pierce, and Tom Michael started versus Ohio State.
In the
opening two wins of the season, the five Illinois freshmen scored
104 of Illinois' 186 points (56 percent) while grabbing 42 of the
Illini's 90 rebounds (47 percent).
[Provided by Kent Brown,
assistant
athletics director
and
sports information director,
University of Illinois]
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