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Wednesday, Jan. 22

High school basketball

[JAN. 22, 2003] 

Boys

At Manito

Olympia                 15   22   38     53

Midwest Central     20   32   49     63

Olympia:  Elliott 2-1-6, Olson 6-3-15, Schultz 1-0-2, Criswell 6-3-15, Keiser 3-0-6, Springer 1-1-4, Thornton 2-0-5, Williams 0-0-0.  Totals 21-8-53.  Three-pointers:  Elliott 1, Springer 1, Thornton 1.

At Warrensburg

Clinton                           11   18   31     44

Warrensburg-Latham     13   22   38     62

Warrensburg:  Aughenbaugh 1-0-2, Traughber 1-0-2, Long 9-3-21, Calmes 6-10-22, Kronshagen 2-1-6, Heinkel 1-0-2, Doyle 3-1-7.  Totals 23-15-62.  Three-pointers:  Kronshagen 1.

Others

Riverton def. Illini Central 69-58.

Mount Pulaski def. Athens 63-59.

Beardstown def. Hartsburg-Emden 52-46.


Men's basketball pre-game notes

Illinois vs. Purdue

[JAN. 22, 2003]   CHAMPAIGN -- Fighting Illini basketball: No. 18 (AP)/15 Illinois (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) versus Purdue (11-3, 3-0 Big Ten) televised by ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday from the Assembly Hall (16,500)

Probable Illinois starters

F, 34, Brian Cook (Sr., 6-10, 240, 21.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg)

F-C, 40, James Augustine (Fr., 6-10, 220, 6.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

G, 24, Sean Harrington (Sr., 6-3, 185, 9.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg) OR

G, 4, Luther Head (So., 6-3, 175, 7.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

G, 11, Dee Brown (Fr., 6-0, 175, 12.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.8 apg)

G, 5, Deron Williams (Fr., 6-3, 210, 5.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.4 apg)

Off the bench

C, 1, Aaron Spears (Fr., 6-9, 250, 3.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg)

F, 23, Blandon Ferguson (Sr., 6-3, 205, 2.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

G, 25, Jerrance Howard (Sr., 6-1, 200, 0.0 ppg, 0.1 rpg)

G, 31, Nick Huge (Jr., 6-4, 215, 0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg)

F, 32, Kyle Wilson (Fr., 6-8, 230, 2.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg)

F, 42, Clayton Thomas (Sr., 6-7, 240, 0.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

F, 43, Roger Powell (So., 6-6, 220, 7.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

C, 45, Nick Smith (So., 7-2, 240, 5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

Coaching

Illinois:

Head coach: Bill Self -- overall record 194-101 (10th year), Big Ten 26-10; at Illinois 65-20 (third year); all time versus Purdue 3-1

Associate head coach: Norm Roberts (third year)

Assistants: Tim Jankovich (first year) and Wayne McClain (second year)

Trainer: Rod Cardinal (30th year)

Purdue:

Head coach: Gene Keady -- overall 518-246 (25th year); at Purdue 480-227 (23rd year); all time versus Illinois 23-19

Assistant coaches: Jay Price, Todd Foster, Cuonzo Martin

 

On the air

Television: ESPN2-National -- Dave Barnett, play-by-play; Tim McCormick, expert analyst

Radio: Illini Sports Radio Network, 43 stations
-- Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Stephen Bardo, expert analyst; Loren Tate, pre-game and halftime reports

Quick shots

After four Big Ten games, Brian Cook leads the Big Ten in scoring (22.8 average) and rebounding (9.8 average), while James Augustine leads in field-goal shooting (15-of-20, .750) and Dee Brown leads in assist-turnover ratio (5.25). ... Brian Cook has scored at least 15 points in all 13 of his games this season, including at least 20 nine times. He has scored 20 or more six of the last seven games, including six in a row prior to Saturday's game at Indiana, the longest such streak by an Illini player since Kendall Gill tallied 20-plus points in the final 10 games of the 1989-90 season. ... Sean Harrington has averaged 13.8 points in his five starts for the Illini this season. He is shooting 55 percent (22-40) from 3-point range over the last five games and 60 percent (28-47) in eight games at the Assembly Hall this season. … Illini players are currently leading two Big Ten statistical categories for all games. Brian Cook leads the Big Ten in scoring (21.1 ppg), and Sean Harrington leads the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.512).

Last time out -- Indiana 74, Illinois 66

Foul trouble for Illinois' front line played a factor in the Illini's 74-66 loss at Indiana Saturday. Brian Cook, the Big Ten's leading scorer, was held to a season-low 15 points and fouled out in just 26 minutes, while freshman James Augustine picked up five fouls in just 12 minutes. Nick Smith was impressive with 13 points and four rebounds. Freshman Dee Brown had his best scoring game in Big Ten play with 18 points after making five-of-seven 3-point attempts. Indiana's Jeff Newton led all scorers with 28 points and with five blocked shots.

Illini Super Bowl connections

It's Super Bowl week, and the Fighting Illini have rooting interests for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. For the NFC-champion Bucs, former Illini players Simeon Rice, Ken Dilger and Jameel Cook are playing for the big ring. And, for the AFC-champion Raiders, head coach Bill Callahan spent seven years on the Illini staff under Mike White, coaching the offensive line and quarterbacks.

Illinois senior guard Blandon Ferguson, who hails from Oakland, Calif., picks the Raiders by a 28-14 score, while sophomore center Nick Smith, who is a native of Tampa suburb Valrico, Fla., says the Buccaneers will win 24-21.

 

Cook books more weekly honors

Senior forward Brian Cook earned several Player of the Week awards the week of Jan. 6-12 after a pair of stellar performances, averaging 28 points and 10 rebounds on 56 percent shooting to earn Big Ten, ESPN.com, The Sporting News, FoxSports.com, College Basketball News and Dick Vitale Player of the Week honors and lead the Illini to a pair of Big Ten wins.

The senior forward guided the Illini to a road victory at Minnesota to open the Big Ten season and equaled his then-career high with 25 points by hitting six-of-13 from the field and 13-of-17 from the free-throw line. Cook added 11 rebounds for his 11th career double-double and third this season, which is tied for third among all league players.

The preseason Big Ten Player of the Year put on an even more impressive show against Wisconsin, setting a new career high with 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including a pair of treys, in just 26 minutes on the court. Cook added nine rebounds in the win to nearly record another double-double. The 6-10 forward produced 24 of his 31 points in the second half, including a streak of 15 consecutive Illinois points, and scored 22 of the Illini's final 26 points in the game. His12 field goals are the most by any Big Ten player this season.

The recent Big Ten Player of the Week accolade was his second this season and the third of his career.

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. He 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. He 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.

Defense

After 15 games this season, Illinois opponents are shooting just 37.3 percent from the field, including just 28.2 percent from 3-point range.

Against Coppin State on Dec. 30, 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 State was the second Illini opponent this season to shoot under 30 percent. In the Big Ten opener, Illinois held Minnesota to 30.5 percent shooting on its home floor, as the Gophers made just 19.2 percent (5-26) from 3-point range.

Illinois has now held seven of its last nine opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field and has a total of nine 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 leads the Big Ten in field-goal-percentage defense, at .373, and 3-point-percentage defense (.282), and is second in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of just 60.8 points. The Illini also rank fourth in the league in rebounding margin (plus 4.0).

In the latest national statistics (as of Jan. 13) compiled by the NCAA, Illinois ranks ninth in field-goal-percentage defense and third in scoring margin (plus 18.1), while ranking 11th in scoring defense.

 

Howard says 2003 is final season

Guard Jerrance Howard has said that the 2003 season will be his final campaign as a player at Illinois. Howard, who would have one season of eligibility remaining in 2003-04, after redshirting as a freshman in 1999-2000, will graduate in May and plans to possibly enter the coaching field. He will be listed as a senior for the remainder of his Illinois career.

Unselfish play

The 2002-03 Fighting Illini season has been trademarked with unselfish play. Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth in the nation in assists per game (18.80 average), highlighted by a season-high 25 assists versus Oakland, 24 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 20 or more assists in seven games and has recorded assists on over 67 percent of its baskets (282 assists on 4217 FG) on the season. Guards Dee Brown and Deron Williams rank second and seventh, respectively, in the Big Ten in assists, with averages of 4.8 and 4.4 per game.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Bench play

The Illinois bench has been very productive so far this season, averaging 21.9 points and 10.7 rebounds, while limiting the opponents' bench to 15.9 points and 8.7 rebounds. Illinois' bench is outscoring the opponents’ bench by 6.0 points per game and is out-rebounding the opponents by 2.0 boards per game.

Bench numbers (points-rebounds):

32-9 vs. Lehigh 9-7

40-18 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14-8

32-9 vs. Western Illinois 14-6

39-14 vs. North Carolina 7-1

20-9 vs. Arkansas 19-13

12-13 vs. Eastern Illinois 18-12

13-3 vs. Temple 8-8

30-13 vs. Missouri 26-11

17-12 at Memphis 11-15

12-10 vs. Coppin State 6-8

11-10 vs. Oakland 5-7

14-11 at Minnesota 36-17

9-6 vs. Wisconsin 11-8

21-11 at Iowa 22-3

26-13 at Indiana 22-6

Illinois total 328-161, opponents 238-130

High-scoring Illini

Illinois has opened the 2002-03 season by averaging 77 points per game, outscoring its opponents by an average of over 16 points per game. Illinois is shooting 49 percent from the field, ranking 11th in the nation in field goal percentage (NCAA rankings as of Jan. 13), and has shot better than 50 percent in eight-of-15 games this season.

Illinois is third in the Big Ten in scoring average (77.1), first in scoring margin (plus 16.3), first in field goal percentage (.490) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (.383). Illinois' top six scorers are all shooting 47 percent or better from the field.

Top 25 streak continues

Illinois began the week ranked No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, extending its streak to 49 consecutive polls in which the Illini have been ranked, including every poll during Bill Self's tenure. Illinois is ranked No. 18 in the AP’s top 25.

The Illini had a school-record streak of 30 straight polls in the top 10 snapped last January, but has never dropped out of the Coaches' Top 25 under Self.

The book on Cook

Senior Brian Cook, a preseason Big Ten Player of the Year selection, is proving the recognition was deserved. He may deserve more -- as in National Player of the Year candidate. Cook leads the Big Ten in scoring at 21.1 points per game, while ranking third in rebounding at 8.5 boards per contest. He also ranks sixth in the league in field goal shooting (.527) and 12th in free-throw percentage (.809). Cook has been Illinois' leading scorer and rebounder in 11 of his 13 games this season.

Cook's 31-point total against Wisconsin Jan. 11 was a career high and the most by an Illinois player since Kevin Turner scored 35 versus Indiana on Jan. 3, 1998.

Cook had a of consecutive made free throws come to an end at 32 on Jan. 4 against Oakland, tying Rob Judson for second place in school history for consecutive free throws.

Cook enters the Purdue game with 1,423 career points, 12th on the UI career scoring list and just 17 points shy of current NBA player Frank Williams for 11th.

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.

Cook has scored at least 17 points in all 12 games he's played, reaching 20 points or more nine times. He's also had at least eight rebounds nine times and has averaged 10 boards over the last eight games.

Cook's best scoring game came against Wisconsin with a career-high 31 points. Other top games were 25 points each against Minnesota and Temple, 22 against North Carolina, 22 versus Oakland, 21 against Eastern Illinois and Memphis, and 20 versus Coppin State and Iowa.

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. In Big Ten play, Cook opened with 25 points and 11 boards against Minnesota and followed with 31 points and nine boards against Wisconsin and most recently recorded the 12th double-double of his career with 20 points and 12 rebounds at Iowa.

 

Dee-lightful, Dee-pendable -- no Dee-bate, Dee can play

Who is the best freshman point guard in college basketball? 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 (33.9 avg.). He has scored in double figures in nine games and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.8 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 along 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 second in the Big Ten in assists, with 4.79 per game, and ranks third in the league with an assist-turnover ratio of 2.40. He also ranks 21st in the Big Ten in scoring, at 12.8 points per game. One of the quickest guards in America, Brown has 1.5 steals per game for ninth in the Big Ten.

Among the top freshmen in the league, he ranks among the top four in assists (first), points (fourth) and steals (second) per game.

Brown becomes first Illinois 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 was the second Illini to earn Big Ten Player of the Week accolades this season, as teammate Brian Cook was honored on Dec. 9.

Twice as nice -- Williams joins Brown in all-freshman backcourt

Deron Williams and Dee Brown make up one of the best freshmen backcourts in the nation. The two rank second and third, respectively, in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio and have the Illini leading the Big Ten in team assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. Brown leads the team in minutes, at 33.9 per game, but Williams is third, at 24.7 minutes. Williams is averaging 5.9 points, is second to Brown for the team lead in assists with 66, and is tied for second on the team in steals with 17. He tanks second  in the Big Ten in assist-turnover ratio, at 2.54, and is seventh in assists, with an average of 4.4.

 

That's a three -- Sean Harrington

Senior Sean Harrington has been hot from behind the arc this season. He has made 41-of-80 treys, leading the Big Ten and ranking sixth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, at 51.3 percent. Harrington nailed a career-high six 3-pointers in Illinois' win over North Carolina on Dec. 3 en route to a 20-point output, tied his mark by making six-of-eight treys on his way to 18 points against Coppin State. He tied it again with six-of-nine treys on his way to a career-high 22 points against Minnesota. Against Oakland, he had 20 points, connecting on five 3-pointers.

In his five games as a starter this season, Harrington is averaging 13.8 points per game, including an average of 20 points in his first three starts. It was the first time in his career at Illinois that he scored in double figures in three straight games.

Harrington is third on the team with 36 assists and has just 13 turnovers, for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.77. He is also tied for second on the team with 17 steals. In games played at the Assembly Hall, Harrington is 28-of-47 (.596) from 3-point range.

Harrington ranks fifth on the UI career list with 168 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 6.7 points and shooting over 66.2 percent from the field, which would be leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage with enough made baskets. He has scored in double figures five times, with a season-high 17 points versus Wisconsin on Jan. 11.

He is second on the team, behind Brian Cook, in rebounding, averaging 5.4 boards. Augustine has been Illinois' top rebounder in three games, highlighted by back-to-back nine-rebound performances versus Lehigh and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He ranks 18th in the Big Ten in rebounding, at 5.4 per game, and ninth in blocked shots, at 1.3 per game.

[Provided by Kent Brown,
assistant athletics director and
sports information director,
University of Illinois]

 


Articles from the past week

Tuesday:

  • High school basketball

  • LCC men's basketball vs. Westminster

  • LCC women's basketball vs. Westminster

  • Redbirds score a season high despite loss at No. 10 Creighton

Monday:

  • Mayfield's Mutterings...: Railers keep rollin'

  • High school basketball

  • High school wrestling

  • LCC men's basketball vs. Missouri Baptist

  • 'Birds fall to Wichita State 78-57 (women)

  • Wichita State edges Illinois State 69-66 (men)

  • Men's basketball pre-game notes: Illinois State vs. Creighton

  • Illini fall short again

Saturday:

  • High school basketball

  • After 'a taste,' the 'Birds meet league-leading Wichita State

Friday:

  • High school basketball

  • High school swimming

  • Stevenson's shot lifts Redbirds past SMS 58-54

  • Men's basketball pre-game notes:

  • Illinois State vs. Wichita State

  • Illinois at Indiana

Thursday:

  • Yopp shuffles lineup to meet SMS

  • SMS defense stifles Illinois State; Redbirds fall 60-46

  • Redbirds add Missouri transfer Echols

  • Cook's double-double not enough to ground the Hawkeyes
    Iowa takes down the Illini 67-61

Wednesday:

  • High school basketball

  • Men's basketball pre-game notes: Illinois at Iowa


Railers keep rollin'

By Jeff Mayfield

[JAN. 20, 2003]  If you thought we were kiddin' the last couple of weeks when it comes to how good the Lincoln Railers are playing, then you obviously didn't see the Lincoln-Pekin game on Saturday. Lincoln was up 30-4 at half and 46-9 after three quarters. Now that's dominance! Everyone seems to be playing well for Lincoln right now… you just hope that they don't peak too early. That's usually not a problem for Alexander-coached teams. This week proves to be another kind of test entirely, as Lincoln has a five- or six-game week!

SUPER matchup

Well, it's going to be the Oakland Raiders against that wild man, Jon Gruden's, Tampa Bay Buccaneers! But, who will win? Since Tampa went into a hostile environment and did the unthinkable, they must have the edge in San Diego. The Raiders are old and could really have used the old format of two weeks off before the Big game. Both games seemed to be well-officiated.

Random thoughts

Local and area colleges hoped to be better than their current records at this point, but there's still time to ready for the postseason.

Making my annual trip to watch our local junior high teams play... I saw Carroll Catholic's teams earlier, and they really performed well. LJHS had been up and down a little, but we saw both of their teams this week in two pretty impressive wins.

Is it just me or are any other Cardinal fans worried about how much Houston and Chicago have improved over the winter?

The Birds are pinning their hopes on everyone coming back healthy. When you've been in the playoffs so many times, do you really worry if they miss a year? That whole concept really concerns us, the way sports are run as a business rather than trying to win championships every year!

 

 

Don't let the cold winter nights keep you at home...

2003 Technical Education Classes

Click here for more information

[to top of second column in this article]

Equal opportunity? There's been a lot of talk about that when it comes to hirings in the world of sports. We don't know about you, but I'd hire the person who gives us the best chance to win… period! All the hype, discussions, crossfires, etc. are not going to change the bottom line for pro franchises and many college programs… winning!

"FANdamonium"

…Right here tonight on the LDN's live link, CITV Channel 5 and FIX 96.3 FM at 6 p.m.! Greg Taylor joins us back in the studio after a two-week hiatus. We also hope to be joined by the Lincoln Elks head golf professional, Mr. Adam Walsh. So, all of you golfers, duffers and hackers, get your off-season golf questions ready and give us a call tonight at 735-3306. We hope to have some other surprises for you as well!

Have a great week, everybody!

[Jeff Mayfield]


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