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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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