For those of you who care.....

 

Tonight, in both teams big ten openers, THE Ohio State Buckeyes travel to East Central Illinois to take on Bruce Weber's Illinois Fighting Illini. No national T.V. in this one. I just hope Illinois is ready to play after ALMOST losing at home to Illinois State in their Conference Finale a few days ago.

 

Source: http://fightingillini.ocsn.com/sports/m-ba.../010504aaa.html

 

FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL

Game #12: #19ap/20 Illinois (9-2) vs. Ohio State (8-5)

ESPN-Plus Local Television

8 p.m. * Jan. 7, 2004 * Champaign, Ill. * Assembly Hall (16,500)

 

Probable Starters

#19ap/20 ILLINOIS (9-2)

F - 40 James Augustine (So., 6-10, 225, 11.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg)

F - 43 Roger Powell (Jr., 6-6, 220, 13.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

F - 42 Brian Randle (Fr., 6-8, 200, 5.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg) -OR-

G - 4 Luther Head (Jr., 6-3, 175, 10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg)

G - 5 Deron Williams (So., 6-3, 210, 13.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 6.1 apg)

G - 11 Dee Brown (So., 6-0, 175, 12.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.3 apg)

 

Off The Bench ...

C - 1 Aaron Spears (Fr.-r, 6-9, 260, 2.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

G - 25 Jerrance Howard (Sr.-r, 6-1, 200, 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

G - 33 Rich McBride (Fr., 6-3, 210, 6.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg)

F - 34 Fred Nkemdi (Jr., 6-6, 220, n/a)

F - 41 Warren Carter (Fr., 6-9, 205, 3.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

C - 45 Nick Smith (Jr.-r, 7-2, 240, 7.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg)

C - 50 Jack Ingram (Jr.-r, 6-10, 240, 3.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

 

 

 

 

 

Illinois Head Coach Bruce Weber

Overall Record: 112-56/.667 (6th year)

Big Ten: 0-0

At Illinois: 9-2/.818 (1st year)

Vs. Ohio State: first meeting

Assistant Coaches: Chris Lowery (1st year), Wayne McClain (3rd year), Jay Price (1st year)

Assistant to the head coach: Gary Nottingham (1st year)

Trainer: Al Martindale (21st year at Illinois)

 

Ohio State Head Coach: Jim O'Brien

Overall Record: 362-294/.552 (22nd year)

At Ohio State: 127-77/.623 (7th year)

Vs. Illinois: 5-6

Assistant Coaches: Rick Boyages, Monte Mathis, LaMonta Stone

 

Series History: Ohio State

Illinois leads the all-time series 97-59 over Ohio State and owns a 57-21 advantage over the Buckeyes in games played in Champaign. The Illini won both matchups last season, defeating OSU 76-57 Feb. 9 at the Assembly Hall and 72-59 March 16 in the Big Ten Tournament title game at the United Center.

 

Illinois in Big Ten Openers

Illinois is 59-39 all-time in Big Ten opening games and has won its last four conference openers ... The Illini are 38-16 when opening the Big Ten season at home and 17-4 at the Assembly Hall in Big Ten home openers ... This is the 12th time that Illinois and Ohio State have opened the Big Ten season against each other, with the Illini owning a 7-4 edge over the Buckeyes in conference openers ...The last time Illinois and Ohio State opened Big Ten play against each other was Jan. 6, 2000, when Frank Williams hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer for an 80-77 Illini victory.

 

Home Cookin'

Illinois is 44-1 (.978) at the Assembly Hall over the last three-and-a-half years, with the only loss coming to Michigan State in 2002 ... Since then, the Illini have won 22 straight at the Hall, a winning streak that ranks fourth nationally behind Duke (34), Pittsburgh (33) and Creighton (24) ... Illinois is 56-2 (.966) at the Assembly Hall over the past four-and-a-half seasons, the best home record in the nation over that period ...The Illini have also won 31 in a row at the Assembly Hall against non-conference opponents.

this should be closer than UNC-Miami

 

but not by much

the line:

 

Illini -16.5

GAME TIME!

 

Luther Head suspended for discipline reasons for the Illini. Not a good omen to start this one, hopefully it won't matter.

39-22 Illinois at the Half.

39-22 Illinois at the Half.

:plain

 

I would have went with the angry smilie, but I just can't seem to muster enough energy to care. I'm not exactly surprised.

It's a final

 

Illinois wins it 85-63.

 

Good Start to the Big 10 for the Illini, as they improve to 10-2 on the year, and make it 23 in a row and 45 out of 46 and 57 out of 59 at Assembly Hall.