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LAST SEASON:
Illinois went 26-7 overall last season, and 13-3 in the Big Ten. They won the Big Ten regular season crown and lost in finals of the Big Ten tournament to Wisconsin. The Fighting Illini advanced to the Sweet 16 in last season’s NCAA tournament, falling to Duke 72-62.
HEAD COACH: Illinois is fronted by 2nd year head coach Bruce Weber, who took over the reigns from current Kansas head coach Bill Self last season. Weber spent 19 years as an assistant to Purdue’s Gene Keady, and then spent 5 years as the head coach at Southern Illinois, where he did a marvelous job at bringing the Saluki program back to life. In April 2003, Weber was hired to replace Self at Illinois.
THIS SEASON: The Illini are 3-0 thus far, with wins over Delaware State, Florida A&M and Oakland.
The Illini returns all 5 starters, and its top 10 scorers from a team that achieved great success in 2003/04. During the 2nd half of last season, Illinois really took off as a team as they gradually began to adjust to Weber’s motion offense, which was quite a change from the halfcourt sets employed by Self. With so much talent returning, the media has picked Illinois to win the Big Ten again, and to be in the race in win the national title.
PROJECTED STARTERS:
G – #11 Dee Brown (6-0, Jr., 13.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.5 APG, 41% FG, 35% 3PT, 67% FT last season) = Brown was effected by the changes in Illinois’ offensive system last year more than any player, and after some early shooting woes, he regained the form of his splendid freshman season. A former McDonald’s All American, Brown is as quick as any point guard in the country, and is fantastic in transition. He is a great on ball defender and plays with much fire and passion. He’s also a warrior, having played the final 11 games last year with a stress fracture.
G - #5 Deron Williams (6-3, Jr., 14 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 41% FG, 39% 3PT, 79% FT last season) = Williams is Illinois’ best overall player, and a certainty to go high in the NBA draft. In addition to being silky smooth from the offensive end where he can score from anywhere on the court, Williams is a great one on one defender who often gets assigned to the opponent’s point guard. He’s also possibly the best passing point guard in the country. Deron is one of the absolute best players in the nation.
G - #4 Luther Head (6-3, Sr., 11 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 45% FG, 34% 3 PT, 79% FT last season) = Luther is the last cog in Illinois’ great 3 guard attack. Like his backcourt partners, Head is great in transition and at spotting up for 3 balls. He’s great at slashing to the basket and attacking the rim, and keeps getting better defensively.
F - #43 Roger Powell Jr. (6-6, Sr., 11.6 PPG, 5 RPG, 60% FG, 33% 3PT, 64% FT last season) = Powell is Mr. Versatility for the Illini. An undersized power forward, Roger can step out and nail jumpers from 15-18 feet, but he can also mix it up in the paint. Has a nice face up game. He made good strides as a defender last season.
C = #40 James "Augie" Augustine (6-10, Jr., 9.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 64% FG, 64% FT) = Although he improved every statistical category last season, Augustine needs to develop more consistency this season. He led the Illini in shooting percentage and in blocked shots last season. He worked very hard this offseason on his post moves. Nice athleticism for a big guy.
KEY RESERVES:
G - #33 Richard McBride (6-3, So., 3.2 PPG, 30% FG, 32% 3PT, 80% FT) = McBride is the first guard off the bench. Although statistically he didn’t prove it last year, McBride came into Champaign with the reputation of being a great shooter. He is bound to show improvement this season as he acquires more minutes.
C - #45 Nick Smith (7-2, Sr., 6.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 46% FG, 31% 3PT, 80% FT) = Despite his height, Smith is actually more of an outside oriented big. He has a nice jumper, and is solid at the foul line. The Illini staff are hoping that he mixes it up in the middle and rebounds and shot blocks better this year.
F/C #50 Jack Ingram (6-10, Sr., 2.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 43% FG, 67% FT) = Ingram does the dirty work inside for the Illini, and is also a solid rebounder. He can defend and hit shots from about 15 feet.
F #41 Warren Carter (6-9, So., 1.2 PPG, .6 RPG, 40% FG, 80% FT) = Very thin forward with nice athleticism. Good help defender.
F #55 Shaun Pruitt (6-9, Fr., West Aurora HS, Aurora, Ill.) = Pruitt is an enormously athletic post player, and was a universal top 100 player wanted by several schools coming out of high school, including Arizona, Michigan State and Marquette.
KEY INJURIES:
F #42 Brian Randle (6-8, So., 2.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 57% FG, 46% FT) = Randle is out 6-10 weeks with a busted hand. He was to be a key reserve on this season’s team. A great athlete who can play both forward positions, Randle made great strides during the offseason.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Gonzaga and Illinois are opposites. GU has one of the best and most physical frontcourts in the nation; Illinois has one of the best, if not the best backcourt in the nation. Illinois is small from point guard through power forward; the Zags are tall from wing through center. GU’s guards are its weakness; Illinois’ big people are its weakness.
There is no pretty way of saying it: without the services of GU starting off guard Erroll Knight, GU’s young backcourt has a very daunting task in trying to slow down or mitigate the influence of Illinois’ 3 guard machine. The loss of Knight particularly hurts as he would’ve received the Williams assignment, who GU has no answer for.
Derek Raivio, Nathan Doudney and Pierre-Marie Altidor-Cespedes must stay cool under fire on the offensive end. Brown and Williams are tenacious on ball defenders who love to turn people over. GU must pass the ball well, and keep the turnovers to a minimum. Brown and Williams also love to kill teams in transition who fall asleep after made baskets. The Zags must not fall asleep on defense like they did during the Portland State game. Illinois’ guards are deadly in transition.
For the Zags to remain competitive, they must dominate the interior, both in scoring and in rebounding. While it may not be at the level of advantage that Illinois has in the backcourt, GU does have an advantage in the frontcourt.
Sean Mallon and Ronny Turiaf have been devastating in the first three Zag games, and have improved immensely over last season in all areas of their respective games. This will be J.P. Batista’s second game back after serving his NCAA imposed suspension. Being cleared to play against Idaho should help a bit with his timing, although the overall quickness of the Illini team is a significant step up from the Vandals. His physical presence, offensive skills and ferocious style will be needed in this game.
Needless to say, as has been a problem in the past with big games he has been in, Turiaf must stay out of foul trouble for the Zags to have a chance. Adam Morrison must also have a big game offensively, as he usually does against the best competition.