Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Set To Face No. 14/13 Illinois
2/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2006
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana men's basketball team will travel to Champaign, Ill., where it will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 3:30 p.m. EST (2:30 p.m. CST).
IU is coming off a 71-68 loss at Penn State on Feb. 15. The Hoosiers were led by sophomore forward/guard Robert Vaden's 17 points and three steals on the night. Senior Marshall Strickland and sophomore A.J. Ratliff each had 11 points, while senior Marco Killingsworth added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.
Illinois is coming off a 63-47 win over Northwestern on Feb. 15. The Illini shot .558 (24-of-43) for the contest, including .609 (14-of-23) in the second half. Guards Rich McBride and Dee Brown led the team with 17 and 16 points, respectively.
The Indiana-Illinois game will be televised on CBS, with Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) and Billy Packer (color commentary) on the call. Additionally, all of Indiana's games can be heard live on the IU Radio Network. WHCC (105.1 FM in Bloomington) is the flagship station for the network that has more than 50 stations broadcasting Hoosier basketball. Don Fischer (play-by-play), former Indiana guard Todd Leary (color commentary) and Joe Smith (pregame, halftime and postgame host) call all of the action.
Scouting Illinois
Illinois enters the Feb. 19 contest with a 21-4 overall mark and a 7-4 record in Big Ten play. The Illini are coming off a 63-47 win over Northwestern on Feb. 15, snapping their two-game losing streak. Junior guard Rich McBride led the charge with 17 points, while senior guard Dee Brown added 16 and a game-high four assists.
Brown leads the Illini with 14.9 points and 5.6 assists per contest. Senior forward/center James Augustine is the only other player to average double figures, coming in with 13.0 points and a team-best 9.1 rebounds per contest.
Head coach Bruce Weber is in his third season at the helm of the Illini program, compiling an impressive 84-11 (.884) mark in Champaign, and a 187-65 (.742) recordin eight seasons as a head coach.
The Illinois Series
Indiana and Illinois will meet on the hardwood for the second time this season and the 155th time in the series history. The Hoosiers lead the all-time series, 79-75, heading into the contest. Earlier this season, IU took a 62-60 victory over the Fighting Illini on Jan. 17 in Bloomington, Ind. IU was led by senior forward Marco Killingsworth's 23 points and 12 rebounds on the night, while junior guard Roderick Wilmont chipped in with 17 points and nine rebounds off the bench. The victory snapped a five-game losing skid to the Illini, and gave head coach Mike Davis his first win over Illinois since Jan. 18, 2003, when IU defeated Illinois, 74-66, in Bloomington.
Additionally, Indiana will enter Assembly Hall looking for its first victory there since a 70-64 overtime win on Feb. 24, 1999.
Illinois Last Time Out
No. 14 Illinois held off a feisty Northwestern team, taking a 63-47 win on Feb. 15 at Champaign, Ill.
Northwestern had battled back from an early 12-point deficit to tie Illinois with 16:53 to play. However, after making just one of his four shots in the first half, Brown went on a seven-point scoring spree.
Brown's spurt gave the Illini a 36-29 lead and sent them on to the 16-point victory Wednesday night.
Rich McBride led Illinois with 17 points, including going 4-of-8 from three-point range. Brian Randle added 10 points, including a thunderous putback dunk of a miss by Brown that brought the Assembly Hall crowd to its feet and gave Illinois a 55-45 lead with 4:29 to go
Indiana Last Time Out
The Indiana men's basketball team dropped a back-and-forth affair at Penn State, 71-68, on Feb. 15. In a game that saw 14 lead changes and 12 ties, Penn State overcame a four-point halftime deficit and held on despite Hoosier chances over the final minute of the contest.
Indiana knocked down double-digit three-point field goals for the 10th time this season with 12 from downtown. Penn State overcame the Hoosiers' three-point shooting with a sizzling 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from the field in the second half and a 17-6 advantage at the free-throw line. The Nittany Lions finished the game 24-of-47 from the field for 51.1 percent, while the Hoosiers shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56). The Hoosier bench outscored their Nittany Lion counterpart 23-5 on the evening.
Sophomore guard/forward Robert Vaden led the Hoosiers with 17 points on 6-of-12 from the field. Sophomore guard A.J. Ratliff finished with 11 points, all in the first half, while senior guard Marshall Strickland also notched 11 to go along with a game-high six assists. Senior forward Marco Killingsworth finished two rebounds shy of his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and eight boards.
Milestones Ahead
As the 2005-06 season progresses, there are several IU basketball players who are approaching milestones.
Senior guard Marshall Strickland is already found among the top 10 in three-pointers made and attempted. He also has 977 points in his career, which places him 41st overall among the IU all-time scoring leaders, just one point behind former Hoosier great Matt Nover. He only needs 23 more points this season to become the 40th player to score 1,000 career points for the Hoosiers.
Additionally, Strickland and Robert Vaden are improving their standing among the school's all-time steals leaders. After IU's most recent contest, Strickland has 99 steals, while Vaden now has 76.
Rat Attack
Sophomore guard A.J. Ratliff played well in the Hoosiers' 71-68 loss at Penn State on Feb. 15. The Indianapolis, Ind., native came off the bench to hit 4-of-8 shots from the floor and 3-of-7 from behind the arc, accounting for 11 points, two rebounds and a block in 17 minutes of action. The 11 points matched his total for the previous four contests combined. In fact, IU head coach Mike Davis hopes the performance will snap Ratliff's shooting slump. Since scoring 21 points against then-No. 15 Kentucky on Dec. 10, the former Indiana Mr. Basketball has scored a total of 33 points, while connecting on just seven threes prior to the game against the Nittany Lions.
Close Calls
Indiana had its chances in the 71-68 defeat at Penn State last Wednesday. The Hoosiers and Nittany Lions combined for 12 ties and 14 lead changes in the contest, including seven ties and 11 lead changes coming in the final 20 minutes of action. It was also the second consecutive game the Hoosiers fell by a three-point margin. On Feb. 11, IU dropped a 70-67 decision at home to then-No. 19/18 Iowa. It is the first time the Hoosiers have dropped back-to-back games by three points or less since falling at Missouri (56-53) and to Charlotte (74-73) on Dec. 19 and 22, 2004, respectively. Remarkably, it was also the 11th time since the beginning of the 2003-04 campaign IU has lost a game by five points or less.
Road Warrior
Sophomore forward Robert Vaden continues his excellent season, accounting for team highs of 17 points and three steals, to go along with four rebounds and four assists in the Hoosiers' 71-68 loss at Penn State last Wednesday night. Vaden has been the best player on the road this season for IU, averaging 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game - all team highs. However, his scoring average remarkably drops to just 11.1 points per game in home contests on the season. For the year, Vaden leads the team in assists (3.9) and steals (31), while also ranking second in scoring (14.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) averages.
Dishing It Out
One of the positives Indiana can take from its loss at Penn State on Feb. 15 is the 19 assists on 25 made baskets on the night. It marked the most helpers in a game since collecting 22 against Eastern Michigan in a 79-63 win on Dec. 3. If IU could have accounted for one more assist on the night, it could have been a better result. The Hoosiers are a perfect 4-0 this season when collecting 20 or more assists in a game this season, and have an unblemished 18-0 record under head coach Mike Davis when accomplishing the feat. The last time an Indiana team lost with 20 or more assists in a contest came on Feb. 9, 1999, when IU collected 20 assists in an 86-81 overtime loss to Purdue - a span of 26 straight games.
Getting To The Foul Line
Indiana may have lost its contest at Penn State on Feb. 15 at the charity stripe. The Hoosiers were 6-of-7 from the foul line, while the Nittany Lions connected on 17-of-26 during the game. In fact, when Indiana attempts 15 or more free throws in a game, it has usually been a good thing this season. IU enters its contest at Illinois with an impressive 11-3 record when attempting at least 15 free throws in a game. However, that number drops to 2-6 in games Indiana has attempted fewer than 15 free throws. The last time IU won when attempting fewer than 15 free throws came on Dec. 19 at Charlotte, when they were just 2-of-7 from the line in a 71-54 win over the 49ers.
Free Throw Streaking
Senior guard Marshall Strickland is having a career year in 2005-06, and is on pace to best his previous career highs in every major offensive category. One of the most dramatic improvements has come on the free throw line. Although Strickland has always been a consistent free-throw shooter with a .767 career average entering this season, he comes into the Illinois game leading the Big Ten with a .943 (50-of-53) average at the charity stripe. Additionally, the Mt. Airy, Md., native hit all eight of his free throws he attempted against Iowa on Feb. 11 to run his consecutive free throws made streak to 31 - tied for fifth best in school history. Strickland is now chasing former Hoosier Pat Graham's single-season school record 38 straight from the charity stripe, set during the 1990-91 campaign. Additionally, if Strickland remains on his current pace, he would better the school record of .921 by Steve Alford during the 1984-84 season.
Dual Threat
Senior forward Marco Killingsworth and sophomore forward/guard Robert Vaden are quickly becoming one of the more formidable tandems in the Big Ten. They enter the Feb. 19 Illinois game as one of the top scoring and rebounding duos in the conference this season. So far on the campaign, Killingsworth (18.0 ppg and 8.1 rpg) and Vaden (14.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg) are averaging a combined 32.1 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. Those numbers are among the Big Ten's top duos this season. Below is a complete listing of the top pairs in the league:
Duo Pts. Reb.
Ager-Davis, MSU 36.6 13.7
Tucker-Taylor, WIS 34.5 9.3
Killingsworth-Vaden, IND 32.1 13.6
Vukusic-Hachad, NW 31.2 8.0
Dials-Foster, OSU 29.1 12.0
Haluska-Brunner, IOWA 29.0 14.9
Horton-Sims, MICH 28.5 9.0
Claxton-Cornley, PSU 28.2 12.4
Brown-Augustine, ILL 27.9 12.2
Grier-Hargrow, MINN 27.8 10.3
Kiefer-White, PUR 23.6 11.9
Mike Davis To Leave Program At End Of Season
Indiana University President Dr. Adam W. Herbert and Athletics Director Rick Greenspan announced Thursday (Feb. 16) that men's basketball coach Mike Davis will depart the program at the conclusion of the Hoosiers' 2005-06 season.
Davis said the decision was the result of a discussion he initiated with President Herbert about the future of the team. After discussions with Herbert and Greenspan, it was mutually agreed that a coaching change was in the best interest of the university.
Davis said he decided to make his departure public at this time to put an end to speculation about his status, which he said has been a distraction to his players. He hopes that removing the uncertainty about his future at IU will enable his players to concentrate their focus on the remaining games to be played this season.
Mr. Double-Double
Senior forward Marco Killingsworth had an impressive performance in the Hoosiers' loss to Iowa on Feb. 11. The Wooden Award nominee recorded 21 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in the defeat. It was the most rebounds by an IU player since since A.J. Moye pulled down 15 boards against Michigan on March 3, 2004.
Furthermore, it marked Killingsworth's sixth double-double this season and 14th of his standout career. His six double-doubles this season are the most by an IU player since Jeff Newton had 11 during the 2002-03 campaign. For the season, the All-American candidate is averaging team-highs of 18.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest, which ranks fifth and fourth respectively among the Big Ten leaders.
Starting The Right Five
Due to a variety of reasons, the Hoosiers have used an amazing 10 different starting lineups throughout the season. Below is a breakdown of each starting lineup used during the 2005-06 campaign: Starting Five Record Killingsworth, White, Vaden, Strickland, Monroe 3-0 Killingsworth, Allen, Vaden, Strickland, Monroe 2-0 Killingsworth, Kline, Vaden, Strickland, Monroe 2-0 Killingsworth, Wilmont, Vaden, Strickland, Monroe 2-2 Killingsworth, Ratliff, Vaden, Strickland, Monroe 3-1 Killingsworth, Kline, Wilmont, Vaden, Strickland 1-1 Killingsworth, Ratliff, Vaden, Strickland, Calloway 0-1 Killingsworth, Ratliff, Vaden, Calloway, Monroe 0-1 Killingsworth, Vaden, Strickland, Calloway, Monroe 0-1 Killingsworth, Wilmont, Vaden, Strickland, Calloway 0-2
Another Career Best
To say that sophomore guard/forward Robert Vaden is having a career year in 2005-06 would be an understatement. The first team All-Big Ten candidate collected his first-ever double-double with 11 points and a career-best 12 rebounds in the loss at Wisconsin on Feb. 8. Not only was it his first career double-double, but he became the first IU player besides senior forward Marco Killingsworth to record a double-double this season. Those numbers can be added to his already long list of season accomplishments, which are below:
• He hit for a school record 12 consecutive treys from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, a span of three games, which was only three off the NCAA Division I record of 15 straight.
• He hit 6-of-6 three pointers against Butler on Dec. 23, which broke the single-game school record. Vaden eclipsed the former record of 5-of-5, set by Kyle Hornsby (vs. Michigan on Feb. 17, 2002) and Keith Smart (vs. Ohio State on March 5, 1987).
• Vaden hit 8-of-12 three-pointers against Iowa on Jan. 24, which matched Neil Reed (Jan. 23, 1996 against Michigan), Brian Evans (Dec. 22, 1994 against Chaminade), Jay Edwards (Feb. 4, 1988 against Minnesota) and ironically, current Iowa head coach and former IU All-American Steve Alford (Dec. 26, 1986 against Princeton) for the Hoosier single-game school record. It also was the eighth-best mark all-time in Big Ten history and the 10th most by a player in Division I this season.
• Vaden earned his first career Big Ten Player of the Week honor for the week of Jan. 2.
• The Indianapolis, Ind., native leads the team in assists (3.9 per game) and steals (31), while also ranking second on the squad in points (14.1) and rebounds (5.5) per contest.
• He has now set career highs in scoring (26 at Iowa on Feb. 4), rebounding (12 at Wisconsin on Feb. 8), assists (8 at Western Illinois on Nov. 26) and three-pointers made (8 at Iowa on Feb. 4) on the season.
