Michigan Basketball: Michigan at Illinois — Game Notes
Posted at 12:00pm — 3/4/2014
Michigan Basketball: Michigan at Illinois — Game Notes
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Tip: 6:05 p.m. CST | 7:05 p.m. EST
Location: Champaign, Ill.
Arena: State Farm Center (17,200)
TV Broadcast: ESPN
TV Crew: Mike Tirico (p-by-p), Dan Dakich (analyst) and Allison Williams (sideline)
U-M Radio: Detroit (WWJ, 950 AM) | Ann Arbor (WWWW, 102.9 FM)
U-M Radio Crew: Matt Shepard (p-by-p) & Terry Mills (analyst)
Satellite Radio: Sirius: 92 | XM: 190 | Note: Illinois’ radio broadcast
Feb 26, 2014; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines coach John Beilein coaching on the sidelines against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena. Michigan defeats Purdue 77-76 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsInside the Game:
Michigan Coach: John Beilein | 143-92 (seventh season) | 694-410 (36th season)
Illinois Coach: John Groce | 40–25 (second season) | 124–81 (sixth season)
Series History:
Tonight’s game is the first meeting of the season between Michigan and Illinois. The Wolverines trail in the all-time series, 85-76; however U-M has won the last five meetings including its last two in Champaign. Overall, Michigan has a 25-55 record at Illinois. Last season claimed a 74-60 win at the State Farm Center (Jan. 27, 2013) and followed with a 71-58 win at Crisler Center (Feb. 24, 2013).
About Illinois:
After a midseason eight-game losing streak, Illinois has won four of its last six including three straight wins — at Minnesota (62-49), Nebraska (60-49) and at Michigan State (53-46).
Over its last four games, Illinois, who plays a steady nine-man rotation, has not allowed an opponent to score over 50 points, holding teams to 48.0 ppg.
Illinois is led by Rayvonte Rice, who leads the Illini in scoring (15.4 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg) and steals (1.6 spg). Tracy Abrams leads the team in assists (3.2 apg), while scoring 10.9 points a game. Jon Ekey has the most three-pointers on the team with 48 and Nnanna Egwu has a team best 65 blocks (2.2) and averages 6.0 rebounds per game.
Last Time Michigan Played Illinois | Wolverines claim share of Big Ten regular season title:
By virtue of Michigan’s 66-56 win over Minnesota at Crisler Center and a Michigan State home loss to Illinois, the Wolverines guaranteed themselves at least a share of the 2014 Big Ten regular season title — U-M’s second in the last three years.
The Maize and Blue held Minnesota to just 20 first-half points on 38-percent shooting (9-of-24) the fewest total points scored in the first half by any U-M opponent this season. As a team, the Maize and Blue went 25-for-50 from the field. It marked the 14th time this
season the Wolverines have shot 50 percent from the field or better.
Mar 1, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Nik Stauskas (11) shoots the ball over Minnesota Golden Gophers center Elliott Eliason (55) in the first half at Crisler Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsWith 21 points tonight on 7-for-13 shooting, Nik Stauskas has tallied 20 or more points in 11 games this season. He hit five three-pointers (5-for-8), marking the fourth time he has made five or more three-pointers in a game this season.
Glenn Robinson III notched 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting, his 19th double-figure scoring game this season. Caris LeVert tallied 13 points and tied a season and career high with five assists. Jordan Morgan tied a season high with 10 rebounds.
Two games remain in Big Ten regular season:
Michigan clinched a share of the Big Ten championship with the win against Minnesota (March 1). U-M can earn its first outright title since 1986 with one win in its final two games. U-M claimed its sixth conference road win with the dramatic 77-76 overtime win at Purdue. It is the most Big Ten road wins in the John Beilein era and the most since the 1992-93 (7-2). Michigan leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (47.7), three-point percentage (38.9) and free throw percentage (75.7). U-M is third overall in scoring at 74.9 per game. Michigan is closing a stretch of four games in 10 days.
In his last three games, Nik Stauskas has averaged 20.3 points per game. Glenn Robinson III has scored in double figures in each of his last four games — averaging 13.5 points per game. Caris LeVert has scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games including three 20-plus point games. Jordan Morgan and Jon Horford have combined to average 11.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and shot 71.6 percent (76-for-106)
Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment and give us your thoughts, agree or disagree.
Just a reminder you must be a member to participate on the Message Board. Here is the link GBMWolverine Register for those people interested in becoming a member.
You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine
Follow us on Twitter:
@ErocWolverine
@GBMWolverine
@JoelAGreer
@Mike Fitzpatrick
@YostMeister
Written by GBMWolverine Staff
Go Blue — Wear Maize!