The Illini have won eight of the last 11 games in the series. The most
recent match-up between the two teams occurred last March in Iowa City, a 60-53
Iowa victory. Illinois last win at Carver-Hawkeye Arena came in 2005.
This is the only regular season meeting between the teams this year as Iowa
and Northwestern.
Illinois three Big Ten wins have each been by 18 or more points.
Illinois average margin of victory in conference wins is 25.0 ppg (75).
Illinois concludes its second stretch of playing four of five Big Ten
games away from Assembly Hall with Saturday's contest at Iowa. Illinois is the
only Big Ten school that twice plays four of five games on the road during the
conference schedule. In fact, Penn State is the only other Big Ten Team that had
a stretch of four out of five league games away from home.
Illinois has either led or been tied at halftime in all but seven games this
season.
Illinois has started eight different lineups this season.
Eight different players have been the Illini's leading scorer in a game
this season (Brian Randle-8, Trent Meacham-7, Shaun Pruitt-6, Calvin Brock-4,
Demetri McCamey-3, Rodney Alexander-2, Mike Tisdale-2, Chester Frazier-1).
While Illinois has only two players averaging in double figures, a total of
eight players average over four points per game.
Five Illini have scored 20 or more points in a game this season: Trent
Meacham, Shaun Pruitt, Rodney Alexander, Brian Randle and Demetri McCamey.
Demetri McCamey nearly made history at Minnesota (Feb. 12), falling two
rebounds shy of recording a triple-double, which would have been the third
triple-double in school records. McCamey scored 10 points, grabbed a career-high
eight boards, and dished out a career-best 11 assists against the Gophers. It is
the most assists by an Illini since Chester Frazier had 11 last season vs. IUPUI
(Dec. 6, 2006).
Demetri McCamey is averaging 15.3 points in Big Ten play at home (107),
compared to an average of 5.9 points in conference play on the road (47).
McCamey is shooting 50.7 percent from the floor (36-71) and 47.4 percent from
3-point range (18-38) at the Assembly Hall through seven Big Ten games.
Illinois has had only four opponents shoot better than 46 percent from the
field on the season.
Illinois has outrebounded its opponent in 19 games and ranks fourth in the
Big Ten and 49th in the NCAA in rebounding margin at +4.2 rpg.
Illinois bench is contributing 21.0 points per game and has outscored the
opposing bench in 20 games.
Illinois has either led, been tied or trailed by no more than three points with
less than two minutes remaining in 10 losses Illinois has led during the
second half in 10 losses 12 of Illinois losses have been by eight points
or less Illinois is 3-12 on the year in games decided by less than nine
points.
Illinois has played one of the nation's most difficult schedules this season.
Illinois strength of schedule currently ranks 24th nationally. The Illini
also own the toughest SOS in the Big Ten.
Illinois has been one of the nation's top defensive teams each year under
Bruce Weber. This year's squad looks to continue that style of aggressive
man-to-man defensive pressure throughout each game. Illinois ranks fifth in the
Big Ten and 37th nationally in scoring defense with opponents averaging 61.9
points per game on the season. The Illini are third in the conference and 23rd
in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense (.395) and fourth in the conference
in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.322).
Only eight opponents have scored more than 70 points on the Illini this
season. Illinois defense also has allowed just four teams to shoot over 46
percent from the field.
Illinois has outrebounded 19 of 28 opponents this year and owns a rebounding
margin of +4.2 on the season, ranking 49th in the NCAA. Illinois ranks fourth in
the Big Ten in rebounding margin and is third in the conference in total
rebounds, averaging 36.7 rpg.