For seven weeks Illinois and Michigan State have engaged in an all-out sprint for the Big Ten title – but after clearing another large hurdle in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, the No. 3 Fighting Illini look to be pulling away.
Facing a red-hot Indiana squad (16-11, 7-6 Big Ten) in the pressure cooker that is Assembly Hall, Illinois (21-5, 11-2) utilized its incredible depth in a 67-61 victory. The win was the Illini’s fifth straight, the longest winning streak in the Big Ten this season.
“It’s a combination of having good players, guys willing to make sacrifices for others and guys wanting to win and putting winning above everything,” Illinois coach Bill Self said.
Illinois went right at Indiana’s strength, dominating the paint with forwards Brian Cook and Marcus Griffin, and center Robert Archibald. The trio totaled 31 points and helped the Illini win the rebounding battle 41-32. Although Indiana’s Kirk Haston (18 points) and Jared Jeffries (16 points) matched their average scoring outputs, they were forced to take outside jumpers most of the afternoon.
The Illini also attacked from the perimeter, hitting six of 13 three-pointers. Point guard Frank Williams netted 14 points and snatched six rebounds. Williams earned Big Ten co-player of the week honors after exploding for 22 points in Illinois’ 68-67 win over Wisconsin on Tuesday night.
“He’s a terrific player, there’s no question about that,” Self said. “I’m more proud of the sacrifices he’s made for the good of our team. He cares nothing about scoring because he’s not a guy who keeps stats. He’s not a guy who keeps press clippings – he just loves to compete.”
Against Wisconsin, Williams carried the Illini back into the game, scoring 18 points in the second half. Then, with 0.8 seconds remaining, Griffin scored the game-winning bucket off an inbounds pass from guard Sean Harrington.
HAWKS GROUNDED: When star forward Luke Recker broke his right kneecap Jan. 27, Iowa coach Steve Alford and his players started counting the days until the NCAA tournament, when Recker will likely return.
There’s only one problem – they have to qualify first.
If the No. 24 Hawkeyes continue their recent sloppy play, the only dancing they’ll be doing may be in the NIT. First Iowa fell 95-85 to Big Ten bottom-feeder Michigan last week. Then, four days later, the Hawkeyes (17-8, 6-6) were thrashed 94-70 by Michigan State in East Lansing.
“The guys are just going through a time right now when they are trying to find themselves and get some confidence going,” Iowa coach Steve Alford said.
The Hawkeyes have gone 1-4 without their leading scorer and face the unenviable task of playing Illinois on Saturday at Assembly Hall.
“They’re just hurting a little bit and they need to find some success,” Alford said. “I think if we can get some leads, feel good about ourselves, things could change a little bit. Right now, it’s a little bit of a psych-out, not being able to execute and make shots.”
NOT SO GOLDEN: First it was an academic scandal. Then forward Michael Bauer went down with a broken arm Jan. 27. The worst came 10 days later, when guard J.B. Bickerstaff broke his right leg on a play too gruesome to replay on television.
Minnesota (17-9, 5-8) has been bombarded with bad luck this season, dropping six of its last eight games after surging to a 15-3 start. Although the Golden Gophers broke through Saturday with a 93-75 romp over Michigan, their skills and stamina will be tested this week in road games against Wisconsin and Indiana.
“It’s mid-February and we’re still starting anew a little bit,” Minnesota coach Dan Monson said. “We’re like a new team without Bickerstaff and Bauer, and with that comes some inconsistencies that you’re not used to in February.”
