Game 14: UI men vs. Gonzaga

Check out how Illini recruits have fared of late here.

GAME 14

UI men vs. Gonzaga,

Noon, today

LINEUPS

ILLINOIS (9-4)

Probable starters

P Name HT. YR. PPG

G Demetri McCamey 6-3 Jr. 13.7

G D.J. Richardson 6-3 Fr. 10.9

G Brandon Paul 6-3 Fr. 10.2

F Mike Davis 6-9 Jr. 12.9

C Mike Tisdale 7-1 Jr. 12.6

Top reserves

F Dominique Keller 6-7 Sr. 6.1

F Bill Cole 6-9 Jr. 3.7

G Jeff Jordan 6-1 Jr. 2.3

GONZAGA (10-3)

Probable starters

G Demetri Goodson 5-11 So. 7.4

G Matt Bouldin 6-5 Sr. 14.8

G Steven Gray 6-5 Jr. 13.3

F Elias Harris 6-8 Fr. 13.5

C Robert Sacre 7-0 So. 11.8

Top reserves

F Kelly Olynyk 6-11 Fr. 3.6

G Mangisto Arop 6-5 Fr. 3.1

G Bol Kong 6-6 So. 6.7

FACTS & FIGURES

Site: United Center (20,000), Chicago.

Radio: Brian Barnhart and Jerry Hester call the action on WDWS 1400-AM, WHMS 97.5-FM, WDAN 1490-AM, WDNL 102.1-FM and WPXN 104.9-FM.

TV: CBS. Don Criqui is on play-by-play duties, and Bill Raftery provides the expert analysis.

Series: Illinois leads 2-0. In their most recent meeting, the Illini won 89-72 in Indianapolis in 2004. UI coach Bruce Weber is 1-0 against the Zags.

Coaches: Weber (161-61 in seventh season at Illinois, 264-115 in 12th season overall); Mark Few (274-69 in 11th season at Gonzaga and same overall).

Klee's storylines

UI at the UC

This is the first of a four-game series between Gonzaga and Illinois. With the way both programs are recruiting, it's shaping up to be an entertaining series. The next three games will be played in Seattle (2010), Champaign (2011) and the McCarthey Athletic Center on the Gonzaga campus in Spokane (2012). "We'll see if it was a smart move going to their place," said Bruce Weber, who added that Illinois initiated the conversation about a series with Gonzaga. Today's game marks the first time Illinois has sold out the United Center since the No. 1 Illini beat Oregon in 2004. "It's always a lot of fun to play in Chicago, especially when it's Gonzaga. And it's the first sellout (at the U.C.) since the '04-05 team," Mike Davis said. There are standing room-only tickets available for $15. "We're going to have 21,000 people cheering for us, so it will be a nice environment," Weber said. With that kind of crowd behind them, it would seem like a good opportunity for Illinois to end a six-game losing streak at neutral sites – even if the United Center isn't a true neutral site. Illinois is 32-8 and has won 19 of its last 21 games at the United Center. "(Today is) another huge game for us," Weber said.

Super Zags

Gonzaga's trip to Chicago is the latest stop on the Zags' annual whirlwind tour of the college basketball world. They've already played at Key Arena (Seattle), Madison Square Garden (New York City), Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.) and won the Maui Invitational. According to bbstate.com, Gonzaga has logged more than 15,000 miles on the private jet that chauffeurs the Zags from game to game. "He goes after it," Weber said of Mark Few's scheduling philosophy. The current Zags are a bruising, tough bunch. It's a different breed of Zags than their predecessors, who were more likely to race past you than bully you. The frontcourt of Elias Harris (6-8, 215), a 20-year-old freshman from Germany, and Robert Sacre (7-0, 247), a chiseled sophomore from Canada, will look to get the Illini big men in foul trouble. "Harris, he's a stud down low," Davis said Friday. Weber added, "It's a scary thing. They're physical." This was supposed to be a transition year for Gonzaga, which lost five key players from a Sweet 16 team. But the Zags continue to buck the odds and recruit at a high level. Gonzaga has spent most of the season in the Top 25 with nine first- or second-year players getting minutes. "They really should have beat Michigan State at Michigan State," Weber said, referring to Gonzaga's 75-71 loss to the Spartans. "They were controlling a lot of the game."

D-ing up

Illinois has shown that it can score and hasn't lost a game when it racks up more than 70 points (8-0). But playing better defense remains the team's biggest priority. "We're never going to be great," Weber said. "We have to be solid." Illinois has the type of athletes that could be above-average defenders. But there is more interest in scoring than stopping others from scoring. "We're not a defensive-minded team," Weber said. "We have two freshmen (Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson) that could be our best defensive players. I think right there that tells you a lot about our older players." The UI coaches expect an up-tempo matchup with Gonzaga. What Illinois wants to avoid is another early deficit. Slow starts have been an issue for the Illini. "All year we have struggled when we've gotten down," Weber said. "When things go bad, we don't have the best team harmony when those things happen." Weber said he expects to use a deeper rotation, especially with his big guys. In an overtime win against Northwestern on Wednesday, Davis and Tisdale posted career highs in minutes played (42 and 39, respectively). "It would not surprise me if all five of those guys are a factor (today), just looking at it ahead of time," Weber said, referring to Davis, Tisdale, Richard Semrau, Dominique Keller and Tyler Griffey.

Prediction

Illinois 79, Gonzaga 78

There are some ties with Illinois and Gonzaga. Mark Few and Bruce Weber spoke in the offseason about their efforts with Coaches vs. Cancer, a program dear to both coaches. Former Illini Stephen Bardo is close with the Gonzaga coaches and attends their annual Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser in Spokane. Today's game is probably more important for the Illini, who could use a resume-enhancing win on national TV. Gonzaga has advanced to two Sweet 16s in the past four years and has the players in place for another March run, and a win here would do wonders for Illinois' NCAA tournament chances. "It's a new year, and we're looking at it as a new start," Mike Davis said. From Champaign to Las Vegas to Georgia, Illinois fans have shown up in numbers and a packed United Center will help the Illini to a win today. (News-Gazette prediction record: 8-4).

Comments

Add a Comment