KenPom Rankings: Rutgers #146; Illinois #106
(Note: Rutgers regressed four spots since the 27 point loss at Ohio State)
KenPom Prediction: Rutgers 67 Illinois 66; Rutgers given a 52% chance to win
About Illinois
Since beating Rutgers in convincing fashion almost four weeks ago, Illinois has lost six of its last seven games and are coming off a difficult stretch in the past week. It actually started well,as they upset fourth place Nebraska at home last Sunday. However, they then had to face Michigan State and Purdue back to back in a three day period. The Illini lost by 20 points on the road to the Spartans and fell in a close game on senior night to the Boilermakers by 7.
One notable stat is that Illinois is 0-10 on the road this season (one was technically a neutral site loss to UNLV in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, but I?m counting it.)
In terms of conference rankings, Illinois is 9th in Big Ten play in offensive efficiency. Head coach Brad Underwood likes to play a fast pace and Illinois currently has the third fastest tempo on offense in league games. He utilizes a rotation of nine players, all of whom average between 17 to 26 minutes per game. The Illini are scoring an average of 75 points per game, but are not a strong shooting team. Their season averages are 43.7% from the field, 32.6% from three-point range, and 73.0% from the free throw line. Their effective field goal percentage in Big Ten play is just 11th in the league.
On defense, while the Illini are just 12th in defensive efficiency in conference play, they are tops in the Big Ten in defensive turnover rate and steal percentage. Other than forcing turnovers, Illinois has struggled defensively and are worst in the league in opponents effective field goal percentage, two-point shooting percentage, free throw rate, and block rate. They are also just 13th in opponent?s offensive rebounding rate against them.
Here are per game statistical averages for key players on Illinois (all nine average 17 or more minutes per game):
6?7? junior forward Leron Black - 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists
6?1? freshman guard Trent Frazier - 12.6 points, 3.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals
6?6? sophomore forward Kipper Nichols - 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds
6?10? junior forward Michael Finke - 9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists
6?5? junior guard Aaron Jordan - 7.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals
6?5? senior guard Mark Alstork - 6.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists
6?4? freshman guard Mark Smith - 5.8 points, 1.4 assists, 1.4 rebounds
6?1? sophomore guard Te?Jon Lucas - 5.4 points, 3.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals
6?3? freshman guard De?Monte Williams - 3.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Know Your Three-Point Shooters:
Leron Black - 20 of 39 for 51.3%
Aaron Jordan - 40 of 89 for 44.9%
Kipper Nichols - 26 of 72 for 36.1%
Trent Frazier - 55 of 161 for 34.2%
Michael Finke - 26 of 88 for 29.5%
Rutgers Notes:
Four seniors will be honored before this game, the last of the regular season: Mike Williams, Deshawn Freeman, Candido Sa, and Jake Dadika..... In Big Ten play this season, Rutgers is currently ranked 14th in offensive efficiency and 9th in defensive efficiency......For Division I basketball, their offensive efficiency is ranked 309th out of 351 teams and the defense is ranked 18th, per KenPom.....Rutgers has had the most difficult strength of schedule in Big Ten play through seventeen games....With a victory, the Scarlet Knights can clinch a finish better than last place for the first time in four seasons since joining the Big Ten.
(Note: Rutgers regressed four spots since the 27 point loss at Ohio State)
KenPom Prediction: Rutgers 67 Illinois 66; Rutgers given a 52% chance to win
About Illinois
Since beating Rutgers in convincing fashion almost four weeks ago, Illinois has lost six of its last seven games and are coming off a difficult stretch in the past week. It actually started well,as they upset fourth place Nebraska at home last Sunday. However, they then had to face Michigan State and Purdue back to back in a three day period. The Illini lost by 20 points on the road to the Spartans and fell in a close game on senior night to the Boilermakers by 7.
One notable stat is that Illinois is 0-10 on the road this season (one was technically a neutral site loss to UNLV in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, but I?m counting it.)
In terms of conference rankings, Illinois is 9th in Big Ten play in offensive efficiency. Head coach Brad Underwood likes to play a fast pace and Illinois currently has the third fastest tempo on offense in league games. He utilizes a rotation of nine players, all of whom average between 17 to 26 minutes per game. The Illini are scoring an average of 75 points per game, but are not a strong shooting team. Their season averages are 43.7% from the field, 32.6% from three-point range, and 73.0% from the free throw line. Their effective field goal percentage in Big Ten play is just 11th in the league.
On defense, while the Illini are just 12th in defensive efficiency in conference play, they are tops in the Big Ten in defensive turnover rate and steal percentage. Other than forcing turnovers, Illinois has struggled defensively and are worst in the league in opponents effective field goal percentage, two-point shooting percentage, free throw rate, and block rate. They are also just 13th in opponent?s offensive rebounding rate against them.
Here are per game statistical averages for key players on Illinois (all nine average 17 or more minutes per game):
6?7? junior forward Leron Black - 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists
6?1? freshman guard Trent Frazier - 12.6 points, 3.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals
6?6? sophomore forward Kipper Nichols - 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds
6?10? junior forward Michael Finke - 9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists
6?5? junior guard Aaron Jordan - 7.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals
6?5? senior guard Mark Alstork - 6.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists
6?4? freshman guard Mark Smith - 5.8 points, 1.4 assists, 1.4 rebounds
6?1? sophomore guard Te?Jon Lucas - 5.4 points, 3.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals
6?3? freshman guard De?Monte Williams - 3.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Know Your Three-Point Shooters:
Leron Black - 20 of 39 for 51.3%
Aaron Jordan - 40 of 89 for 44.9%
Kipper Nichols - 26 of 72 for 36.1%
Trent Frazier - 55 of 161 for 34.2%
Michael Finke - 26 of 88 for 29.5%
Rutgers Notes:
Four seniors will be honored before this game, the last of the regular season: Mike Williams, Deshawn Freeman, Candido Sa, and Jake Dadika..... In Big Ten play this season, Rutgers is currently ranked 14th in offensive efficiency and 9th in defensive efficiency......For Division I basketball, their offensive efficiency is ranked 309th out of 351 teams and the defense is ranked 18th, per KenPom.....Rutgers has had the most difficult strength of schedule in Big Ten play through seventeen games....With a victory, the Scarlet Knights can clinch a finish better than last place for the first time in four seasons since joining the Big Ten.
