Wolverines Headed to Illinois to Begin Conference Schedule
12/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2015
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• Complete Game Notes 
• Inside Michigan Basketball Radio Show (Monday, Dec. 28, 7 p.m.) 
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Riding a four-game winning streak heading into Big Ten play, the University of Michigan men's basketball team (10-3) heads to Champaign, Illinois, to face Illinois (8-5) in the conference opener Wednesday (Dec. 30) at the renovated State Farm Center. ESPN2 will broadcast the game with a 2:05 p.m. CST tipoff.
THE HEAD COACH MATCHUP
• Michigan: John Beilein (176-113; ninth season at U-M | 727-341 in 38th season)
• Illinois: John Groce (70-47; fourth season at Illinois | 150-99 in eighth season)
A LITTLE ABOUT ILLINOIS
• After winning five straight games, Illinois finished the non-conference with an 8-5 record
• Illinois is led by Malcolm Hill (18.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.9 apg) and Kendrick Nunn (18.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg). The duo has made up nearly 40 percent of the Illini's offense. Mike Thorne Jr. is averaging a near double-double with 13.4 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds per game, while Michael Finke gives Illinois four double-figure scorers with his 10.3 ppg.
THE SERIES WITH ILLINOIS
• Wednesday's game will be the 167th meeting. U-M trails in the all-time series, 80-86.
• Despite a 26-56 record against the Illini in Champaign, the Wolverines have won three of their last four at the State Farm Center -- 72-62 (March 1, 2012); 74-60 (Jan. 27, 2013) and 84-53 (March 4, 2013). The loss was a 64-52 overtime game last season (Feb. 12, 2015).
• Overall Michigan has won nine of the last 10 games in the series including a streak of eight straight before last season's overtime loss.
MIRROR IMAGES
• The stat sheets for both Michigan and Illinois are eerily similar.
• Michigan is scoring 79.4 points per game, while Illinois averages 76.5. Both teams are averaging 33.3 rebounds per game. Michigan averages just 9.4 turnovers while forcing 13.3. Illinois averages 10.1 turnovers and forces 13.5.
• U-M averages 6.0 steals and 2.5 blocks, while Illinois is at 5.8 and 2.2 per game.
BIG TEN OPENERS
• Michigan has a 56-43 record in Big Ten openers. U-M is 24-23 when opening on the road.
• U-M will open conference play against Illinois for the second straight season. Last year, the Wolverines had a 73-65 overtime win at Crisler Center (Dec. 30) to open Big Ten play. It was the first of five OT games for U-M and the middle of three straight against the Illini.
THE MICHIGAN INSIDER
• Michigan wrapped up the non-conference with a four-game homestand and a perfect 4-0 record to improve to 10-3 heading into Big Ten play.
• Michigan has had six different starting lineups this season. However, it seems the Wolverines have settled on a consistent five with Derrick Walton Jr., Caris LeVert, Zak Irvin, Duncan Robinson and Ricky Doyle. The group will most likely make its fourth straight start together at Illinois.
• Michigan is averaging 79.4 points per game, outscoring its opponents by 18.6 points per game. U-M has posted six games of 80-plus points this season, including two 100-plus games -- vs. Charlotte (102) and Youngstown State (105).
• Michigan opponents are scoring 60.8 points per game. After holding Bryant (Dec. 23) to 25 points in the second half, U-M has held its opponents to 25 or fewer points in eight total halves this season.
• Michigan is shooting 50.6 percent from the floor in the non-conference, which ranks 11th nationally and third in the Big Ten. U-M has had two games shooting above 60 percent in a game -- 61.5 percent (40-for-65) against Youngstown State (Dec. 19) and 61.9 percent (39-for-63) vs. Charlotte (Nov. 26). U-M has shot 50 percent or better nine times this season.
• Michigan is shooting 41.9 percent from long range, which ranks 13th nationally and second in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have had nine games with 10-plus three-pointers and average 10.7 per game, which is 10th in the nation.
• With eight different Wolverines make a three-pointer against Bryant (Dec. 23), U-M set the program single-game record with 17 total. U-M finished 17-for-35 from long range.
• Michigan has recorded 55 assists over its last two games -- 29 against Youngstown State (Dec. 19) and 26 against Bryant (Dec. 23). Overall U-M is averaging 16.9 per game and has five games with 20-plus assists this season.
Communications Contact: Tom Wywrot
