Ilini seniors step up in big win over Michigan
Illinois seniors Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt put an end to some of the frustration Wednesday night at Assembly Hall.
Randle scored a career-high 19 points, including 15 in the first half, while also grabbing 10 rebounds to lead Illinois to a 75-57 victory over Michigan that ended a five-game losing streak, a four-game skid in the Big Ten Conference and a three-game slide in The Hall.
After a mediocre first half, Pruitt exploded in the second half to finish with 19 points and seven rebounds.
This one wasn't entirely easy for the Illini, since this is a year when it appears nothing will come easily. But Illinois apparently learned a hard lesson after losing some of its home-court advantage earlier this month.
"We had a false sense that we always won at Assembly Hall, and we were just going to win,'' Illinois coach Bruce Weber said earlier this week. "It's not Assembly Hall and the crowd. Those things help. It's the intensity level, defending and playing hard.
"Those things really make a difference. That's what the kids have to realize. We need to go on a home win streak and finish with seven victories, big victories, and maybe bet pride in The Hall again.''
No, Randle didn't make a statement by entering the game with a tightly trimmed haircut. He was just following his mother's advice, but the seniors, criticized for not helping the Illini more during the losing streak, carried Illinois against the Wolverines.
Pruitt scored 13 of his points in the second half, when the Illini broke open a tight game for a comfortable finish.
Illinois improved to 9-9 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten play. The Illini play at Purdue Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN), then head to Ohio State for a game Tuesday.
If Illinois learned a lesson by finally playing harder at Indiana, the Illini brought the new-found intensity against the Wolverines. Randle was active and aggressive. Pruitt had the big second half after Randle had two quick fouls after halftime.
Freshman point guard Demetri McCamey started for the third consecutive game, with junior Chester Frazier returning after missing the Indiana game with a rib injury.
But even with Randle's impressive first half -- 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting and 2-for-2 from the 3-point line, seven rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal -- the Illini only led 36-32 at halftime. The Illini, 11-point favorites, found themselves in another close game.
Guards Trent Meacham and Calvin Brock scored 11 points apiece for the Illini.
Close games hadn't been Illinois' strength thus far, but the Illini handled Michigan (5-12, 1-4), a program in a rebuild under first-year Wolverines coach John Beilein.
Illinois led 56-43 with 7 minutes 53 seconds left after a 13-0 run. Pruitt had three points and Randle two in the run that was capped by 3-pointers by McCamey and Meacham.
The Illini appeared in control early, grabbing a 17-5 lead, but Michigan raced ahead 19-17 by scoring 14 straight points. Michigan reserve Anthony Wright, who entered with a 2.9-point average, scored 12 points in the first half on 4-for-5 shooting from the 3-point line.
OK, so this is a Michigan team that lost to Central Michigan and Harvard (and former Michigan coach Tommy Amaker). The Wolverines' best win came last weekend against Northwestern.
But Illinois is in no position to get picky. The Illini lost to Tennessee State and Penn State at home during the slide.
John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.