Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - Of the remaining unbeaten teams left in
Division I, two of them will face off on Sunday night when the Eastern
Kentucky Colonels travel to Champaign to take on the 10th-ranked Illinois
Fighting Illini.
After starting the campaign on a perfect seven-game homestand, EKU proved that
it could win on the road as well in recent weeks with victories over North
Carolina Central (63-57) and Chattanooga (63-52). The 9-0 start for the
Colonels is their best in 66 years.
Illinois' 11-0 start is especially impressive considering it began the year
unranked and it is led by a first-year head coach in John Groce. Groce is the
first Illini coach in more than 100 years to begin his tenure with at least 11
straight wins. After topping nationally-ranked Gonzaga on the road on Dec. 8
(85-74), the Illini returned home last Tuesday and took care of business
against Norfolk State, 64-54.
The Illini won the only previous matchup with EKU, 79-56, in December of
1985.
Eastern Kentucky has been on fire in the first month of the season, ranking
13th in the nation in field goal percentage (.495) in netting 75.3 ppg. It has
also played well at the defensive end, holding opponents to 60.6 ppg while
sporting the country's fourth-best turnover margin (plus-7.7). The Colonels
were on point again in their latest win, making 48 percent of their field goal
attempts while holding Chattanooga to more turnovers (21) than field goals
(18). Glenn Cosey, a junior college All-American a year ago, connected on 6-
of-12 from 3-point range en route to 23 points while also adding six rebounds,
five assists and three steals. Cosey has been the biggest reason for EKU's
success, contributing across the board with 17.7 ppg (on 51.4 percent
shooting), 3.1 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 2.2 spg. Mike DiNunno has been an effective
second option, netting 14.1 ppg while making 45.1 percent of his 3-point
tries.
Illinois struggled a bit in its latest game against Norfolk State, shooting
just 35 percent from the field for 64 points, which was a far cry from its
season averages of 45.0 percent shooting and 77.9 ppg. Even though its night
at the foul line was lackluster as well (16-of-27), it had 19 more free throw
attempts than did its opponent, which proved to be the difference. Brandon
Paul made just 3-of-10 from the field in the win, but all three field goals
were from beyond the arc and he ended with team-highs in points (14), boards
(eight) and steals (three). Paul has been one of the nation's elite guards in
the early going this season, shooting 46.8 percent from the floor (including
41.3 percent from 3-point range) for 19.0 ppg, while also adding 4.7 rpg, 3.5
apg, 1.5 spg, and 0.8 bpg. D.J. Richardson (12.1 ppg) is potent from long
range as well, making 29-of-81 3-point tries, and Tracy Abrams (11.4 ppg) has
also proven to be a strong ball-handler (3.4 apg).
The Sports Network