Michigan State was supposed to be the Big Ten’s measuring stick.
Never mind the Spartans’ non-conference losses to Kansas, Duke, Oklahoma, Kentucky, UCLA and Syracuse to open their season.
They were atop the Big Ten when they arrived on Tuesday, intending to avenge last year’s 30-point loss to Illinois at Assembly Hall. Michigan State had just beaten Ohio State three days earlier by shooting 73.3 percent, the second-best mark in school history. Moreover, the Spartans had shot better than 60 percent in the second half in six of their last eight games.
So how did Michigan State handle a dismal first half, in which it trailed by 15 points and shot 38.1 percent?
With a resounding thud.
Illinois was energized and relentless throughout on its way to a 75-51 rout.
Luther Head led the Illini with 17 points. James Augustine added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Deron Williams had 15 points and six assists.
“We beat a quality team, potentially a Top 25 team,” Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. “If they would have played a regular [non-conference] schedule they would be in theTop 25 right now. I think they’re that good.”
The Illini (16-5, 7-3) held Michigan State’s leading scorer, Paul Davis, to just eight points. Davis, a candidate for conference player of the year, was averaging 16.3.
The victory moved the Illini into a tie with Michigan State (12-9, 7-3) for second place in the Big Ten, percentage points behind Wisconsin (15-4, 6-2). The Badgers are at Iowa Wednesday.
Illinois was in a class by itself Tuesday night, holding the Spartans scoreless in the final 5 minutes 41 seconds of the first half to lead 35-20 at intermission. The Illini did it with balanced scoring from Head, Roger Powell and Williams and powerful rebounding from Augustine.
Head nailed three three-pointers, Williams disrupted Michigan State’s offense and Powell provided a thrilling dunk for the capacity crowd of 16,618.The Illinois fans went wild.
“I wish it was like this every night,” Augustine said.
Augustine has recovered from the beatings he has taken in the post over the last several weeks. He posted his first double-double in nearly a month.
“I said at the beginning of the week, `This is the best I’ve felt in two months,'” Augustine said. “It feels like the first day of practice.”
Head’s shooting show continued in the first four minutes of the second half when he scored eight of Illinois’ first 13 points as the Illini went up by 22. Michigan State never came closer than 19 the rest of the way. Head matched a career high with five three-pointers.
“I said going into the game Head was the `X’ factor,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.
Shannon Brown of Proviso East High School led Michigan State with 12 points.
Earlier in the week, Illinois players said they had hit a turning point in their season.
It showed.
“Finally we’re starting to jell,” Weber said. “Hopefully we can keep that motivation as we go into the finish of the Big Ten.”
