In an ideal world, Roger Powell would pick on someone his own size.
He would be playing small forward, getting a chance to play on the wing, a more suitable place for someone who stands 6 feet 6 inches tall.
Powell instead plays power forward out of necessity for Illinois. He continually looks up at taller opponents, who are supposed to exploit the mismatch. He says he’s at the point where he considers a 6-9 player short. But what does that say about his 6-6 frame?
“I think I’m taller than I am,” he said.
That’s exactly the mentality Powell will need Friday night when the fifth-seeded Illini (26-6) play top-seeded Duke (29-5) in a regional semifinal at the Georgia Dome.
Illinois guards Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Luther Head are expected to neutralize Duke’s backcourt of Chris Duhon, J.J. Redick and Daniel Ewing. Duke post players Luol Deng, who is 6-8, and 6-9 Shelden Williams, however, could be Illinois’ biggest burden.
The load will fall on Powell, 6-10 center James Augustine and reserves Nick Smith and Jack Ingram.
“Everybody talks about guard play, but I am convinced that how our [post players] deal with theirs will probably be the telling story of the game,” Illinois coach Bruce Weber said.
Powell, who weighs 220 pounds, is convinced he can handle it. He held his ground against North Carolina, Wisconsin and, most recently, Cincinnati.
“He’s stronger than a lot of post players,” Augustine said. “He weighs as much as a lot of post players, so he’s able to hold his own down there.”
Powell’s outlook has changed significantly since last summer, when he spent most of his time improving his ball handling and quickness.
“I thought I would be guarding guards,” he said.
Initially disappointed by the switch, Powell adapted to become an honorable-mention all-Big Ten selection along with Augustine and plans to play the same position next season.
“We’re having success with it,” he said. “So why not?”
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
FORWARD
Roger Powell
JUNIOR
HT: 6-6 WT: 220
%%
MIN. PTS. BLKS. REB.
26.4 11.5 0.5 4.9
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The skinny: Played one of his best games of the season against the Bearcats, scoring 22 points. An undersized but athletic post player averaging 16.5 points in the NCAA tourney.
FORWARD
Shelden Williams
SOPHOMORE
HT: 6-9 WT: 245
%%
MIN. PTS. BLKS. REB.
25.9 12.9 3.0 8.6
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The skinny: Powerful inside presence. Leads the Blue Devils in rebounding and blocked shots. Had a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) against Seton Hall.
DUKE
Edge: Williams. Could be the toughest player Powell has faced.
CENTER
James Augustine
SOPHOMORE
HT: 6-10 WT: 225
%%
MIN. PTS. BLKS. REB.
27.6 9.5 1.3 7.3
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The skinny: A streaky player but held his ground against Cincinnati and appears to be hitting a turning point in his career. Foul trouble is a major concern.
CENTER
Luol Deng
FRESHMAN
HT: 6-8 WT: 220
%%
MIN. PTS. BLKS. REB.
30.8 14.9 1.1 6.8
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The skinny: Lit up Seton Hall in the second round with 20 points and is averaging 17.5 points in his last six games. Can also shoot threes.
DUKE
Edge: Deng. Augustine needs a special game to keep up.
GUARD
Dee Brown
SOPHOMORE
HT: 6-0 WT: 175
%%
MIN. PTS. AST. REB.
34.8 13.3 4.5 3.8
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%%
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The skinny: One of the fastest guards in the country has become a consistent scorer. He averaged 17.1 points in first- and second-round victories over Murray State and Cincinnati.
GUARD
Chris Duhon
SENIOR
HT: 6-1 WT: 185
%%
MIN. PTS. AST. REB.
35.1 10.1 6.2 3.9
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The skinny: Duke is 94-16 with Duhon in the starting lineup. An excellent defensive player, he averages 2.3 steals a game. A rib injury could slow him down.
DUKE
Edge: Duhon. His experience and defense could neutralize Brown.
GUARD
Luther Head
JUNIOR
HT: 6-3 WT: 175
%%
MIN. PTS. AST. REB.
29.4 11.1 2.6 3.6
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The skinny: Has been in single digits in scoring in the NCAA tournament but is averaging seven assists a game. A respectable perimeter shooter and outstanding in transition.
GUARD
J.J. Redick
SOPHOMORE
HT: 6-4 WT: 195
%%
MIN. PTS. AST. REB.
30.6 16 1.6 3
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%%
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The skinny: Broke out of a slump by shooting 47.8 percent in the first and second rounds. Has been amazing from the free-throw line, hitting 95.8 percent this season.
DUKE
Edge: Redick. He might be just too hot to stop.
GUARD
Deron Williams
SOPHOMORE
HT: 6-3 WT: 210
%%
MIN. PTS. AST. REB.
34 14.2 6.2 3.2
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The skinny: Tied a career-high with 31 points on Cincinnati, but asking him to repeat his 10-of-13 shooting is asking too much. Still, he can burn Duke with his shooting and passing.
GUARD
Daniel Ewing
JUNIOR
HT: 6-3 WT: 180
%%
MIN. PTS. AST. REB.
30.4 12.7 1.9 2.6
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%%
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The skinny: Duke’s best three-pointer shooter (41.1 percent) along with Redick (40.1). A late-season hand injury hasn’t slowed him; he has had nine straight double-digit scoring games.
Illinois
Edge: Williams, whose defense is underrated.
