He still takes a beating in the post, but James Augustine isn’t the battered and bruised player he was last season in the Big Ten.
His staying power is critical for the top-ranked Illini (21-0, 7-0) as they approach the midway point of their conference season Tuesday night in East Lansing, Mich., against No. 12 Michigan State. The Spartans (14-3, 5-1) are in second place. .
Last week against Wisconsin, Augustine made crucial plays and scored 14 points to go with eight rebounds. In a victory over Minnesota on Saturday, he scored 15 and grabbed seven rebounds. His monster dunks have given the Illini a contagious lift in key stretches.
Monday, Augustine was named Big Ten player of the week for the second time in January.
“I like his improvement,” coach Bruce Weber said. “I like his consistency. I’ve said all along, how far we go in March or April is determined by our big guys and their progress.”
Last season deep thigh bruises, a hip pointer and an elbow injury gradually took a toll on the forward from Mokena.
“At one point last season I was wearing two thigh pads and a hip pad like a football player,” Augustine said. “This year I feel like I’m holding up pretty well.”
He still deals with chronic foot and knee pain, but otherwise is injury-free. It has translated into animated and powerful plays inside by the 6-foot-10-inch junior.
“He does have the most energy and can play the longest of anybody,” Weber said.
Augustine hasn’t been pressed to log heavy minutes because of Illinois’ depth inside. The emergence of Jack Ingram gives Weber a fourth dependable big man in addition to Augustine, Roger Powell and Nick Smith.
“He could even have better numbers,” if he played longer, Weber said of Augustine.
Keeping Davis down
Although Augustine is on a roll, Weber will ask Roger Powell, who is 6-6, to guard Michigan State’s Paul Davis, a 6-11 junior. Weber has assigned Powell to guard opponents’ toughest post players all season.
For the most part, Powell has had success.
“When a guy posts up, Roger is pretty good at fighting around in the post and denying,” Weber said. “He’s got some quickness and strength. He’s got a low base and he’s been pretty effective with that.”
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo did not play Davis in the Spartans’ easy victory over Oakland (Mich.) on Saturday so Davis could rest a left ankle sprain.
“It was a smart move,” Weber said. “They were still able to get a win, get him some rest and have him ready to go against us.
“It’s a key matchup. Who can get points in the paint? We both have good perimeter scoring skills, but now, who gets baskets in the paint? If [Davis’] ankle is a little bit weak, can we run him? Can we get him moving around to give him problems? It could be a factor.”
Davis averages 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds.
