For Illinois, it was the first road game of the season–and a whole lot more.
The opponent in Tuesday night’s Big Ten-ACC Challenge matchup was North Carolina, the team that defeated the Illini in last April’s NCAA tournament final.
Led by their two returning starters, James Augustine and Dee Brown, the Illini (6-0) achieved payback against the Tar Heels with a 68-64 victory that ended North Carolina’s winning streak in the Smith Center at 21.
The turning point came at the start of the second half when Illinois went on a 13-5 run triggered by a barrage of three-point shots. Brian Randle hit two of them and Rich McBride and Jamar Smith each sank one.
The Illini had four players in double figures with Brown scoring 14, Augustine 13 and McBride and Randle 12 apiece.
After winning their first three games at home, wrapping up the South Padre Island Invitational title on a neutral court in Texas and climbing to 12th in the national rankings, Illinois seemed ready for the Challenge with a capital C.
Coach Bruce Weber, who was on crutches after fracturing his right ankle doing maintenance work on his pool Monday, went into the game wary.
“Obviously we’d like to have played in Assembly Hall,” he said. “But we have to go on the road some time. It’s part of growing up.”
For a young and unranked North Carolina (3-1) squad it was the first major test of the season. The Tar Heels had escaped with a last-second conquest of Gardner-Webb in their opener, followed by lopsided victories over Cleveland State and California-Santa Barbara.
A headline in the Durham (N.C.) Herald-Sun put the contest in context for Tar Heels followers:
“UNC’s championship victory over Illinois seems like an eternity (and a roster) ago.”
Coach Roy Williams is starting over after losing his top seven scorers to graduation and the NBA draft.
He started three freshmen Tuesday night: 6-foot-9-inch center Tyler Hansbrough, who was leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring (18 ppg) and rebounding (7.7); point guard Bobby Frasor of Brother Rice, the MVP in the Chicago Catholic League last season at; and swingman Marcus Ginyard, Virginia’s 2005 Mr. Basketball.
But in the first half it was the Illini who looked inexperienced. They turned the ball over 10 times and many of the giveaways were because of poor ballhandling in the face of intense halfcourt pressure.
Late in the half, Illinois rallied. Augustine began the comeback with a pair of free throws and a steal and a pass to Brown that he turned into a fast-break layup. McBride made a three-point shot, a pull-up jumper and a free throw. Smith made a three-pointer and Marcus Arnold added two baskets down low.
In the second half, Illinois’ defense clamped down..
Hansborough, however, made his presence known and the Tar Heels rallied after falling behind 64-50. Twelve unanswered points–six by Hansborough–slashed the deficit to 64-60, but the Illini held on.
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nmilbert@tribune.com
