Illini dominate non-conference game against Detroit 82-51
CHAMPAIGN - Just 29 seconds after checking into his first Illinois game, ballyhooed Kentucky transfer Alex Legion drained a 3-pointer from the corner.
At that prodigious rate - 1 point every 10 seconds - the sophomore guard was on pace to score roughly 17,100 points over the next three years for the Illini.
Alas, Legion cooled off and made just one other shot (another 3-pointer) during his 18-minute debut Saturday night against Detroit.
Most of his teammates couldn't miss, though, as Illinois dominated during the middle 20 minutes for an 82-51 non-conference win over the short-handed Titans at Assembly Hall.
Legion, who played just 4 minutes with the game in doubt, finished 2 of 6 from the floor for 6 points. He grabbed 2 rebounds, nabbed 1 steal and committed 3 turnovers.
"It's only my eighth collegiate game, so I'm still kind of a freshman when it comes to playing games," Legion said. "I was a lot nervous being out there."
"People have high expectations on (Legion)," said senior guard Trent Meacham. "I think he's going to have a great year and he's going to really help us ... but it's going to take a little bit of time."
But his teammates seemed to benefit from his presence.
Meacham swished all 5 of his shots and finished with 15 points in 14 minutes, while senior forward Calvin Brock hit 4 of 4 from the field en route to a season-high 12 points.
The Illini (10-1) shot a season-high 64.4 percent to earn their third 30-point-plus victory margin in the last four games.
They'll go for their 11th win - they didn't get their 11th win last season until Feb. 12 - on Tuesday against Missouri (9-1) in St. Louis.
Illinois has beaten the Tigers in the Braggin' Rights game eight years in a row.
"I've already got people telling me, 'You've got to beat Missouri, you've got to beat Missouri,' " Meacham said. "We hear that all year. It's just a fun game. And Missouri's playing great this year, so that's just going to add to it."
But first, the Illini must solve the issues that subtracted from Saturday's feel-good aura.
Point guard Demetri McCamey and power forward Mike Davis didn't start the second half - and both played sparingly after halftime - because Illinois coach Bruce Weber and his assistants didn't like the sophomore duo's placid demeanor.
"I just didn't think they played hard and their body language wasn't good," Weber said. "I'll be honest: I'm not a guy that likes to mess with lineups, I don't like to play mind games with players.
"But at the same time, if you don't come ready to play and play at the intensity that we want to play - and other guys are doing it - they should get that opportunity."
That's where Brock stepped forward with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and one charge taken.
Davis, the team's top scorer and rebounder, finished with 4 points and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes. McCamey chipped in 7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.