Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Set to Host No. 1 Illinois
1/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2005
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EVANSTON, Ill. - It is always a big deal when Northwestern and Illinois meet in any sport; that is the nature of a rivalry between the state's only two Big Ten schools. That is certainly the case in men's basketball--Welsh-Ryan Arena is always sold out for this contest, and media coverage is unmatched.
Saturday's historic meeting between the Wildcats and the Fighting Illini, however, has generated a spike in interest well beyond its usual high standards. Tickets sold out in less than an hour and have become impossible to come by; there is not enough room to fit all the media who want to get in, even with extra seating.
When the Wildcats and the Fighting Illini take the rivalry onto the Welsh-Ryan Arena floor Saturday, for the first time in 152 meetings one of the teams walk onto the court with the No. 1 ranking in the country.
In fact, this will be the first time ANY team has walked on to the Welsh-Ryan Arena floor with the No. 1 ranking. The last time Northwestern hosted the top-ranked team in the country was back in 1976, before major renovations had been made to then-McGaw Hall which brought about Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Northwestern enters Saturday's game with a 1-2 record in Big Ten play, winning its only game at home and losing twice on the road. The Wildcats are 15-10 against Big Ten teams the last three-plus years, and they have defeated six ranked opponents during head coach Bill Carmody's career (including a 10-point victory over Illinois last year).
"We are at home, which provides a little bit of an advantage," said Carmody. "But it is going to take a great game to beat them."
Did You Know?
• Northwestern is playing a No. 1-ranked team for the 13th time in school history today; this is just the fifth time the Wildcats have hosted the nation's top-ranked team in men's basketball.
• The last time NU played a No. 1 team was December 3, 1988 (at Duke).
• The last time NU played a No. 1 team AT HOME was March 1, 1976 (Indiana).
The Series with Illinois
• This marks the 152nd meeting between the Wildcats and the Fighting Illini in men's basketball; Illinois leads the series, 117-43.
• Last year, the teams split two games (NU won 70-60 in Evanston, Illinois won 66-56 in Champaign).
• NU head coach Bill Carmody is 1-6 all-time against the Illini.
• This is the first time NU and Illinois have met where one of the teams was ranked No. 1 in the country.
NU vs. Number 1
Northwestern has played 12 games against No. 1-ranked teams in its history...
12/3/1988 -- at #1 Duke 86, NU 62
12/20/80 -- #1 DePaul 62, NU 54 (played at Allstate Arena)
3/1/76 -- #1 Indiana 76, at NU 63
1/5/76 -- at #1 Indiana 78, NU 61
2/15/75 -- at #1 Indiana 82, NU 58
1/18/75 -- #1 Indiana 82, at NU 56
1/24/69 -- #1 UCLA 81, NU 67 (played at Chicago Stadium)
12/28/63 -- #1 Loyola 88, NU 82 (played in Philadelphia, Pa.)
2/3/62 -- at #1 Ohio State 97, NU 61
1/6/62 -- #1 Ohio State 85, at NU 62
2/13/61 -- at #1 Ohio State 89, NU 65
1/14/61 -- #1 Ohio State 79, at NU 45
