1922–23 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

1922–23 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
Conference Big Ten Conference
1922–23 record 9–6 (7–5 Big Ten)
Head coach J. Craig Ruby
Captain Norton Hellstrom
Home arena Kenney Gym
1922–23 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
Iowa 11 1   .917     13 2   .867
Wisconsin 11 1   .917     12 3   .800
Michigan 8 4   .667     11 4   .733
Illinois 7 5   .583     9 6   .600
Purdue 7 5   .583     9 6   .600
Chicago 6 6   .500     6 9   .400
Indiana 5 7   .417     8 7   .533
Northwestern 3 9   .250     5 10   .333
Ohio State 1 11   .083     4 11   .267
Minnesota 1 11   .083     2 13   .133
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1922–23 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

Regular season

Craig Ruby, a two-time All-American and All-Missouri Valley Conference forward for the University of Missouri Tigers, came to the University of Illinois after being the head coach of his alma-mater from 1920–1922. Compiling a record of 33 wins and only 2 losses at Missouri, Ruby was recruited by University of Illinois athletic director George Huff to take over the Fighting Illini’s men’s basketball coaching duties. The 1922–23 season, the first of 14 for Ruby, was also the first of twelve winning seasons as head coach. During this season, five of the Illini's six losses would be at the hands of Big Ten Conference opponents, placing them in a tie for fourth place.[1] The overall record for this team would be nine wins and six losses. The Big Ten record for the season would be seven wins and five losses. The starting lineup included captain Norton Hellstrom, Wally Roettger, and G.E. Potter at forward, Leland Stillwell at center, and Jack Lipe, and R.H. Popken as guards.[2]

Team

No. Player Position Class Hometown
1 Norton Hellstrom (capt.) Forward Senior Evanston, Illinois
2 J.A. Van Doren Guard Sophomore Quincy, Illinois
3 Wally Roettger Forward Junior St. Louis, Missouri
4 A.C. Baur Center Senior Chicago, Illinois
5 Glenn E. Potter Forward Junior Orange, California
6 Roland H. Popken Guard Junior Oak Park, Illinois
7 Jack Lipe Guard Sophomore Decatur, Illinois
8 J.W. "Hank" Hansen Forward Junior Brookston, Indiana
9 Cecil F. Hollopeter Guard Sophomore Spencerville, Indiana
10 George Dawson Guard Junior Wheaton, Illinois
11 C.M. White Forward Junior Chicago, Illinois
12 Philip S. Durant Forward Senior Wheaton, Illinois
13 Leland Stillwell Center Junior Olney, Illinois
14 John C. Happenny Guard Sophomore Revere, Massachusetts
15 J.K. Jones Guard Senior Wayne, Nebraska
16 T. Don Karnes Forward Sophomore Fairbury, Illinois
17 W.W. McIllwain Forward Sophomore Highland Park, Illinois
18 Curtis R. Parker Forward Sophomore Fort Wayne, Indiana
19 Emil G. Schultz Center Sophomore Geneseo, Illinois
20 T.L. Stoik Guard Sophomore Clinton, Iowa
21 G.A. Walker Forward Sophomore Danville, Illinois
22 H.E. Wessman Forward Junior Rockford, Illinois
23 J.F. Winkler Forward Junior Chicago, Illinois

[3]

Schedule

DateOpponent Score Result LocationAttendance
December 16, 1922Washington University29–14WinUrbana, IL4,630
December 21, 1922Notre Dame41–38WinUrbana, IL-
December 22, 1922Butler25–29LossUrbana, IL-
January 8, 1923Ohio State36–31WinColumbus, OH-
January 13, 1923Indiana31–22WinUrbana, IL3,794
January 16, 1923Michigan13–30LossAnn Arbor, MI-
January 20, 1923Purdue20–24LossUrbana, IL-
February 2, 1923Minnesota24–21WinMinneapolis, MN-
February 7, 1923University of Chicago20–18WinUrbana, IL-
February 12, 1923Indiana24–31LossBloomington, IN-
February 17, 1923Purdue28–26WinWest Lafayette, IN-
February 19, 1923Minnesota25–18WinUrbana, IL-
February 24, 1923University of Chicago20–24LossChicago, IL-
February 26, 1923Michigan20–27LossUrbana, IL-
March 5, 1923Ohio State37–21WinUrbana, IL-

Bold Italic connotes conference game

References

  1. A Century of Orange and Blue: Celebrating 100 Years of Fighting Illini Basketball By Loren Tate, Jared Gelfond pg.18 ISBN 1-58261-793-7
  2. Fighting Illini Basketball: A Hardwood History By News-Gazette, Sports Publishing LLC ISBN 1-58261-356-7
  3. All-Time Illini Rosters