1947–48 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

1947–48 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
Conference Big Ten Conference
1947–48 record 15–5 (7–5 Big Ten)
Head coach Harry Combes
Assistant coach Howie Braun
Assistant coach Wally Roettger
MVP Jack Burmaster
Captain Jack Burmaster
Home arena Huff Hall
1947–48 Big Nine Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
Michigan 10 2   .833     16 6   .727
Iowa 8 4   .667     15 4   .789
Illinois 7 5   .583     15 5   .750
Wisconsin 7 5   .583     12 8   .600
Purdue 6 6   .500     11 9   .550
Minnesota 5 7   .417     10 10   .500
Ohio State 5 7   .417     10 10   .500
Indiana 3 9   .250     8 12   .400
Northwestern 3 9   .250     6 14   .300
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1947–48 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

Regular season

After 11 seasons that included three Big Ten Conference championships and a trip to the NCAA tournament, Doug Mills would remove himself as head coach of the Fighting Illini, however; he would remain as the University of Illinois athletic director until 1966. Replacing Mills would be a former Illini player, Harry Combes. Ironically, Combes was a senior during Mills' first season with the Fighting Illini, a team that would win the conference championship. During Combes' 20 years as head coach, the Illini would win 316 games while losing only 150, a .678 winning percentage. During conference play, his teams would win 174 times while only losing 104 games. Combes still owns several Illini coaching records including winning 4 conference championships. Combes most significant feat over his 20 years would be his back-to-back NCAA tournament third place finishes in 1951 and 1952. Combes came to Illinois after spending five seasons at Champaign High School where he served as boys basketball and baseball coach. While at Champaign High School, from 1939 to 1947, he compiled an impressive of 254-46 record in basketball and an equally substantial baseball record of 70-26-2 (.724) over a five-year period (1937–1942).

With the 'Whiz Kids' gone, a fresh start with a couple of All-American athletes would be the focus for the new head coach. Bill Erickson, Dwight Eddleman, Jack Burmaster, Wally Osterkorn, Fred Green, Burdette Thurlby and Jim Marks would return from a team that finished with an overall record of 14-6, placing second in the Big Ten.

Roster

No Player Position Height Weight Class Hometown High School
7 Robert Menke Center 6' 3" 185 Junior Elgin, Illinois Elgin High School
9 Dick Foley Guard 6' 0" 160 Junior Paris, Illinois Paris High School
11 Jack Burmaster (captain) Forward 6' 2" 188 Senior Elgin, Illinois Elgin High School
13 Walter Osterkorn Center 6' 4" 205 Sophomore Chicago, Illinois Amundsen High School
14 Burdette Thurlby Forward 6' 2" 180 Sophomore Kirkland, Illinois Kirkland High School
16 Bob Doster Forward 6' 1" 170 Junior Decatur, Illinois Decatur High School
17 Joseph Rodriguez Guard 5' 10" 165 Senior Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls High School
19 Bob Rowe Center 6' 7" 200 Junior Warren, Illinois Warren High School
21 Walt Kersulis Center 6' 4" 190 Sophomore East St. Louis, Illinois East St. Louis Senior High School
22 Van Anderson Forward 6' 2" 190 Sophomore Sullivan, Illinois Sullivan Community High School
24 Benton Odum Forward 6-1/2 175 Sophomore Marion, Illinois Marion High School
26 Stanley Fronczak Guard 6' 2" 200 Senior Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn High School
27 Jim Marks Forward 6' 1" 175 Junior Edwardsville, Illinois Edwardsville High School
29 Dwight Humphrey Forward 5' 9" 145 Junior Moline, Illinois Moline High School
33 Bill Erickson Forward 6' 1" 174 Sophomore Rockford, Illinois East High School
40 Dwight Eddleman Forward 6' 2" 190 Junior Centralia, Illinois Centralia High School
48 Fred Green Center 6' 7" 206 Junior Urbana, Illinois Urbana High School

Record

DateOpponent Score Result LocationAttendance
December 5, 1947Coe67–27WinChampaign, IL6,905
December 8, 1947Notre Dame40–38WinChampaign, IL6,905
December 13, 1947Pittsburgh70–33WinChampaign, IL6,905
December 20, 1947Penn70–44WinPhiladelphia, PA2,500
December 22, 1947Washington State71–35WinChampaign, IL5,196
December 23, 1947Washington State59–42WinChampaign, IL4,142
January 1, 1948Harvard77–41WinChampaign, IL6,905
January 3, 1948Wisconsin47–52LossMadison, WI13,000
January 5, 1948Northwestern52–47WinChampaign, IL6,905
January 10, 1948Ohio State61-58WinChampaign, IL6,905
January 17, 1948Minnesota51–59LossMinneapolis, MN16,690
January 19, 1948Indiana46–45WinChampaign, IL6,905
January 24, 1948Wisconsin57–36WinChampaign, IL6,905
January 28, 1948Marquette88–66WinMilwaukee, WI5,200
February 7, 1948Michigan57–66LossChampaign, IL6,905
February 9, 1948Iowa61–70LossIowa City, IA16,048
February 14, 1948Ohio State50–57LossColumbus, OH4,449
February 21, 1948Purdue98–54WinWest Lafayette, IN6,905
February 28, 1948Northwestern60–43WinChicago, IL17,680
March 1, 1948Indiana52–51WinBloomington, IN10,500

Bold Italic connotes conference game

Player stats

Player Games Played Field Goals Free Throws Points
Dwight Eddleman 2011547277
Jack Burmaster 187234178
Bill Erickson 185537147
Wally Osterkorn 154845141
Fred Green184321107
Jim Marks 15331884
Burdette Thurlby 17281874
Walt Kersulis 15251868
Van Anderson1421850
Stan Fronczak 1721749
Dick Foley 1613632
Bob Doster73410
Cliff Fulton 5306
Benton Odum 2204
Joe Rodriguez2113
Tom Gallagher6102
Bob Menke1102
Robert Rowe 1000
Dwight Humphrey5000

[2]


Awards and honors

Team players drafted into the NBA

Round Pick Player NBA Club
2-Jack BurmasterSt. Louis Bombers

[4]

References