1953–54 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

1953–54 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
Conference Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches #12
AP #19
1953–54 record 17–5 (10-4 Big Ten)
Head coach Harry Combes
Assistant coach Howie Braun
MVP John Kerr
Captain John Kerr
Home arena Huff Hall
1953–54 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
#4 Indiana 12 2   .857     20 4   .833
#13 Iowa 11 3   .786     17 5   .773
#19 Illinois 10 4   .714     17 5   .773
Minnesota 10 4   .714     17 5   .773
Wisconsin 6 8   .429     12 10   .545
Northwestern 6 8   .429     9 13   .409
Ohio State 5 9   .357     11 11   .500
Michigan State 4 10   .286     9 13   .409
Michigan 3 11   .214     9 13   .409
Purdue 3 11   .214     9 13   .409
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1953–54 Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team represented the University of Illiniois.

Regular season

In his seventh year at Illinois, Harry Combes continued to offer the fans of the Fighting Illini a successful team that they could be follow across the country to record crowds. The 1953-54 team returned one of the most dominate players in the NCAA, Johnny "Red" Kerr. During the season, Kerr shattered Illinois’ single-season scoring record by tallying 556 points in his senior year. Kerr’s 1,299 career points in three seasons currently ranks 20th on the all-time Illinois scoring list. After his Illinois career came to an end, Kerr started a 12-year professional career followed by becoming the first head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1966.

The 1954 team added twin brothers, Paul and Phil Judson from Hebron, Illinois, Bruce Brothers and Bill Ridley as sophomores. A youth movement that helped the Illini finish in a 3rd place tie in the Big Ten. Unfortunately the Illini would lose 5 total games with three of the five losses coming at the hands of ranked opponents. The starting lineup included captain John Kerr at the center position, Jim Wright and Paul Judson at guard and Bruce Brothers and Max Hooper at the forward slots. The team also included former University of Minnesota head coach Jim Dutcher.[1]

Roster

No. Player Position Height Weight Class Hometown High School
7 Morris Sterneck Guard 6–1 170 Junior Salem, Illinois Salem High School
9 Elmer Plew Guard 6-0 165 Junior Paris, Illinois Paris High School
11 Bill Ridley Guard 5–9 152 Sophomore Taylorville, Illinois Taylorville High School
12 Warren Wilkinson Guard 5–11 160 Sophomore West Frankfort, Illinois Frankfort Community High School
14 Robert Leigh Guard 6–1 170 Sophomore East Lynn, Illinois East Lynn High School
15 Doyle Glass Guard 5–11 180 Sophomore Pekin, Illinois Pekin High School
16 Jim Wright Guard 6–0 165 Senior Lawrenceville, Illinois Lawrenceville High School
22 Johnny Kerr (captain) Center 6–9 215 Senior Chicago, Illinois Tilden High School
24 Ed Makovsky Forward 6–5 205 Junior Cicero, Illinois Morton High School
25 Robert Reitsch Forward 6–3 185 Sophomore Rockford, Illinois Rockford West High School
27 Jim Dutcher Forward 6–3 188 Junior Downers Grove, Illinois Downers Grove High School
30 Phil Judson Guard 6-2 170 Sophomore Hebron, Illinois Alden-Hebron High School
32 Bruce Brothers Forward 6–5 200 Sophomore Quincy, Illinois Quincy Senior High School
34 Paul Judson Guard 6-3 195 Sophomore Hebron, Illinois Alden-Hebron High School
47 Max Hooper Forward 6–5 195 Senior Mt. Vernon, Illinois Mt. Vernon High School
48 Earl Newman Forward 6–3 220 Junior Chicago, Illinois Marshall High School

Schedule

DateOpponent Score Result LocationAttendance
December 1, 1953Ohio88–54WinChampaign, IL6,913
December 5, 1953Oklahoma86–61WinNorman, OK5,000
December 9, 1953Butler80–48WinChampaign, IL6,913
December 12, 1953Alabama77–54WinChampaign, IL6,410
December 19, 1953DePaul79–65WinChampaign, IL2,719
December 21, 1953Oklahoma A&M (#7)60–65LossChampaign, IL4,234
December 29, 1953Utah State88–61WinChampaign, IL2,649
January 1, 1954Minnesota (#6)72–84LossChampaign, IL6,193
January 4, 1954Northwestern66–65WinEvanston, IL9,253
January 9, 1954Michigan State59–60LossEast Lansing, MI9,002
January 11, 1954Ohio State90–76WinChampaign, IL8,683
January 16, 1954Ohio State82–78WinColumbus, OH8,683
January 18, 1954Iowa70–79LossChampaign, IL6,913
February 1, 1954DePaul71–61WinChicago, IL9,678
February 6, 1954Michigan87–68WinChampaign, IL6,913
February 8, 1954Purdue89–55WinChampaign, IL6,913
February 13, 1954Wisconsin70–64WinMadison, WI13,000
February 20, 1954Iowa (#10)74–51WinIowa City, IA15,700
February 22, 1954Wisconsin66–64WinChampaign, IL6,913
February 27, 1954Michigan79–61WinAnn Arbor, MI4,500
March 1, 1954Northwestern84–82WinChampaign, IL6,782
March 6, 1954Indiana (#2)64–67LossBloomington, IN11,000

Bold Italic connotes conference game

Player stats

Player Games Played Field Goals Free Throws Points
John Kerr 22210136556
Paul Judson229262246
Bruce Brothers226459187
Max Hooper 226734168
Jim Wright 225945163
Bill Ridley 193054114
Jim Dutcher 19303292
Ed Makovsky 22222165
Morris Sterneck 1617943
Elmer Plew 137620
Phil Judson94513
Warren Wilkinson 5215
Robert Reitsch 9124
Earl Newman 4022

[3]


Awards and honors

Team players drafted into the NBA

Player NBA ClubRoundPick
Johnny KerrSyracuse Nationals 1 6

[5]

References

  1. Fighting Illini Basketball: A Hardwood History By News-Gazette, Sports Publishing LLC ISBN 1-58261-356-7
  2. All-Time Illini Rosters
  3. Season Stats
  4. List of MVPs
  5. 1954 NBA Draft