Honors and Tradition
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HONORS AND TRADITION ORANGE KRUSH . 142 HONORED JERSEYS . .143-145 HONORED COACHES . 146 LOU HENSON COURT . 146 ALL-AMERICANS . .147-148 NATIONAL HONORS . 148 ALL-BIG TEN SELECTIONS . .149-150 BIG TEN HONORS . 150 ILLINOIS HONORS . .151-152 ILLINI IN THE NBA . .153-154 ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS . .155-160 HEAD MANAGERS . 160 ILLINI BY THE NUMBERS . .161-164 HONORS AND TRADITION ORANGE KRUSH “The Orange Krush are super, scintillating and sensational! They are a fantastic sixth man for the Fighting Illini. However, what makes them so unique is their willingness to help people in need and helping out with various charities, such as the V Foundation. Yes, they are special. To put it in ‘Vitalese’ they are awesome, baby, with a capital A!” –– ESPN Analyst Dick Vitale Orange Krush is a student-run cheering section of dedicated Illini students who love basketball, with more than 900 students standing courtside to cheer on the Illinois men’s basketball team. Not only is the Orange Krush considered one of the nation’s premier basketball student sections, it also is a charity foundation as well. Founded in 1998, the Orange Krush Foundation is a University of Illinois student- run foundation intent on improving the quality of life for the youth and young adults of the Champaign-Urbana and campus community by providing financial support and contributing community service to area not-for-profit organizations. Since the inception of the Orange Krush Foundation, Krush members have raised and donated more than $2.8 million to charity. The Orange Krush Foundation is almost entirely student-run and has donated funds to worthy causes including The V Foundation for Cancer Research, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Make- A-Wish Foundation, Coaches vs. Cancer and the Developmental Services Center. In addition, the Orange Krush Foundation also funds scholarship. Krush began its scholarship endeavors by creating the Matthew Heldman Memorial Fund, which honors Matthew Heldman, a point guard for the Illini’s 1998 Big Ten Championship Team, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1999. The fund, in his name, endows a scholarship for a future Illini basketball player. After five years, the Orange Krush fulfilled the $250,000 commitment, and the fund is fully endowed. Orange Krush began its newest endeavor in 2009, announcing the Lou Henson Coaching Development Endowment Fund. Named in honor During the 2003 season, the Orange Krush Foundation announced of former Illinois head coach Lou Henson, this $500,000 pledge will be the formation of the Rod Cardinal Sports Medicine Fund. This fund used as a fund to promote the basketball coaching profession within the pays tribute to Rod Cardinal, who was the University of Illinois men’s younger generation, supporting people entering the coaching profession basketball athletic trainer for 30 years. The endowment benefits all in positions such as graduate assistant, director of basketball operations student trainers at the University of Illinois, which in turn benefits all and video coordinator. varsity athletic teams. Krush completed fundraising for this fund in 2006. Visit illinipride.com to view a list of all charities that have benefited from the Orange Krush Foundation and how each group has utilized At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Orange Krush created the Louis their donation. and Dawn M. Weber Student Manager Enhancement Fund. Named in memory of former coach Bruce Weber’s parents, the fund benefits Illinois’ men’s basketball managers. 142 // FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL // 1,778 VICTORIES // 17 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS // 30 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES // FIVE FINAL FOURS HONORS AND TRADITION HONORED JERSEYS The University of Illinois has honored its most decorated basketball players in school history by hanging a banner with their name and number from the rafters of State Farm Center. A total of 33 men’s players have earned a spot on this distinguished list. Players selected to have their jerseys hung must have achieved any of the following criteria: 1) National Player of the Year; 2) Enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame; 3) U.S. Olympian; 4) Big Ten Player of the Year; 5) Consensus First- or Second-Team All-American; 6) Illinois All-Century Team Member; 7) Individual whose pioneering efforts made a significant impact on Illinois and international basketball. #11 DEE BROWN (G, 2003-06) of the Year … Third-Team All-American in 2003 … Ranks 2006 Bob Cousy Award winner as a senior as nation’s fifth on the Illini all-time scoring list with 1,748 points and top point guard … NCAA Consensus Second-Team All- seventh on the career rebounding list with 815 … Led the American … Wooden Award All-America Team … Frances Big Ten in scoring in 2003 with an average of 20.0 points Pomeroy Naismith Award winner as nation’s top player per game … Set the Illini single-season free throw record 6-0 and under … First-Team All-Big Ten selection, in 2002 by making 96-110 for 87.3 percent … Played in USBWA District V Player of the Year and NABC First-Team 98 wins over his Illini career, ninth-most in school history. All-District selection … Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient … Sporting News National Player of the Year as a junior #30 FRANK WILLIAMS (G, 2000-02) in 2005 … NCAA Consensus First-Team All-American All-Century Team member … Earned Wooden Award All- … Wooden Award All-America Team … Big Ten Player America Team honors in 2001 and was honorable mention of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 … Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Silver … USBWA District V Player of the Year and NABC First- Basketball Award winner in 2001 … First-Team All-Big Ten Dee Brown Frank Williams (right) Team All-District … Winningest player in school history, in 2001 and 2002 … Wooden Award nominee in 2001 and playing in 114 wins during his career … Ranks fourth 2002 … Ranks 17th on the Illini career scoring list with all-time at Illinois in scoring (1,812 points), second in career 1,440 points, a career 14.3 scoring average … Ranks ninth 3-pointers (299) and steals (231) and third in assists (674). in school history in career assists with 432 and fourth in career steals with 212 … Holds the Illini record with most #5 DERON WILLIAMS (G, 2003-05) free-throw attempts in a game with 24 … Illini team MVP Won two gold medals with Team USA at the 2008 and 2012 in 2001 and 2002 after helping Illinois to shares of the Big Olympic Games … NCAA Consensus Second-Team All- Ten title each season. American as a junior at Illinois in 2005 … Wooden Award All-America Team … Second-Team All-America selection #25 DEON THOMAS (F/C, 1991-94) by Sporting News and NABC … Third-Team All-American All-Century Team member … Illinois’ all-time leading by the Associated Press … First-Team All-Big Ten selection scorer with 2,129 points, and fourth all-time leading by both media and coaches … USBWA All-District and rebounder with 846 … Averaged 18.0 points per game over Deron Williams NABC First-Team All-District selection … NCAA Chicago Deon Thomas his career and was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in Regional Most Outstanding Player … NCAA Final Four All- 1992, 1993 and 1994, after earning Third-Team honors in Tournament Team … Averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 assists 1991 … Holds Illini records for most field goals in a career in 2005 … First-Team All-Big Ten, USBWA All-District, (803) and most free throws in a game with 19 … Ranks NABC Second-Team All-District and Big Ten All-Tournament second in school history with 177 blocks ... Illini team MVP Team selection as a sophomore in 2004 … Only player in in 1992, 1993 and 1994 … Set Illini freshman scoring record Big Ten history to lead the conference in assists in each of with 34 points against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. his first three seasons … Ranks 43rd all-time at Illinois in scoring (1,111 points) and fourth in career assists (594). #13 KENDALL GILL (G, 1987-90) All-Century Team member … Earned First-Team All- #4 LUTHER HEAD (G, 2002-05) America honors in 1990 after leading the Big Ten in scoring NCAA Consensus Second-Team All-American as a senior at 20.0 points per game … First-team All-Big Ten in 1990 in 2005 … Second-Team All-America selection by the and Honorable-mention in 1989 … Helped the Flying Illini to Associated Press, USBWA and NABC … First-Team All-Big the 1989 Final Four … Still ranks 19th on the Illini career Luther Head Ten selection by both media and coaches … USBWA All- Kendall Gill scoring list with 1,409 points… Third on the Illini career District and NABC First-Team All-District selection steals list with 218 … First-round NBA draft pick by the … Earned three accolades during the postseason: Big Charlotte Hornets … Also spent time with Seattle, New Ten All-Tournament Team, NCAA Chicago Regional All- Jersey, Miami, Minnesota, Chicago and Milwaukee … Helped Tournament Team and NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Illini to the NCAA Tournament each of his four seasons. Team … Led the Illini in scoring, averaging 15.9 points … Led the Big Ten in 3-pointers, setting an Illini school #25 NICK ANDERSON (F, 1988-89) record with 116 treys on the season … Ranks 24th all- All-Century Team member … First-Team All-Big Ten in time at Illinois in scoring (1,295 points), eighth in career 1989 and Second-Team in 1988 … Honorable-Mention All- 3-pointers (209) and 10th in career steals (158). American in 1988 and 1989 … Illini Co-MVP in 1988 and team’s MVP in 1989 … Was the first player ever drafted by #34 BRIAN COOK (F, 2000-03) the Orlando Magic in 1989 … Played 13 years in the NBA All-Century