1941–42 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode=Basketball
|year=1941–42
|team=Illinois Fighting Illini
|image=1941–42_Illinois_Fighting_Illini_men's_basketball_team.jpg
|image_size= 300px
|conference=Big Ten Conference
|division=
|short_conf=Big Ten
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=18–5
|conf_record=13–2
|head_coach=Douglas R. Mills
|asst_coach1=Howie Braun
|asst_coach2=Wally Roettger
|asst_coach3=Lou Boudreau
|hc_year=6th
|ac1_year=5th
|ac2_year=7th
|ac3_year=1st
| captain = William Hocking
| mvp = Andy Phillip
| mvp2 =
|stadium=Huff Hall
|champion=Big Ten champions
|bowl=
|bowl_result=
}}
{{1941–42 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1941–42 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois.
Regular season
The Illinois Fighting Illini finished the season with a record of 18 wins and 5 losses. Under the direction of head coach and athletic director Douglas Mills, the Illini grouped a team of players, all around 6' 3", into a nearly undefeatable lineup later to be known as "The Whiz Kids". This group captured the attention of the entire nation while winning back-to-back conference titles and combining for a 35-6 record, 25-2 in the Big Ten over those two seasons. They dazzled crowds everywhere averaging 58 points per game, while most teams were averaging in the low 40s. Primarily made up of sophomores, they dominated the 1941-42 conference basketball season by posting a 13 – 2 record. A starting lineup consisting of Arthur "Jack" Smiley, Ken Menke, Andy Phillip, Ellis "Gene" Vance, Victor Wukovits and Art Mathisen, developed a winning attitude that would maintain for the next 15 years, a time period where the Illini would finish no less than third in the conference for 13 of them. The 1942 NCAA tournament was only in its fourth year of existence and was staged around the collegiate basketball coaches convention being held at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. The warm weather and unsufferable humidity caused the young Illini to lose two games in a period of two days.
The final living Whiz Kid, Gene Vance, died in 2012.
=Roster=
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1941|team=Illinois Fighting Illini|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Henry|last=Sachs|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=|class=SR|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Raymond|last=Bergeson|num=5|pos=C|ft=6|in=4|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Bridgeton, New Jersey|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Clifton|last=Fulton|num=6|pos=G|ft=5|in=10|lbs=|class=FR|rs=|home=Pittsburg, Kansas|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Raymond|last=Grierson|num=7|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=FR|rs=|home=Champaign, Illinois|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Edwin|last=Parker|num=8|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=JR|rs=|home=Taft, California|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kenneth|last=Parker|num=9|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=|class=JR|rs=|home=Granite City, Illinois|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bishop|last=Barrick|num=10|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Stillman Valley, Illinois|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kenneth|last=Brown|num=11|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Catlin, Illinois|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=David|last=Dillon|num=12|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=SR|rs=|home=Sturgis, Michigan|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Victor|last=Wukovits|num=13|pos=C|ft=6|in=3|lbs=|class=SR|rs=|home=Mishawaka, Indiana|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Johnson|last=Johnson|num=14|pos=F|ft=6|in=1|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=-|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Arthur|last=Smiley|num=15|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Waterman, Illinois|link=y|alt=Jack Smiley}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=William|last=Hocking|num=16|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=|class=SR|rs=|home=Evanston, Illinois|link=n|note=C}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Herbert|last=Matter|num=17|pos=F|ft=6|in=0|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Naperville, Illinois|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Robert|last=Shapland|num=18|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Champaign, Illinois|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Arthur|last=Mathisen|num=19|pos=C|ft=6|in=5|lbs=|class=JR|rs=|home=Dwight, Illinois|link=y|alt=Art Mathisen}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Daryl|last=Shapiro|num=20|pos=G|ft=5|in=6|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Toledo, Ohio|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ellis|last=Vance|num=25|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=JR|rs=|home=Clinton, Illinois|link=y|alt=Gene Vance}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Charles|last=Fowler|num=33|pos=F|ft=5|in=9|lbs=|class=FR|rs=|home=Watseka, Illinois|link=n}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ken|last=Menke|num=38|pos=F|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Dundee, Illinois|link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Andrew|last=Phillip|num=47|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=SO|rs=|home=Granite City, Illinois|link=y|alt=Andy Phillip}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Douglas Mills (University of Illinois) (6th year)
|asst_coach=
- Wally Roettger (University of Illinois) (7th year)
- Howie Braun (University of Illinois) (5th year)
- Lou Boudreau (University of Illinois) (1st year)
|roster_url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/7/18/mbb_alltimerosters_1925_1949.aspx?#1942
|accessdate=
}}
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes|rank=|tv=|gamehighs=|time=}}
|-
!colspan=12 style="background:#DF4E38; color:white;"| Non-Conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/9/1941
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Marquette Golden Eagles|title=Marquette}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 45–43
| overtime =
| attend = 3,990
| record = 1–0 }}
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/13/1941
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Chanute Air Force Base|title=Chanute Field}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 38–40
| overtime =
| attend = 4,068
| record = 1–1 }}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/17/1941
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Butler Bulldogs|title=Butler}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 52–50
| overtime =
| attend = 3,903
| record = 2–1 }}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/20/1941
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf = yes
|away=yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Detroit Titans|title=Detroit}}
| site_stadium = Titans Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Detroit, MI
| gamename =
| score = 49–34
| overtime =
| attend = -
| record = 3–1 }}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/23/1941
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Notre Dame Fighting Irish|title=Notre Dame}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 48–29
| overtime =
| attend = 3,405
| record = 4–1 }}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 12/30/1941
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Harvard Crimson|title=Harvard}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 39–30
| overtime =
| attend = 3,116
| record = 5–1 }}
|-
!colspan=9 style="background:#DF4E38; color:#FFFFFF;"|Big Ten regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/3/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
|away=yes
| opponent = Wisconsin
| site_stadium = Wisconsin Field House
| site_cityst = Madison, WI
| gamename =
| score = 55–40
| overtime =
| attend = 7,000
| record = 6–1 |conference=1–0}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/10/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
|away=yes
| opponent = Michigan
| site_stadium = Yost Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI
| gamename =
| score = 44–40
| overtime =
| attend = 3,500
| record = 7–1 |conference=2–0}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/12/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
|away=yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Ohio State Buckeyes|title=Ohio State}}
| site_stadium = Ohio Expo Center Coliseum
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| gamename =
| score = 58–49
| overtime =
| attend = 2,658
| record = 8–1 |conference=3–0}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/17/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Chicago Maroons|title=University of Chicago}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 54–26
| overtime =
| attend = 4,349
| record = 9–1 |conference=4–0}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/19/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Iowa Hawkeyes|title=Iowa}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename = Rivalry
| score = 42–35
| overtime =
| attend = 5,195
| record = 10–1 |conference=5–0}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 1/24/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 49–36
| overtime =
| attend = 7,051
| record = 11-1 |conference=6–0}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/7/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Northwestern Wildcats|title=Northwestern}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename = Rivalry
| score = 41–33
| overtime =
| attend = 6,915
| record = 12–1 |conference=7–0}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/9/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
|away=yes
| opponent = Indiana
| site_stadium = The Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN
| gamename = Rivalry
| score = 36–41
| overtime =
| attend = 6,200
| record = 12–2 |conference=7–1}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/14/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
| opponent = Michigan
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 55–29
| overtime =
| attend = 3,500
| record = 13–2 |conference=8–1}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/16/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|away=yes
|nonconf =
| opponent = Minnesota
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| gamename =
| score = 41–37
| overtime =
| attend = 13,013
| record = 14–2 |conference=9–1}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/21/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
| opponent =Ohio State
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 48–31
| overtime =
| attend = 5,195
| record = 15–2 |conference=10–1}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/23/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
| opponent = Wisconsin
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 45–43
| overtime =
| attend = 6,105
| record = 16–2 |conference=11–1}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 2/28/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
|away=yes
| opponent =Northwestern
| site_stadium = Chicago Stadium
| site_cityst = Chicago, IL
| gamename =Rivalry
| score = 63–49
| overtime =
| attend = 18,000
| record = 17–2 |conference=12–1}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/2/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
|away=yes
| opponent = Iowa
| site_stadium = Iowa Field House
| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA
| gamename =Rivalry
| score = 32–46
| overtime =
| attend = 13,500
| record = 17–3 |conference=12–2}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/7/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf =
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Purdue Boilermakers|title=Purdue}}
| site_stadium = Huff Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, IL
| gamename =
| score = 34–32
| overtime =
| attend = 7,035
| record = 18–3 |conference=13–2}}
|-
!colspan=9 style="text-align: center; background:#DF4E38"|NCAA Tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/20/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf = yes
| opponent = Kentucky
| site_stadium = Tulane Gym
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename = First Round|neutral=yes
| score = 44–46
| overtime =
| attend = 3,500
| record = 18–4}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = 3/21/1942
|time =
|tv =
|rank =
|nonconf = yes
| opponent = {{cbb link|1941|team=Penn State Nittany Lions|title=Penn State}}
| site_stadium = Tulane Gym
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename = East Regional Third Place
| score = 34–41|neutral=yes
| overtime =
| attend = 3,500
| record = 18–5}}
{{CBB schedule end||timezone=Central Time}}
Player stats
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| Player
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| Games Played !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| Field Goals !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| Free Throws !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| Points | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Andy Phillip | 23 | 87 | 58 | 232 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Ken Menke | 23 | 93 | 38 | 224 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Victor Wukovits | 23 | 51 | 35 | 137 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Arthur Mathisen | 22 | 41 | 48 | 130 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Jack Smiley | 23 | 43 | 20 | 106 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Gene Vance | 23 | 44 | 10 | 98 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Charles Fowler | 14 | 14 | 4 | 32 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|William Hocking | 15 | 10 | 4 | 24 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Henry Sachs | 10 | 11 | 1 | 23 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Edwin Parker | 15 | 9 | 4 | 22 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Raymond Grierson | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Herbert Matter | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|David Dillon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Cliff Fulton | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Raymond Bergeson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
|Bishop Barrick | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| align="center" bgcolor="" |
Awards and honors
- Andy Phillip
- National Player of the Year
- Consensus All-American
- Big Ten Player of the Year
- Pic Magazine 2nd team All-American
- Converse 3rd team All-American
- Team Most Valuable Player {{Cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf |title=List of MVPs |access-date=2013-01-15 |archive-date=2014-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030004049/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf |url-status=dead }}
- Fighting Illini All-Century team (2005)
- Gene Vance
- Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American
- Fighting Illini All-Century team (2005)
- Jack Smiley
- Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American
- Art Mathisen
- Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American
- Ken Menke
- Sporting News Honorable Mention All-American
- Converse Honorable Mention All-American
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1941-42 Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team}}
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball seasons
Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball