1954–55 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

Head coach Harry Combes, in his eighth year at Illinois, directed a youthful team with only three returning seniors, none of which were regular players. Combes' team, once again, was primarily made of sophomores and juniors recruited from the state of Illinois.

The 1954-55 team had some talented juniors including the return of twin brothers, Paul and Phil Judson from Hebron, Illinois, Bruce Brothers and Bill Ridley. It also added sophomores George Bon Salle, Bill Altenberger, Hiles Stout, and future Illini head coach, Harv Schmidt. Exactly like the previous season, the Illini finished with a conference record of 10 wins and 4 losses, finishing in a 2nd place tie in the Big Ten. The Illini lost 5 total games with three of the five losses coming at the hands of ranked opponents. The starting lineup included George Bon Salle at the center position, Bill Ridley and Bill Altenberger at guard and Bruce Brothers and Paul Judson at the forward slots.Fighting Illini Basketball: A Hardwood History By News-Gazette, Sports Publishing LLC {{ISBN|1-58261-356-7}}

{{CBB roster/Header|year=1954|team=Illinois Fighting Illini|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Morris|last=Sterneck|num=7|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=175|class=SR|rs=|home=Salem, Illinois|high_school=[http://salemhigh.com/ Salem High School]|link=n|note=C}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Elmer|last=Plew|num=9|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=170|class=SR|rs=|home=Paris, Illinois |high_school=Paris High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Hiles|last=Stout|num=10|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=205|class=SO|rs=|home=Peoria, Illinois|high_school=Central High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill|last=Ridley|num=11|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|lbs=160|class=JR|rs=|home=Taylorville, Illinois|high_school=Taylorville High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=James|last=Burks|num=16|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=210|class=SO|rs=|home=Horse Cave, Kentucky|high_school=Caverna High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill|last=Altenberger|num=20|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=175|class=SO|rs=|home=East St. Louis, Illinois|high_school=Senior High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=George|last=Bon Salle|num=22|pos=C|ft=6|in=7|lbs=215|class=SO|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=Loyola Academy|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jim|last=Dutcher|num=27|pos=F|ft=6|in=3|lbs=185|class=SR|rs=|home=Downers Grove, Illinois|high_school=Downers Grove High School|link=|alt=Jim Dutcher (basketball)}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Phil|last=Judson|num=30|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=165|class=JR|rs=|home=Hebron, Illinois|high_school=Alden-Hebron High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bruce|last=Brothers|num=32|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=200|class=JR|rs=|home=Quincy, Illinois|high_school=Quincy Senior High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Harvard|last=Schmidt|num=33|pos=G|ft=6|in=6|lbs=190|class=SO|rs=|home=Kankakee, Illinois|high_school=Kankakee High School|link=y|alt=Harv Schmidt}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Paul|last=Judson|num=34|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=170|class=JR|rs=|home=Hebron, Illinois|high_school=Alden-Hebron High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

• Harry Combes (University of Illinois) (8th year)

|asst_coach=

• Howie Braun (University of Illinois) (18th year)

|roster_url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1954-55

|accessdate=

}}

{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes|rank=yes|tv=no|gamehighs=no|time=no}}[https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1954-55 Schedule]

|-

!colspan=12 style="background:#DF4E38; color:white;"| Non-Conference regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/2/1954

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Butler Bulldogs|title=Butler}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 88–34

| overtime =

| attend = 4,566

| record = 1-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/4/1954

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Missouri Tigers|title=Missouri}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 77–69

| overtime =

| attend = 4,766

| record = 2-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/11/1954

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 14

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Oklahoma State Cowboys|title=Oklahoma A&M}}

|opprank=11

| site_stadium = Gallagher Hall

| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK

| gamename =

| score = 59–53

| overtime =

| attend = 8,200

| record = 3-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/15/1954

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 3

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Miami RedHawks|title=Miami (OH)}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 97–72

| overtime =

| attend = 4,898

| record = 4-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/18/1954

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 3

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Notre Dame Fighting Irish|title=Notre Dame}}

|opprank=20

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 66–57

| overtime =

| attend = 6,804

| record = 5-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/21/1954

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 3

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Rice Owls|title=Rice}}

| site_stadium = Tudor Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Houston, TX

| gamename =

| score = 86–53

| overtime =

| attend = 3,300

| record = 6-0 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/22/1954

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 3

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Loyola Wolfpack|title=Loyola (New Orleans)}}

| site_stadium = The Den

| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA

| gamename =

| score = 66–72

| overtime =

| attend = -

| record = 6-1 }}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#DF4E38; color:#FFFFFF;"|Big Ten regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/1/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 6

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 64–79

| overtime =

| attend = 6,912

| record = 6-2 |conference=0-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/8/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 12

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 64–67

| overtime =

| attend = 6,912

| record = 7-2 |conference=1-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/10/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 12

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Purdue Boilermakers|title=Purdue}}

| site_stadium = Lambert Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = West Lafayette, IN

| gamename =

| score = 83–73

| overtime =

| attend = 9,700

| record = 8-2 |conference=2-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/15/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent ={{cbb link|1954|team=Ohio State Buckeyes|title=Ohio State}}

| site_stadium = Ohio Expo Center Coliseum

| site_cityst = Columbus, OH

| gamename =

| score = 86–78

| overtime =

| attend = 6,154

| record = 9-2 |conference=3-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/17/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 7

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Iowa

|opprank=19

| site_stadium = Iowa Field House

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 80–92

| overtime =

| attend = 15,000

| record = 9-3 |conference=3-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/29/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Loyola Ramblers|title=Loyola (Chicago)}}

| site_stadium = Chicago Stadium

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| gamename =

| score = 95–69

| overtime =

| attend = 12,181

| record = 10-3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/5/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Northwestern Wildcats|title=Northwestern}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 104–89

| overtime =

| attend = 5,844

| record = 11-3 |conference=4-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/7/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Yost Field House

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename =

| score = 81–80

| overtime =

| attend = 6,913

| record = 12-3 |conference=5-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/12/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}

|opprank=12

| site_stadium = Williams Arena

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| gamename =

| score = 71–78

| overtime = OT

| attend = 11,879

| record = 12-4 |conference=5-3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/14/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 10

|nonconf = no

| opponent = {{cbb link|1954|team=Michigan State Spartans|title=Michigan State}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 90–72

| overtime =

| attend = 6,912

| record = 13-4 |conference=6-3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/19/1955

| time = no

| tv = no

| rank = 14

| nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Wisconsin Field House

| site_cityst = Madison, WI

| gamename =

| score = 99–71

| overtime =

| attend = 12,100

| record = 14-4 |conference=7-3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/21/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 14

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Iowa |opprank=15

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 70–89

| overtime =

| attend = 6,912

| record = 14-5 |conference=7-4}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/26/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 13

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 85–77

| overtime =

| attend = 5,829

| record = 15-5 |conference=8-4}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/28/1955

| time = no

| tv = no

| rank = 13

| nonconf = no

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 81–75

| overtime =

| attend = 4,366

| record = 16-5 |conference=9-4}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/5/1955

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank = 17

|away=yes

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = McGaw Memorial Hall

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 81–69

| overtime =

| attend = 9,765

| record = 17-5 |conference=10-4}}

|-

{{CBB schedule end||timezone=Central Time}}

{{Cite web |url=http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/records/year-1954.html |title=Season Stats |access-date=2014-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319192705/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/records/year-1954.html |archive-date=2014-03-19 |url-status=dead }}

• Paul Judson
• International News Service Honorable Mention All-American
• Converse Honorable Mention 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=2013-01-18 |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 }}
• Bill Ridley
• Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American
• Converse Honorable Mention All-American
• George Bon Salle
• Converse Honorable Mention All-American

{{main|1954–55 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1954-55 Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team}}

Illinois Fighting Illini

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball seasons

Category:1954 in sports in Illinois

Category:1955 in sports in Illinois