12/1-Tisdale named Big Ten Co-Player of Week

Sophomore Mike Tisdale earns his first player of the week award after being named MVP of the South Padre Island Invitational where he helped lead Illinois to the tournament championship. Tisdale averaged 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks over two games. The Riverton, Ill., native scored a career-high 20 points while tying his career high with seven rebounds in the come-from-behind win over Kent State. Tisdale was again the games leading scorer the following night, registering 12 points in the title game vs. Tulsa while grabbing seven boards in his second consecutive contest. Averaging 34.5 minutes of action, he also tallied three blocked shots in each outing. The young center scored 10 of Illinois last 15 points vs. Kent State, including the Illinis first three baskets of overtime, highlighted by an up-and-under move that put the Illini up 66-63 with 22 seconds left. Tisdales late game heroics continued as he broke a 44-all tie vs. Tulsa with the games final two field goals, to put the Illini up by the final margin of four points.