Nicole Anderson Office Administrator | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Nicole Anderson Office Administrator | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois forward Will Riley has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the 2024-25 season, as announced by the conference office. This recognition follows a remarkable performance by Riley with the Fighting Illini.
Riley set a new record for an Illinois freshman debut last Monday, scoring 31 points on 10-for-13 shooting. His performance included five successful three-pointers out of six attempts and six free throws out of seven in a victory over Eastern Illinois. This achievement marked the first time an Illini freshman scored 30 points in their debut, surpassing Adam Miller's previous record of 28 points set on November 25, 2020. It also stands as the highest point total by any Big Ten freshman in their debut since the start of the 2007-08 season. Additionally, Riley contributed seven rebounds and three assists against EIU.
In Friday's game against SIU Edwardsville, Riley continued his strong play by scoring 14 points.
Throughout the week, Riley averaged a team-leading 22.7 points along with seven rebounds per game. He maintained impressive shooting percentages: 60% overall (15-25), 72.7% from beyond the arc (8-11), and 77.8% from the free throw line (7-9).
The Fighting Illini will return to action Wednesday night at State Farm Center when they host Oakland at 8 p.m. CT on BTN. Tickets can be purchased online at FightingIllini.com.
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