1922–23 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

1922–23 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
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Conference	Big Ten Conference
1922–23 record	9–6 (7–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	J. Craig Ruby
Captain	Norton Hellstrom
Home arena	Kenney Gym

1922–23 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Iowa	11	–	1		.917			13	–	2		.867
Wisconsin	11	–	1		.917			12	–	3		.800
Michigan	8	–	4		.667			11	–	4		.733
Illinois	7	–	5		.583			9	–	6		.600
Purdue	7	–	5		.583			9	–	6		.600
Chicago	6	–	6		.500			6	–	9		.400
Indiana	5	–	7		.417			8	–	7		.533
Northwestern	3	–	9		.250			5	–	10		.333
Ohio State	1	–	11		.083			4	–	11		.267
Minnesota	1	–	11		.083			2	–	13		.133
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1922–23 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

Regular season

Craig Ruby, a two-time All-American and All-Missouri Valley Conference forward for the University of Missouri Tigers, came to the University of Illinois after being the head coach of his alma-mater from 1920–1922. Compiling a record of 33 wins and only 2 losses at Missouri, Ruby was recruited by University of Illinois athletic director George Huff to take over the Fighting Illini’s men’s basketball coaching duties. The 1922–23 season, the first of 14 for Ruby, was also the first of twelve winning seasons as head coach. During this season, five of the Illini's six losses would be at the hands of Big Ten Conference opponents, placing them in a tie for fourth place. The overall record for this team would be nine wins and six losses. The Big Ten record for the season would be seven wins and five losses. The starting lineup included captain Norton Hellstrom, Wally Roettger, and G.E. Potter at forward, Leland Stillwell at center, and Jack Lipe, and R.H. Popken as guards.

Team

No.	Player	Position	Class	Hometown
1	Norton Hellstrom (capt.)	Forward	Senior	Evanston, Illinois
2	J.A. Van Doren	Guard	Sophomore	Quincy, Illinois
3	Wally Roettger	Forward	Junior	St. Louis, Missouri
4	A.C. Baur	Center	Senior	Chicago, Illinois
5	Glenn E. Potter	Forward	Junior	Orange, California
6	Roland H. Popken	Guard	Junior	Oak Park, Illinois
7	Jack Lipe	Guard	Sophomore	Decatur, Illinois
8	J.W. "Hank" Hansen	Forward	Junior	Brookston, Indiana
9	Cecil F. Hollopeter	Guard	Sophomore	Spencerville, Indiana
10	George Dawson	Guard	Junior	Wheaton, Illinois
11	C.M. White	Forward	Junior	Chicago, Illinois
12	Philip S. Durant	Forward	Senior	Wheaton, Illinois
13	Leland Stillwell	Center	Junior	Olney, Illinois
14	John C. Happenny	Guard	Sophomore	Revere, Massachusetts
15	J.K. Jones	Guard	Senior	Wayne, Nebraska
16	T. Don Karnes	Forward	Sophomore	Fairbury, Illinois
17	W.W. McIllwain	Forward	Sophomore	Highland Park, Illinois
18	Curtis R. Parker	Forward	Sophomore	Fort Wayne, Indiana
19	Emil G. Schultz	Center	Sophomore	Geneseo, Illinois
20	T.L. Stoik	Guard	Sophomore	Clinton, Iowa
21	G.A. Walker	Forward	Sophomore	Danville, Illinois
22	H.E. Wessman	Forward	Junior	Rockford, Illinois
23	J.F. Winkler	Forward	Junior	Chicago, Illinois

• Head Coach: Craig Ruby (1st year at Illinois)

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score	Result	Location	Attendance
December 16, 1922	Washington University	29–14	Win	Urbana, IL	4,630
December 21, 1922	Notre Dame	41–38	Win	Urbana, IL	-
December 22, 1922	Butler	25–29	Loss	Urbana, IL	-
January 8, 1923	Ohio State	36–31	Win	Columbus, OH	-
January 13, 1923	Indiana	31–22	Win	Urbana, IL	3,794
January 16, 1923	Michigan	13–30	Loss	Ann Arbor, MI	-
January 20, 1923	Purdue	20–24	Loss	Urbana, IL	-
February 2, 1923	Minnesota	24–21	Win	Minneapolis, MN	-
February 7, 1923	University of Chicago	20–18	Win	Urbana, IL	-
February 12, 1923	Indiana	24–31	Loss	Bloomington, IN	-
February 17, 1923	Purdue	28–26	Win	West Lafayette, IN	-
February 19, 1923	Minnesota	25–18	Win	Urbana, IL	-
February 24, 1923	University of Chicago	20–24	Loss	Chicago, IL	-
February 26, 1923	Michigan	20–27	Loss	Urbana, IL	-
March 5, 1923	Ohio State	37–21	Win	Urbana, IL	-

Bold Italic connotes conference game