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University of Illinois Athletics

2017-18 Men's Basketball Roster

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43 Michael Finke

  • Ht./Wt.
    6-10 / 235
  • Position
    F
  • Hometown
    Champaign, Ill.
  • Highschool
    Centennial

Biography

Finke's Career & Season Game-By-Game Stats (PDF)

2017-18 Junior

  • Academic All-Big Ten selection
  • Played in 28 of 32 games on the season, starting first 25
  • Fourth on Illini in scoring at 9.8 ppg
  • Scored in double figures in 13 games, with two 20-point performances
  • Second on team in rebounding at 4.6 rpg and led Illini with an average of 1.9 offensive rebounds (12th in Big Ten)
  • Shot 49.1 percent from the field (107-218)
  • 13 points with four 3-pointers vs. Marshall (Nov. 19)
  • Double-double with 20 points and season-high 10 boards vs. Augustana (Nov. 22)
  • Season-high 22 points with career-high tying five 3-pointers vs. N.C. Central (Nov. 24)
  • Game highs of 17 points and eight rebounds vs. Austin Peay (Dec. 6)
  • 19 points on 8-10 shooting with seven rebounds vs. Longwood (Dec. 13)
  • Team-high nine rebounds vs. New Mexico State (Dec. 16)
  • Third career double-double with 16 points and season-high tying 10 rebounds at Nebraska (Jan. 15)
  • Game-high 19 points on 6-10 shooting with six rebounds in win at Rutgers (Feb. 25)
  • 13 points in Big Ten Tournament first round vs. Iowa (Feb. 28)

2016-17 Sophomore

  • Academic All-Big Ten selection
  • Played in 32 games, starting the first eight, before missing last three games during the NIT with a foot injury
  • Sixth on team in scoring, averaging 6.9 points
  • Led Illini and ranked 14th in the Big Ten in 3-point shooting at 41.1 percent (37-90)
  • Shot 44.9 percent (22-49) behind the arc during conference play to rank eighth in the league
  • Fourth on team in rebounding, averaging 4.2 boards
  • Third on team with 49 offensive rebounds
  • Scored in double figures 11 times on the season, including five of the first six games
  • Double-double with 10 points and season-high 11 rebounds vs. Northern Kentucky (Nov. 13)
  • 17 points on 8-10 shooting with eight boards vs. McKendree (Nov. 15)
  • Season-high 18 points vs. Winthrop (Nov. 21)
  • 13 points vs. West Virginia (Nov. 24)
  • 17 points on 7-10 shooting in win over Iowa (Jan. 25)
  • 11 points and career-high three steals in win at Northwestern (Feb. 7)
  • 12 points on 5-8 shooting with career-high five assists in victory at Iowa (Feb. 18)

2015-16 Freshman

  • Academic All-Big Ten selection
  • Played in 33 of 34 games, starting 16 times
  • Fifth on team in scoring, averaging 7.5 points
  • Averaged 3.7 rebounds and led Illini with 45 offensive boards
  • Fourth on team with 40 three-pointers while shooting 36.7 percent behind the arc
  • Scored in double figures in 10 games
  • 12 points and seven rebounds at Providence (Nov. 18)
  • 17 points vs. Chicago State (Nov. 23)
  • 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 2)
  • Career-high 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting vs. Western Carolina (Dec. 5)
  • 16 points in Braggin' Rights win over Missouri (Dec. 23)
  • Eight rebounds vs. Michigan (Dec. 30)
  • 14 points with five boards at Ohio State (Jan. 3)
  • Career-high 16 rebounds – the most by an Illini player since 2011 – along with nine points and career-high four assists in victory at Minnesota (Jan. 23)
  • 17 points with career-best five 3-pointers in Big Ten Tournament First-Round win over Minnesota (March 9)

2014-15 Redshirt

  • Sat out the season as a redshirt
  • Received team’s Most Improved Player award

High School

  • Averaged 19.6 points and 9.3 rebounds as a senior
  • Scored a career-high 42 points in a win over Kankakee (Feb. 25, 2014)
  • Class 3A first-team All-State by the Associated Press and Chicago Sun-Times
  • Class 3A/4A first-team All-State by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA)
  • First team All-State by the Champaign News-Gazette
  • Special mention All-State by the Chicago Tribune
  • Two-time News-Gazette All-Area Player of the Year
  • Averaged 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds as a junior
  • First-team All-State by AP and News-Gazette, second-team All-State by the Sun-Times and IBCA and special-mention All-State by the Tribune as a junior
  • Finished prep career ranked fourth all-time at Centennial in scoring with 1,425 points and second all-time in rebounding with 711 boards
  • High school coach was Tim Lavin
  • Played for the Peoria Irish AAU program, coached by Gavin Sullivan

Personal

  • Born April 26, 1996
  • Earned bachelor's degree in communication in December 2017
  • Parents are Jeff and Laura Finke
  • Father played two sports at Illinois, starting off in basketball (1987) before switching to football where he earned four Varsity “I” letters as a tight end (1987-90)
  • Wears the same jersey number, 43, that his father wore for the Illini on the basketball court
  • Has two younger brothers, Nick and Tim, and a younger sister, Ashley
  • Brother, Nick, is a freshman on the basketball team at Army West Point
  • Honor roll student at Centennial
  • Favorite player is LeBron James
  • Favorite Fighting Illini players growing up were Dee Brown and Deron Williams
  • Credits his father for most influencing his career, “He has helped me on and off the court throughout my life. I wouldn’t be the person or player I am today without his guidance.”

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 43

    2014-15Freshman

    F
    6'10" 220 lbs
    43
  • 43

    2015-16Redshirt Freshman

    Forward
    6'10" 230 lbs
    43
  • 43

    2016-17Redshirt Sophomore

    Forward
    6'10" 230 lbs
    43
  • 43

    2017-18Redshirt Junior

    Forward
    6'10" 235 lbs
    43