Basketball

For the first time since Nov. 14 and only […]

By IlliniGuys Staff Writer January 3, 2026 (Cover photo […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 3, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Brent Zinkmann/IlliniGuys)

The Illini are back in action Saturday evening when they travel to Philadelphia for the annual ‘Palestra Game’ for Penn State. It’s not a secret that Brad Underwood has always wanted to play a game at the Palestra and the Illini relish the opportunity to play in big events and storied venues. Now, they get their chance.

Here's a look at the particulars:

Setting the Stage
#19 Illinois (10-3, 1-1 B1G) vs. Penn State (9-4, 0-2 B1G) Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 // 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) // Philadelphia, Pa. // The Palestra TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play) & LaPhonso Ellis (Analyst) Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas (Analyst)

Notable
*No. 20 Illinois opens the 2026 calendar year with its return to Big Ten play, beginning with a Saturday night matchup in an historic venue vs. Penn State at The Palestra in Philadelphia (6 p.m. CT / BTN). Illinois is making its first appearance at The Palestra since Nov. 29, 2003, a 75-60 win over Temple.

*Saturday's contest opens a 12-day stretch in which the will Illini face three of four Big Ten opponents on the road.

Illinois head coach Shauna Green is convinced her youthful roster pieces contributing to the program’s first Top 10 win and 13-1 start is not phased by the underdog label.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 2, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On one of the most historic days of her four-year tenure at Illinois, Shauna Green might be learning the advantages of youth is not knowing you’re an underdog when facing a historical powerhouse program.

For the first time since Green was hired in March 2022 and the first time for the program in over a decade, Illinois defeated a Top 10 opponent with a thrilling 73-70 win over No. 7 Maryland. It was the second time in green’s tenure that the Illini (13-1, 3-0 in Big Ten Conference) was celebrating a massive upset win on New Year’s Day after defeating No. 12 Iowa led by Caitlin Clark on Jan. 1, 2023.

When asked how this victory happened in front of an instantly pumped 5,207 fans inside State Farm Center, Green simply had to once again admit that her team, which is the third youngest power conference team, and youngest in the Big Ten, didn’t have any idea that they weren’t favored to knock off a previously undefeated Maryland squad.

By IlliniGuys Staff January 1, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois vs. No. 7 Maryland Date/Time: January 1, 2026/3pm […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – After clinching her 250th career win as a coach, becoming the winningest coach in program history, leading the team to its first win at Purdue in five years, and pushing them to the best 13-game start in program history, Illinois women’s basketball head coach Shauna Green is laser-focused on the task at hand.

That’s a whole lot of different, but when asked about what exactly changed from last year to this year, Green pointed to losing something that many might consider a strength: veterans. After steering the ship with a crew of veterans for the last four years, Green says that an all-new team has been behind the hot start to the 2025-26 season.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

December 30, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illinois basketball team did what they needed to do on Monday against an overmatched Southern Squad. In a 90 to 55 win the Illinois had a balanced attack led by five three pointers from Jake Davis and a double-double from Keaton Wagler, but this game was more about getting prepared for the Big Ten season and the NCAA’s down the road.

Here’s a quick notebook:

-Illinois is now shooting 41% from behind three-point arc over their past five games. Since the debacle in Madison Square Garden against UConn when they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, the Illini have continued to climb up the three-point shooting ranks.

By IlliniGuys Staff December 29, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

December 29, 2025

After a week off for Christmas break, the Illini are back in action at the State Farm Center against Southern University. This is the last tune up for the Illini head into their final 18 Big Ten contests over the months of January, February and March. Coming off of a dominating win over Missouri, everything is right in Illini land. Now they have an opportunity to show that they can handle success and bottle that offense and defense against the inferior opponent twice in a row

Here's a look at the particulars..

Setting the Stage
#20/19 Illinois (9-3) vs. Southern (4-8)
Monday, Dec. 29, 2025 // 2 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Noah Reed (Play-by-Play) & Jordan Taylor (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Scott Beatty (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas (Analyst)

Notable
*Southern is picked to finish 2nd in the SWAC after winning the regular season conference title a year ago.

*Following a week-long holiday break, No. 20 Illinois returns to action for a Monday matinee vs. Southern at State Farm Center (2 p.m. CT / BTN). The matchup between the Illini and the Jaguars closes out Illinois' nonconference slate and the 2025 calendar year.

*The Illini are coming off a dominant 91-48 victory over rival Mizzou to push their Braggin' Rights winning streak to three years in a row. The 43-point win marked the largest margin in the history of the Illinois-Missouri series.

By Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 29, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — From an Illinois basketball standpoint, the Peoria Pipeline is alive and well again. Longtime followers of the Illini understand the importance of central Illinois, a region that has consistently produced players capable of leaving a big mark on the program.

On Thanksgiving Day, Quinton Kitt committed to Illinois, giving Illini Nation a moment to savor heading into the 2025 calendar year. Kitt, a 2027 commit, is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward from East Peoria.

Kitt recently checked in with IlliniGuys

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer December 28, […]

Illinois (11-1, 1-0) at Purdue (8-4, 0-1) Sunday, Dec. […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 26, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois 2026 basketball commit Ethan Brown of Rolla High School (Rolla, Mo.) was among the spectators for the 2025 Braggin’ Rights game in Missouri, watching a dominant performance by his future team.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound wing attended the annual rivalry matchup. On Christmas Eve Brown told IlliniGuys he enjoyed watching Illinois dominate Missouri 91-48 in front of a crowd of 18,505 fans.

“I thought the Braggin’ Rights game was great. We played well and got after them defensively.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy mtvuutiset)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — IlliniGuys Insider and Analyst and co-host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular, Brad Sturdy, dropped a major nugget this week on the I on the Illini Podcast, shedding light on movement surrounding one of the nation’s top men’s basketball recruits.

At IlliniGuys, there are no days off. Even on Christmas Eve, sources confirmed Illinois is actively working the phones, and one name continues to surface: Miikka Muurinen. The 6-foot-10, 205-pound do-it-all wing is viewed as a legitimate threat from anywhere on the floor and continues to draw national attention.

Illinois is battling a loaded field that includes