Basketball

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 13, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood will take his competitive spirit from the hardwood to the golf course this summer, as IlliniGuys learned early Tuesday morning that Underwood is scheduled to play in the 2026 John Deere Classic Pro-Am.

For Illinois fans, the event could turn into another memorable reunion moment at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

Last year’s winner of the John Deere Classic was Illinois graduate Brian Campbell, who captured the title and took home $1.512 million in prize money. During Campbell’s run to the championship, the signature “ILL-INI” chant echoed throughout the course and was heard on national television as he approached the 18th green. Campbell also interacted with fans during the celebration, creating a memorable moment for Illini supporters.

Underwood is known as an avid golfer, and Illinois associate head coach Orlando Antigua said the Illini basketball staff takes pride in its game on the course.

Illini women’s golf completed a 18-stroke turnaround on Tuesday […]

Illini women’s golf finds themselves 14 shots behind fifth-place […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 9, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The portal giveth and the portal taketh, right? Longtime Illini Ty Rodgers,
who has been out of action since the 2024 team’s Elite Eight run, and rising sophomore Brandon Lee have found new homes in the transfer portal, landing at Boise State and James Madison.

Brad Underwood and his staff have completed one of the most impressive retention efforts seen in the modern era, and with Ubben welcoming in Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks and the 10th-best freshman recruiting class in the nation according to 247, outgoings were expected.

A different shade of Orange and Blue for Ty Rodgers

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys.com insider/analyst and co-host of IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular, immediately put together five possible candidates for this open Illini head coach position.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 7, 2026

(Cover photo SIU Athletics)

For only the third time in program history, the softball program at the University of Illinois is in need of a head coach.

The university announced the move to terminate Tyra Perry immediately following her 1-on-1 meeting with Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman on Monday evening. The Illini finished the 2026 season at 15-39 overall with a last-place finish in a 17-team Big Ten Conference after a 3-20 league mark. Perry suffered three consecutive disappointing seasons to conclude her time with the Illini where the program went 58-98 overall and 16-50 in Big Ten Conference play.

“Tyra is a wonderful person who served admirably in the role of head coach,” Whitman stated in a university release announcing Perry’s dismissal. “We experienced many high points during the early years of her tenure, including multiple NCAA postseason appearances. However, we have been unable to build upon that early success in recent years, leading me to conclude that a change in leadership is needed. We will always be grateful to Tyra for her hard work on behalf of our program and our student-athletes, and we wish her nothing but the best.”

Perry was hired as the Illini’s second-ever softball head coach in June 2015 by then-athletics director Mike Thomas after back-to-back seasons winning the Mid-American Conference regular season title while leading the Ball State softball program. Through 26 seasons as a NCAA Division I softball head coach, Perry has totaled over 700 career victories as the head coach at Illinois, Ball State, Western Kentucky and Birmingham Southern.

Perry led the Illini program to its first back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances since 2010 in her first two seasons in Champaign-Urbana, and she helped the Illini to 36 wins or more for three-straight seasons, from 2016-18, for the first time in program history. She guided the Illini to another NCAA Regional in 2019 after a 33-25 season.

Illinois women’s golf hope they can replicate their most recent performance in California at the Big Ten Championships as they’re sent back out west in NCAA Stanford Regional. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 7, 2026

Renee Slone would’ve never asked for her team to make three separate trips to California in her team’s postseason run. 

After being selected to the the reality for the Illinois women’s golf team postseason run has created a buzz word every player wants to hear - routine.

After spending a week in California for the Big Ten Championships at the end of last month, the Illinois women’s golf team will be getting on a plane to travel to the Golden State once again. And if, for the second time in program history, they finish in the top five of the NCAA Stanford Regional, Illinois will make at least one more trip to California for the NCAA Championships. 

“It was a surprise to see us (during the selection show) to be sent out to Stanford but this group is so well traveled and experienced already so we’re prepared to handle any type of field, conditions and variable in our way,” Illini senior Brielle Mapanao said.

Illinois men’s golf will play in a 13-team NCAA […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 5th, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Anoke Deitg-Blanchard)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Expectations are once again soaring for the Illinois men’s basketball program, as the Illini enter the upcoming season positioned among the nation’s elite. According to CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Illinois is ranked No. 2 in the country in the preseason, trailing only Florida, reinforcing the belief that Brad Underwood’s program remains firmly in the national spotlight.

The 2025-26 season featured several standout players, headlined by freshman Keaton Wagler, who emerged as an All-American and is set to have his jersey hung in the rafters at State Farm Center next year.

As Illinois turns the page to the 2026-27 season, the spotlight shifts once again to a talented incoming freshman class.

Tom Michael is leaving his athletics director position at […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 5, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – One of the key members of the 2027 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball recruiting class is taking a different route before arriving on campus. Quinton Kitt confirmed to IlliniGuys on Monday night that he plans to attend prep school next year as part of his long-term development.

Kitt, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound power forward from East Peoria, Illinois, committed to Illinois last November. The three-star wing is off to a strong start on the AAU circuit, continuing to build momentum against high-level competition.

Illinois softball head coach Tyra Perry has been terminated […]

By IlliniGuys Staff

May 4, 2026

As the semester winds to a close and we turn the calendar from the most successful end to an Illini basketball season in more than two decades, IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy delivered the latest update earlier today on our premium message boards:

---Illinois is basically on Stoj watch right now. Obviously, he has a fantastic NIL package ready to go with Illinois, but

For the second straight season, Illinois men’s golf finishes […]

Illinois finished the first day of the 2026 Big […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema speculated Friday that the Illini’s 2027 high school recruiting class would be a smaller number around “12 to 18” signees.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Anlayst

May 1, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — The upcoming Illinois 2027 football recruiting class might be the smallest in numbers of the six-year tenure of Bret Bielema era.

In a Zoom media conference with local reporters on Friday afternoon, Bielema indicated that a variety of factors could result in Illinois coaching staff anticipating needing just a small amount of roster spots.

“I would bet we end up anywhere between 12 to 18 (signees), which is still kind of big for some schools but a small class for us,” Bielema said.

Illinois currently only has only one verbal pledge in the 2027 recruiting class - three-star cornerback Justin Johnson from Evanston (Ill.) Township High School - while certain assistant coaches and staff members are currently away from the Smith Center making their off-campus recruiting school visits.