Smith: Illini, Underwood Ready For Greatest Test Yet
By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
Illinois coach Brad Underwood has used a number of high-pressure tests to form his roster into what he hopes will be a Big Ten - and national - championship contender. (Photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
December 26, 2024
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Six years ago, the Illini men's basketball team woke up on Christmas morning to find little more than coal waiting for them under the stat tree.
Illinois went into the 2018 holiday season with a paltry 4-8 record after a double-digit loss to hated rival Missouri in the annual Braggin' Rights game. They had been swept in all three games at the Maui Invitational a month earlier, were already 0-2 in Big Ten, and in a few days would drop their final "money game" when they lost to lowly-regarded Florida Atlantic - and a first-year coach named Dusty May - in overtime at State Farm Center.
Sturdy's Rewind: Illini Still Braggin'
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
December 24, 2024
The Illini are Braggin’ again, which means the turkey will taste much better on Christmas Day. As we look back at this game, and the other 10, certain things begin to stand out and we can see this team growing.
Leadership of ‘Bam’ Boswell Brings Braggin’ Rights Trophy Home For Illini
Kylan Boswell grew up watching the Braggin’ Rights game as an Illini fan but his 36 efficient minutes led Illinois to a second straight win over Missouri.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
December 22, 2024
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When asked to describe his backcourt mate on this Illinois team, Kasparas Jakucionis needed just one word to accurately depict Kylan Boswell’s value.
Illini Hold On To Braggin' Rights With 80-77 Thriller over Missouri
By IlliniGuys Staff December 22, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Sturdy's Braggin' Rights Preview - Illinois vs Missouri
Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Illini Insider and C0-Host IlliniGuys Sports […]
Sturdy: Finding The Best Lineup
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectaculr
December 20, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)
Every time a team loses, and many times when they win, fans and spectators want to know why this guy is playing and this guy is not. It’s human nature. ‘If player X had played, we would have won.’ They could be right. They may be wrong, and the reality is that we will never know what the outcome of the hypothetical would have been, so you can’t be ‘wrong’.
The Illini basketball team has found themselves on the losing end of a couple of key games late and much has been made of the substitution patterns. With that in mind, let’s look at the most productive groups for the Illini on the season. The numbers are what they are, so let’s dive a little deeper.
There are two ends to the floor, and to be successful teams must be good on both ends. So, when looking at the performance it is important to compare how they fare on both offense and defense.
Illini Cruise Into Holiday Break With 69-57 Win Over Southern University
Illinois get 20 points from sophomore guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger […]
Smith: Shannon Will Get His Banner, But Deserves More
By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
December 20, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)
(Editor's Note - Larry is the co-founder of IlliniGuys.com. His journalism career spans nearly four decades and includes more than 60 major championships worldwide and thousands of shows on CNN, TNT, and NBA TV. He is a Murrow, Emmy, and Peabody Award winner who is entering his second season as host of the WNBA on Ion Friday night studio show.)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - It's almost 51 weeks to the day when Terrence Shannon Jr.'s life turned upside down. The All-American candidate found himself in Lawrence, Kansas answering to a rape allegation while, hundreds of miles away, he was being temporarily removed from the Illinois basketball team. The latter being reversed three weeks later, but only after he won a temporary restraining order against the school he represented.
Shannon maintained his innocence and was later cleared of all charges in Kansas after the season ended and, on February 15th, another step of putting one of the most bizarre turn of events in Illinois athletic history further in the rear-view mirror will be taken when the university will raise his jersey to the rafters.
No one is more deserving.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Freshman Guard Jhaliana Guy Shows Off Skills
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
December 17, 2024
BETTENDORF, Iowa – The Quad Cities has added another nationally ranked prospect to Illinois' recruiting radar. Jhaliana Guy, a 5-foot-9 combo guard, has showcased an exceptional athletic ability that has drawn the attention of 25 college programs, including the Illini.
Guy, ranked in the top 10 nationally by ESPNW, displayed her talents Friday night when the Bettendorf Bulldogs faced the Assumption Knights. While she didn’t dominate the scoreboard on this night, she did finish with 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting. But here's why she's drawing so much interest:
Jakucionis Earns Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors
(From Illinois Sports Information Office) (Cover photo courtesy Joe […]
Berry Wallace Leads Illini Bench Effort in Key Win over Southern Indiana
Despite again having a short bench, Illinois head coach Shauna Green was able to turn to reserves, such as Barry Wallace, to flip the momentum Sunday afternoon.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
Decembere 16, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If she had never suffered an injury to her shooting hand, Berry Wallace’s role off the bench in her freshman season might have been exactly what she showed Sunday afternoon.
Following a nine-point opening quarter that saw Illinois down early to a upset-minded Southern Indiana team that came four points away from defeating Indiana in Bloomington’s Assembly Hall, Illini head coach Shauna Green turned to arguably the most prestigious women’s basketball signee in the last decade to get them out of an offensive slump.
Wallace responded to the call by her head coach with 12 points in the second quarter of a 73-50 blowout win by showcasing her ability to do the thing Illinois (9-2) has failed to show consistently throughout these last few weeks - hit jump shots.
Heat Checks & Hail Marys - CFP Predictions, Heisman & Belichick Thoughts, Illini BB Development & Luke Altmyer Returns for 2025
Mike Cagley & Brad Sturdy talk: CFP Predictions Heisman […]
Berry Wallace’s Career Day Helps Illini Find Offensive Rhythm in Blowout Win over Southern Indiana
Illinois freshman wing Berry Wallace produced a career-high 18 points off the bench in a 73-50 victory over Southern Indiana.
Matthew Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
December 15, 2024
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Berry Wallace finally got to show why she was a McDonald’s All-America selection and arguably the most Illinois coveted signee of the Shauna Green era.
Sturdy's Rewind - Tennessee
Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Insider & Host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
December 15, 2024
The opportunity was there in front of the Fighting Illini as they led Tennessee by as many as 6 points in the final 10 minutes and had the ball late with multiple opportunities to deal a knockout punch. Instead, they turned it over, failed on inbounds attempts, missed open shots, missed free throws, and allowed Justin Gainey to go coast to coast in the final seconds for a layup in a 66-64 loss. The Illini failed to make a field goal in the final 5 minutes as they fell to 7-3, with #1 Tennessee moving to 10-0.
After watching the film, three things pop out.
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