Basketball

By IlliniGuys Staff

March 5th, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

(Edited at 6:22pm CT to update afternoon results)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Illini got off to another cold start, but they almost negated it with one of the greatest comebacks in program history.

Down 51-27 with 18:00 left, the Illini rallied to tie the game at 67 with 1:17 left, but could manage just one field goal the rest of the way as 5th ranked Purdue secured the game at the free throw line to come away with the 76-71 win on Senior Day.

Brad Sturdy, C0-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 5, 2023

3 Keys (+1 an Extra Value Bonus Key)

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular  March 5, 2023 […]

#5 Maryland had more depth, more size and more athleticism at nearly every position Friday night that allowed them to cruise to a 73-58 win over an Illini program in the final stages of a rebuild. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 4, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS -- Despite all the strides that produced the biggest one-year program turnaround in Illinois women’s basketball history, they got hit with another answer Friday night that wasn’t so pleasant to find out. 

By IlliniGuys Staff

March 3, 2023

(Cover photo Illinois Athletics)

** Editor's Note: IlliniGuys.com is the only Illinois media on location at the Big Ten women's tournament in Minneapolis **

MINNEAPOLIS, Mn. - Makira Cook led four Illini players in double figures with 19 points, but it wasn't enough to slow down a Maryland team with sights set on a Big Ten tournament title and more this month as the Terrapins post the 73-58 win Friday night in the final quarterfinal game of the night.

Illinois (22-9, 11-7 in Big Ten) was coming off a record-setting 81-55 win over Rutgers one night earlier in the biggest Big Ten tournament winning margin in program history.  But the 3rd seeded Terps proved their double-digit win over the Illini last month in College Park wasn't a fluke.

Illinois, with the help of Minneapolis native Adalia McKenzie, will try to knock off No. 5 Maryland tonight in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 3, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Over the course of this week, Adalia McKenzie became a part-time ticket scalper for the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament being played in her favorite place. 

Before and after practice, McKenzie has been slowly figuring out ways to pry away the ticket allotment of certain Illinois teammates so her local fan section can get bigger and bigger as the tournament play gets closer and closer to the weekend stages. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 3, 2023

Brad Underwood is now 6-0 against Juwan Howard but the win on Thursday night was anything but easy.

Illinois coaches optimistic that Brynn Shoup-Hill (foot) could be back for the first round game of the NCAA Tournament. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 3, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS -- Illinois head coach Shauna Green was not dismissive of the idea that quite possibly the most important element of her team’s 81-55 blowout win on Thursday night was the fact

The early-season offensive squad that Illinois head coach Shauna Green built and showcased in November and December came back to life in a March blowout 81-55 win in Big Ten Tournament opener.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 3, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Illinois women’s basketball team is hopeful the game they play just might be as simple as being confident the ball is going through the hoop every time you let it go. 

By IlliniGuys staff March 2nd, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff

March 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - On Senior Night, it was those who were honored before the game who shined the bright at the end of the game.

Matt Mayer and Terrence Shannon Jr., playing for the last time in State Farm Center to end their lone season in an Illinois uniform, scored all 10 Illini points in the second overtime to pull off the 91-87 thriller over Michigan.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 2, 2023

Illinois (19-10, 10-8) vs. Michigan (17-12, 11-7)
March 2, 2023 // 6 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: ESPN – Kevin Brown (Play-by-Play), Seth Greenberg (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas (Analyst) // SiriusXM 382, SXM App 972

News & Notes
Illinois is expected to be

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

March 2nd, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Max Preps)

Illinois guard Jayden Epps collapsed after physical contact at practice on Tuesday causing the freshman to be kept at Carle Hospital in Urbana overnight for testing and observation. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

March 1, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois guard Jayden Epps was hospitalized after collapsing during a practice session. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 1, 2023

Dennis Evans, a 7-foot-1, 210-pound center from Riverside, California, started as a top 100, but not listed as a top 20 prospect in the 2023 class.