Basketball

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 20, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

PITTSBURGH -- The final moment for the Illinois seniors resulted in another disappointing NCAA Tournament thud.

Trent Frazier, Da’Monte Williams, Jacob Grandison and Alfonso Plummer will never wear an Illinois uniform again after March 20, 2022 and all four of those players will be taking that jersey off following a second round exit when they were the higher seed. The exit of these four players comes in a 68-53 loss to an aggressive Houston squad and another sputtering offensive outing where they were 4 of 18 from the field, 3 of 14 from the three-point arc.

“We didn't shoot it very well. We played well enough; we didn't shoot it very well. You look at our two games here, and we just -- we just shot it terrible,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. “I've been through more things this year with this team than I have my entire career put together. And that's 35 years.”

By IlliniGuys Staff March 20, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer March 20, […]

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer March 20, 2022 Essentials: […]

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuy

March 19, 2022

Brad Underwood on Houston: they do simple well.

The second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh is where the reputations of the Illinois and Houston program will collide in a fight disguised as a basketball game. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 19, 2022

PITTSBURGH -- At just past high noon tomorrow local time, the PPG Paints Arena might as well be a well-attended Pizza Hut parking lot. 

Illinois sophomore forward Coleman Hawkins’ ability to get the block of Chattanooga's final shot Friday night sent the Illini into the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 19, 2022

PITTSBURGH -- Coleman Hawkins says he doesn’t know if his block on Malachi Smith to ensure a victory in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament was his best play.

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuy

March 19, 2022

The Illini stole a win from a game Tennessee Chattanooga team on Friday night

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy March 19, 2022 As an older […]

IlliniGuys Staff March 18, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy Joe […]

Illinois will be trying on Friday to make seven consecutive times where they’ve won its first game of the NCAA Tournament as a 4-seed. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 18, 2022

PITTSBURGH -- The good news for Illinois fans on Friday is their favorite program has always had first-day success in the NCAA Tournament when they’ve received a 4-seed. 

In order for Illinois to win Friday, Kofi Cockburn has to prove one 7-foot All-American is better than a revolving door of Chattanooga bigs. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 18, 2022

PITTSBURGH -- Kofi Cockburn says Friday is the exact moment he returned to Illinois for his third season of college basketball.

Chattanooga isn’t intimidated or afraid at Illinois senior guard Alfonso Plummer getting on a shooting heater. Why? Their head coach has seen the NCAA’s all-time best in their conference. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 18, 2022

PITTSBURGH -- Chattanooga already has it built into their game plan that Illinois guard Alfonso Plummer is going to hit some perimeter shots you just can’t defend.

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer March 18, 2022 Essentials: […]

We give you three reasons 4-seed Illinois can get past 13-seed Chattanooga on Friday in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament...and three reasons the Illini might get sent home early.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 17, 2022

PITTSBURGH -- When Illinois takes the floor Friday in the NCAA Tournament, it’ll be the sixth time they’ll be playing as a four-seed