Illini Freshman Jakucionis Named to Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 List
(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Wooden Award Website CHAMPAIGN, […]
Illini Freshman Jakucionis Named to Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 List
(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Wooden Award Website CHAMPAIGN, […]
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illinois' Freshman Phenom Will Riley Is Right Where He Should Be
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 7, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois basketball team has a roster filled with potential NBA draft prospects this season; guard Kasparas Jakucionis, center Tomislav Ivisic, wing Ben Humrichous, and standout freshman guard Will Riley.
Jakucionis Named Big Ten's Top Freshman Again
(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis is […]
Sturdy's Rewind: Pacific Sweep
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
January 6, 2025
The Illini struggled at times coming off of their domination of Oregon, but they came away with the Pacific Sweep over Washington 81-77 to move to 3-1 in Big Ten play and 11-3 overall. Kasparas Jakucionis led the way with 18 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, while Tre White had 17 and 7 and Kylan Boswell added 14, all in the second half to lead the way. Illinois led by as many as 17 points in the first half and never trailed in the game.
Here’s a look back.
These 3 Things
Column: Enjoy KJ While You Have Him, Illini Nation
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 6, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – During the 2024 NCAA transfer portal season, some Illinois fans grew restless as the Illini seemed to miss on key targets. But did they really?
#22 Illini Hold Off Huskies to Complete Pacific Sweep, 81-77
By IlliniGuys Stafff January 5, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Illini See Double-Digit Lead Disappear in 68-61 Defeat at Minnesota
By IlliniGuys Staff January 5, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Sturdy's Game Preview: Washington Provides an Illini Maturity Test
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]
Game Preview: Illini at Minnesota
From Illinois Sports Information Office: Illinois at Minnesota Date […]
Sturdy's Rewind - Oregon
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
January 4, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
I’m going to be a wet blanket on our Final Four projections and San Antonio reservations. The Illini are not as good as they looked on Friday night. Nobody is, at least every night. The Illini shot 16-29 from 3 point range and dominated #9 Oregon 109-77. They moved up to 5th in the NCAA NET and 8th on KenPom and the hype is over the top for now. But I will say this, and I have said this for 7 months. The upside, or ceiling, of this team is the Final Four and a potential national title, but the floor is still lower.
Illini Basketball Parents: Getting Exactly What They Signed Up For
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 4, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has revitalized a basketball program that was teetering on the brink of irrelevance under former head coach John Groce, who led the team from 2012 to 2017. Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman decided it was time for a change.
Enter Underwood—a beacon of hope for the Illini. On the court, Underwood portrays a tough, no-nonsense persona, signaling that when you face Illinois, you'd better come prepared to battle.
#22 Illini Post Record-Setting Rout at 9th Ranked Oregon, 109-77
By IlliniGuys Staff January 3, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Grading The Illini
January 2, 2025
The first two months are in the books and the Illini now dive into the deep Big Ten pool. They split their first two conference games a month ago and have already gone 2-2 vs. Top 25 teams plus an emotional win over a Missouri team that had won 10 in a row, including an upset of then -#1 Kansas.
So...where does this team stand right now, hours away from taking the court in Eugene against #9 Oregon? We asked the IlliniGuys for their thoughts:
How would you grade the Illini so far?
Mike Cagley: Right now
Sturdy's Game Preview - Westward Ho!
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
January 2, 2025
The Illini are headed west for a pair of games on the left coast against Oregon and Washington as their first foray into the new Big Ten landscape. Oregon is ranked 9th in the country and have already built an impressive resume with wins over Texas A&M, Alabama and San Diego State. This will be a tough game for Illinois to win, but here’s how they do it and how a look at the details.
Setting the Stage
#22/20 Illinois (9-3, 1-1) at #9/9 Oregon (12-1, 1-1)
Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 // 9 p.m. CT (7 p.m. PT) // Eugene, Ore. // Matthew Knight Arena
TV: FS1 – Guy Haberman (Play-by-Play) & Casey Jacobsen (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas
Notable
*Illinois opens the 2025 calendar year with a trip to the Pacific Northwest to face new Big Ten members Oregon and Washington, beginning Thursday night in Eugene against the No. 9-ranked Ducks (9 p.m. CT, FS1).
*This starts a stretch for Illinois with four of its next six games on the road. Illinois is 0-1 in true road games this season, and 2-2 away from home. lllinois is looking for its first road win over a top-10 team since beating No. 7 Ohio State on March 6, 2021.
*Illinois is 2-2 against ranked teams this season, with wins over No. 19 Arkansas and No. 20 Wisconsin. Illinois leads the Big Ten in the latest NCAA NET rankings at No. 11, one spot of ahead of Oregon.
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