Basketball

IlliniGuys Staff February 16, 2022 PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 16, 2022

For those unwilling to admit it, I will do it for you. Illinois basketball is hot right now.

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer February 16, 2022 Essentials […]

IlliniGuys Staff February 15, 2022 The Illinois Fighting Illini […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 15, 2022

This was a big-time recruiting weekend for the Fighting Illini men's basketball program.

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

February 14, 2022

As you deliver your expensive cards, chocolates, and candy hearts (or as you scramble to pick up your expensive cards, chocolates, and candy hearts), don't forget to show a little love and maybe even blow a kiss or two toward your Fighting Illini basketball team and staff.  After all, they deserve your affection.  Despite suspension and concussions and injured shoulders and flu bugs and COVID spread, they enter mid-February right where you thought (hoped?) they'd be: in first place in the Big Ten.

However...many of us probably thought (assumed?) the Orange and Blue would be at best tied for first at this juncture, having caught a ballyhooed Michigan squad and their stud freshmen or found a way to equal Purdue and their roster of veteran stars.  But it's even BETTER than that!  The Illini - deep breath here - sit all by themselves atop the conference.  It would be a monumental task if everything had gone as planned since preseason practice began.  It's beyond impressive that they've done it while navigating more obstacles than Wile E. Coyote lays out for Roadrunner in any given sequence.

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy February 14, 2022 Welcome to the […]

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 13, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The development of Illinois freshman wing RJ Melendez went from mythical to real in 17 minutes and 18 seconds of game action.

On Super Bowl Sunday 2022, Melendez changed the narrative of his freshman season from a young, naive and lost player desperately trying to find a consistent role to the x-factor of why No. 13 Illinois won a Big Ten Conference game in the middle of February.

Melendez’s near season-high in minutes included 14 points, six rebounds, 6 of 6 from the foul line, a crowd-roaring dunk in the second half and a defensive effort that didn’t remind the sellout crowd he was a first-year player.

IlliniGuys Staff February 13, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy Joe […]

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer February 12, 2022 Essentials […]

IlliniGuys Staff

February 12, 2022

Illinois enters the final seven games of the Big Ten season with a shot at history.  The program has never won 13 or more Big Ten games in three consecutive seasons.  But with 13 in 2019-20 and 16 in 2020-21, the Illini chase conference win #11 against Northwestern on Sunday (1pm, BTN).

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff February 12, 2022 […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 10, 2022

You know...this job never amazes me

Illinois senior guard Trent Frazier promises he’ll “be ready for Sunday” when the No. 13 Illini host Northwestern despite suffering a scary knee injury late in the loss at No. 3 Purdue

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 10, 2022

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Even after laying on the Mackey Arena playing floor in a fetal position while clutching at his left knee, Trent Frazier knew he had a leadership point to make. 

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

February 9, 2022

The Illini led Purdue by 2 at the break in Mackey Arena, but the Boilers would take advantage of some porous Illinois defense and some cold Illini shooting to take control and cruise to an 84-68 win and a tie at the top of the Big Ten standings. Jaden Ivey scored 26 and was dominant to lead the Boilers (21-3, 10-3). Illinois got 18 from Kofi Cockburn and 15 from Andre Curbelo as they fell to 17-6 and 10-3. 

Here’s what we saw:

These 3 Things +1