Basketball

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Illinois vs. Northwestern Date […]

By IlliniGuys Staff February 5, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 5, 2025

The Illini are headed to Piscataway on Wednesday night to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in what was expected to be a battle between 3 of the top Freshmen in the country. But Dylan Harper is likely out and although Ace Bailey and Kasparas Jakucionis continue to impress as lottery picks, Illini Freshman Will Riley and Morez Johnson took center stage in their last outing. Even without Harper, this is a fantastic group of youngsters.

Here’s a look at this matchup.

Setting the Stage

#23 Illinois (15-7, 7-5) at Rutgers (11-11, 4-7)
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Piscataway, N.J. // Jersey Mike’s Arena
TV: BTN – Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play) & Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 5, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois freshman Morez Johnson Jr. is living up to expectations and quickly becoming a fan and national media favorite. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound forward/center continues to improve, showing his talent with each game on the schedule.

The former Illinois Mr. Basketball, Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, and Champaign News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year committed to Illinois in 2021 and remained loyal to his home-state university. Fans were excited about the new additions to this year's roster, including Carey Booth, Ben Humrichous, Kylan Boswell, Will Riley, Tomislav Ivisic, Jake Davis, Tre White, and potential NBA lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis.

It was easy to overlook the talented Thornton High School product, but head coach Brad Underwood made sure the media knew what the Illini had in him.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois forward Will Riley is Big Ten Freshman of the […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois freshman guard Kasparas […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For the […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 3, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - With 15:39 to go in the second half, the Illini trailed Ohio State by 11 points and looked lost on both ends of the floor. The Buckeyes were hitting 3’s off the dribble and Illinois was struggling to make anything. Then, the Illini took advantage of what they were being given. Ben Humrichous hit a short jumper in the lane, Tomislav Ivisic had a pair of layups, Will Riley scored and then Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn had a put back and a steal and dunk that fired up the crowd and gave the Illini life.

Illinois forward/center Morez Johnson finished Sunday with seven offensive rebounds on a team that leads the country in rebounding margin.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 2, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has seemingly re-invented a new and more efficient halfcourt set play for first-year forward/center Morez Johnson.

At a critical point in the half when Illinois was attempting turning the momentum of its matchup against Ohio State Sunday, the 19-year-old Johnson yelled for his lead guard Kasparas Jakucionis to shoot a three-pointer early in the shot clock. Even if the first-year guard missed long range shot, Johnson knew he’d track down the attempt in a position to do damage with the basketball.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 2, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

For the first time in program history, Illinois women’s […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 2, 2025

The Illini are back at home after the forgettable loss in Lincoln and need a win over a surging Ohio State Buckeyes team that has won 3 in a row including 2 on the road. Illinois has lost 4 of 6, but have been without one of their stars in each game due to injury, illness or foul trouble. Can they right the ship at home? 7’1 Center Tomislav Ivisic is listed as questionable, but odds are that he will not play again on Sunday as he works himself back into shape.

Regardless, Illinois will have to play much better offensively on Sunday if they want to get the win. Here’s a peek at what to expect.

Setting the Stage

#18 Illinois (14-7, 6-5) vs. Ohio State (13-8, 5-5)
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 // 12 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: CBS – Kevin Harlan (Play-by-Play) & Jim Spanarkel (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas National Radio: Compass Media Networks – Matt Smith (Play-By-Play) & Robert Horry (Analyst)

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]

Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic to have his injury report status upgraded Sunday to questionable vs. Ohio State but the optimism for him being active or a impactful contributors isn’t high.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 1, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — While the title of his playing status will likely change, the amount of minutes of game activity for Tomislav Ivisic is still unknown.

Ivisic, the first-year center who has missed the last three games after being diagnosed with mononucleosis, is still very unlikely to be a big factor when No. 18 Illinois hosts Ohio State Sunday afternoon (Noon CST, CBS).