Basketball

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 10, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois basketball has been highly successful in recent years when it comes to recruiting, landing nationally ranked prospects, adding players to All-Big Ten teams, producing All-Americans, and sending talent to the NBA.

Illinois associate head coach Orlando Antigua has established himself as one of the best recruiters in the game today. Everywhere he has been, his teams have won, and he has consistently proven he can compete with powerhouse programs and succeed when it comes to landing players. A prime example is current freshman Will Riley from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Although only 18 years old, Riley is already projected as a first-round NBA 2025 draft prospect.

Illinois suffers another injury scare during the 74-51 win at Wisconsin on Sunday as Genesis Bryant severely sprains her right ankle late in the third quarter.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MADISON, Wis. — Just three days earlier, Shauna Green was asked after a home win over Northwestern why Genesis Bryant plays so many minutes and the Illinois third-year head coach sheepishly responded with “I don’t have another point guard”.

Green may need to find one for at least the next few days of practice if not longer.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 9, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Insider & Co-Host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 9, 2025

The Illini dominated Minnesota on Saturday evening in Minneapolis behind a dominant performance from Freshmen Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionis, and a spirited effort from big man Tomislav Ivisic, who was not expected to play.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Illinois at Wisconsin […]

Injuries and illness didn't slow No. 23 Illinois as […]

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

February 8, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini are headed to the North when they are in Minneapolis to take on Minnesota Saturday night in a game that is a must win. The Illini are still battling injuries and illness as Brad Underwood continues to search for the right lineup combinations and system tweak to get this squad clicking on all cylinders. The Golden Gophers are trying to get into the Big Ten tournament and have a daunting schedule coming up.

Here’s a look at the matchup.

Setting the Stage

#23 Illinois (15-8, 7-6) at Minnesota (12-11, 4-8)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 // 5 p.m. CT // Minneapolis, Minn. // Williams Arena
TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play) & Shon Morris (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable

*Head coach Brad Underwood is

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 8, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Last weekend, Illinois hosted one of the nation's top recruits, Jaylan Mitchell. A five-star prospect per ESPN. Mitchell is ranked fifth in the country in the class of 2027, and Illinois is a program he has a strong connection and ties with.

Illinois has four veteran presences in the starting lineup that are coaching and finding plays to be made on their own without being dictated to by third-year head coach Shauna Green.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 7, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If you’ve noticed Illinois be more relaxed, calm and even less vocal on the sideline this season, there’s a logical reason.

This Illini squad which still features a starting lineup of two fifth-year players and two four-year players has long officially gotten to the point where they don’t need play-to-play coaching. And even Shauna Green is starting to admit its most beautiful basketball is being played when this team can go off the script and just play by feel.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 6, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

February 6, 2025

The Illini once again got off to a slow start but this time were unable to overcome a poor shooting first half in an 82-73 loss at Rutgers. The Illini trailed by 17 points in the first half before storming back to take a lead, but they could never get any distance and a late Rutgers run led by future lottery pick Dylan Harper gave the Scarlet Knights the win. Will Riley showed flashes in the second half, scoring 11 second half points to help Illinois, but Harper had 15 in the second stanza to counteract Riley’s heroics.

Illinois falls to 15-8 and 7-6 in league play as they head to Minnesota on Saturday before a brutal stretch to close the season.

These 3(5) Things:

(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.