Basketball

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 22, 2024

Today is decision day for top 25 guard Jeremiah Fears; the ESPN nationally ranked and the four-star guard will make his college destination final this afternoon in Arizona at 2 p.m. CT.

The 6-foot-3 guard has been tight-lipped about where he is going to end up. Those close to the situation feel it is a three-team race between Illinois, Ole Miss, and Providence.

After just two practices, the Illinois high-powered fast break was suddenly back in a 23-point blowout win over Rutgers with the return of potential All-American guard Terrence Shannon Jr.

Matthew Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

PHOTO CREDIT: Matthew Stevens/IlliniGuys.com

January 21, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Gentlemen, restart your engines. 

After just two team practices following a three-week internal suspension, Terrence Shannon Jr. was back behind the wheel of the Illinois high velocity transition game in an 86-63 blowout win over Rutgers in front of a sold-out State Farm Center crowd. 

By IlliniGuys Staff January 21, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio, Resident Illini-Uber Insider

January 21, 2024

The Illini are back in action on Sunday as they try to get the sweep of Rutgers in a Big Ten play. The Illini beat the Scarlet Knights in Piscataway back in December by a 76-58 score and will hope to duplicate that performance. 

But of course, that’s not the big story. Illini guard Terrence Shannon returned to practice on Friday afternoon and will come off of the bench on Sunday following an injunction granted by the US Federal Court that allows him to play while he is facing charges in Kansas. 

"The courts decided that Terrence Shannon gets back to full status immediately,” Brad Underwood said.  “When Josh informed me of that decision, we had a late 4 p.m. practice and Terrence was available for that practice. Terrence will not start Sunday against Rutgers and will begin the integration process.”

Shannon was averaging almost 22 points per game through 11 games for Illinois and may have an even bigger impact on the defensive end, an area where the Illini have struggled during his suspension. 

Here’s what we expect. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 21, 2024

The transfer portal has really changed the game for incoming college freshman basketball players. Make no mistake: there is definitely a place for them in today's collegiate game. But in scouring the Big Ten, most of them are waiting their turn.

The opportunity for allowing players to develop in college basketball is almost unheard of; if they do not like their playing time now, they can leave and make other programs better at the expense of the first academic institution. 

By Larry Smith/IlliniGuys Co-Founder & Co-Host/Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 20, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The IlliniGuys spent some time Saturday morning with Rob Lang, partner with Thompson Coburn LLP and legal representative of Terrence Shannon Jr. as the Illini star player battled the University of Illinois’ zero tolerance policy and the automatic suspension issued on December 28th when he was charged with rape by a Kansas district attorney.

Lang, representing Terrence and his mother Treanette Redding, agreed to break down the process that resulted in a federal court judge issuing a preliminary injunction Friday afternoon that allows Shannon to immediately rejoin the team and return to the court tomorrow against Rutgers.  That will end his six-game absence and will be his first game since he scored 30 points in the Braggin’ Rights win over Missouri on December 22nd.

I want to thank IlliniGuys co-founders Mike Cagley and Brad Sturdy, director of recruiting Kedric Prince, and staff writer Matt Stevens for their tireless work these past three weeks. Kudos as well to key individuals who have spent countless hours working the phones and giving professional input in developing our content and giving IlliniGuys.com members crucial and important insight into these proceedings.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) January 20, 2024 COLLEGE […]

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has elected to use Terrence Shannon Jr. off the bench Sunday against Rutgers after the All-Big Ten guard missed the last six games due to his suspension. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 20, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Terrence Shannon Jr. will be coming off the bench in his first game since being reinstated to the University of Illinois men’s basketball program. 

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said Shannon Jr., who has been inactive for the past six games due to a university suspension, will not start as the No. 14 Illini host Rutgers Sunday at noon. 

United State District Judge Colleen Lawless found several legal inconsistencies with DIA’s Student-Athlete Conduct Policy fully championed by Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 20, 2023

Terrence Shannon Jr. is now an eligible men’s basketball player at the University of Illinois after a federal judge condemned the procedural policy created by the school’s athletics department. 

January 19, 2024 Breaking news this afternoon... A federal […]

In what he and his head coach agreed was the best all-around performance of his college career, Coleman Hawkins’ excellent play on both ends of the floor lifted No. 14 Illinois to a road win.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 19, 2023

ANN ARBOR, Michigan — Mark it down - January 18, 2024, was the night Coleman Hawkins showcased every one of the vast amounts of skills he was recruited to display at Illinois.

By IlliniGuys Staff January 18, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff January 18, 2024 As expected, Illinois […]

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio & Illini Insider

January 18, 2024

Illinois Road Test at Michigan

Illinois travels to Michigan on Thursday night to take on the disappointing Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines have been on the struggle bus through coaching health issues, player suspensions and just an odd season thus far that has led to a 7-10 start. The Wolverines did get a win over Ohio State in their last outing but have lost 5 of 6 and 8 of 11 in the last six weeks. 

Illinois is licking their wounds a bit after a loss to another underachiever in Maryland on Sunday at home. Illinois has been a different team on the defensive end without Terrence Shannon and will need that defense to step it up against a quality Michigan offense. 

Here are our keys and a pick:

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio, Illini Insider

January 18, 2023

The Illini laid an egg on Sunday against a Maryland team that had underachieved relative to their talent level this season. The Terps were clicking on Sunday and the Illini were on the struggle bus, shooting 9-40 in the second half and repeatedly forcing Maryland into shots in the paint. 

Is it the start of a disturbing trend or a one-off bad day at work? 

It’s a question we will learn the answer to over the next few games at Michigan and Rutgers at home, but looking at it now, how does Illinois make the necessary adjustments?