Basketball

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

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy FIBA)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois men’s basketball program is rolling into December with momentum after a big 75-62 win over Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

That surge off the court is matching what’s happening on it. Rumblings continue to circulate around Lithuanian standout Dovydas Buika, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound combo guard whose wing scoring ability has made him one of the most intriguing international prospects in the 2026 class. According to Rivals.com and On3, Buika is rated a four-star recruit, and his recruitment appears to be tightening into a two-team contest between Illinois and Arizona.

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

December 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Payton Sturdy/IlliniGuys)

It is a quick turnaround, as the Illini head to Columbus for the Big Ten opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Guitars notwithstanding, the Illini feel good about their week of practice and their win over Tennessee but now have to take care of business this week in Big Ten play.

Here’s a breakdown.

Setting the Stage
#13 Illinois (7-2, 0-0) at Ohio State (7-1, 1-0)
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 // 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET) // Columbus, Ohio // Value City Arena Stream: Peacock – John Fanta (Play-by-Play) & Brendan Haywood (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable

December 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

IlliniGuys Staff Writer Kedric Prince laid down some knowledge for the premium board folks yesterday morning...

Good Monday morning. It always feels a little better when Illinois not only picks up a big win...but does it against an SEC opponent.

A few notes to pass along from what I gathered yesterday, in no particular order of importance:

• Junior Andrej Stojakovic
His scoring dip lately has an explanation.

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

December 7, 2025

The Illini got much needed marquee win on Saturday night in Nashville, cruising to a 75-61 win over the #13 Tennessee Volunteers as they head into Big Ten play. Tomislav Ivisic, Keaton Wagler each scored 16 points and Kylan Boswell added 15, as the Illini improved to 7-2.
Tennessee led 34–32 at halftime and briefly held a lead in the second half. However, Illinois took control with a decisive 15–3 run midway through the second half to open up a double-digit lead they never relinquished.

Despite being outrebounded by Tennessee (46–31), Illinois was much more efficient offensively, shooting 48% from the field compared to Tennessee's cold shooting night. Illinois held Tennessee to just 36.9% shooting from the field.

Here’s a recap from Nashville.

These 3 Things

The Pieces are Beginning to Go Together - The Illini are starting to look like the team

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

Illinois center Cearah Parchment leads confident group of young players on Shauna Green’s roster ready to navigate Big Ten Conference play.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 6, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Jackson Janes/Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The living embodiment of Shauna Green’s rebuild of Illinois women’s basketball showcased itself Saturday in a relatively unflappable 22-point blowout of a league rival.

It’s not a common thing over the entire lifespan of all the players on Green’s current roster to see Illinois arrive at State Farm Center for a game against Indiana with the confidence that was verbalized by its freshman forward Cearah Parchment.

“I definitely think we came into this game knowing we were going to win,” the 18 year-old big from Ontario, Canada said following the Illini’s 78-57 victory. “We came in thinking we’re going to stomp on their necks, as you would say.

For the first time since the beginning of the 2016-17 season and for the first time under Green, Illinois (8-1, 1-0 in Big Ten Conference) begin league play with a 1-0 record because for the first time since Green’s arrival at Illinois, her squad had the significantly obvious advantage in the paint.

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

December 6, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Ilini have had 8 days off and now are ready for a hungry Tennessee team coming off of 2 straight losses in Nashville on Saturday night. The Illini lost a tough game against top 5 UConn a week ago and now will need to play better in this one to get the win. Illinois is 1-4 against Tennessee all time, losing 66-64 at the horn a year ago, and Brad Underwood is 0-2 against Rick Barnes.

Here’s a look at the particulars.

Setting the Stage
#14/15 Illinois (6-2) vs. #13/13 Tennessee (7-2)
Music City Madness
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 // 7 p.m. CT // Nashville, Tenn. // Bridgestone Arena
TV: ESPN – Karl Ravech (Play-by-Play) & Jimmy Dykes (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable
*The Illini opened this season with seven straight games of 80+ points. It marked the most such games to open a campaign since the 1988-89 Flyin’ Illini scored 80+ in each of their first 12 contests.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) ILLINOIS VS. INDIANA Date: […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 5, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Player Biography: Irene Noya Catoira, a 6-foot-3 wing from Vilagarcía de Arousa, Pontevedra, Spain, is in her sophomore season at Illinois after limited playing time as a freshman. She appeared in seven games last season, averaging 2.6 minutes, 0.6 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists.

What we know: Noya Catoira remains somewhat of an unknown

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer December 2, […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —Illinois […]

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

November 29, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Payton Sturdy/IlliniGuys)

The Illini fell to #5 UConn at Madison Square Garden on Friday despite a 25 point and 9 rebound effort from Kylan Boswell, 74-61. The Illini were cold from the perimeter, shooting just 6-29 from 3 and 9-22 at the rim in this loss to fall to 6-2 on the season.

The Huskies scored at will in the first half and led by as many as 21 points in the game before an Illini rally had cut the lead to 7. The Illini appeared to get a stop, but a Hail Mary 3 and 1 by UConn's Malachi Smith after the shot clock had reset incorrectly went unchanged after review and turned what would have been a 7-point deficit and the ball with 2:10 to play into an 11-point lead for UConn.

The Illini were never able to get any closer.

Here’s what we saw in person at MSG.

These 3 Things

European No Show -

By IlliniGuys Staff November 28, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

November 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Brent Zinkmann/IlliniGuys)

Brad Underwood loves his marquee matchups in the non-conference and loves to head to New York City as well, so he will get both out of the way on Friday when the Illini play the Connecticut Huskies. UConn is a perennial championship contender, and this year appears no different. The Illini are trying to get healthy heading into this one and hope to be closer to full strength than they were just over a week ago against Alabama.

Here’s a look at the particulars.

Setting the Stage
#13 Illinois (6-1) vs. #5 UConn (5-1)
Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 // 11:30 a.m. CT/12:30 p.m. ET // New York // Madison Square Garden
TV: FOX – Kenny Albert (Play-by-Play) & Steve Smith (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable
*No. 13 Illinois (6-1) closes a stretch of four games in 10 days across three different cities, facing No. 5 UConn at Madison Square Garden on Black Friday (11:30 a.m. CT / FOX). • In taking on No. 5 UConn, Illinois is in search of its highest ranked win since a 72-69 win over No. 4 Iowa State in the Sweet 16 round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament (March 28, 2024). Brad Underwood has led the Illini to five wins over top-5 opponents since 2019-20, sixth-most in the NCAA.