Basketball

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

October 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illinois women played their final exhibition on Thursday night against Division III Maryville. This is a Saints team that can really shoot it from deep and are coming off an upset of Missouri earlier this week. But Illinois rolled to a 79-60 win behind 22 points and 13 rebounds from freshman Cearah Parchment as they outclassed the Saints with their size and quickness. Gretchen Dolan added 17 points and Berry Wallace had 11.

Illinois now prepares to host SEMO in their regular season opener on Tuesday at the State Farm Center. Here’s a look at what we learned.

The Freshmen are the Real Deal -

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

October 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Eleven Warriors)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — IlliniGuys has learned that the Illinois men’s basketball team is pursuing a commitment from Marcus Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound point guard from Garfield Heights (Ohio) in the class of 2026.

This recruitment has generated plenty of buzz. Johnson, who originally committed to Ohio State, reopened his recruitment earlier this week, sources told IlliniGuys.

Right away, Illinois was among the first schools to reach out to Johnson, along with Cincinnati, Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Louisville, USC, and South Carolina.

By IlliniGuys Staff October 30, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) (Cover photo courtesy player's […]

Illinois head coach Shauna Green confirmed Wednesday Iowa transfer guard Aaliyah Guyton will be inactive for the exhibition game on Thursday night against Division II Maryville.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 29, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois fans eager to see Aaliyah Guyton in an Illinois jersey will simply need to wait to a little longer.

Illini fourth-year head coach Shauna Green confirmed to local media Wednesday at State Farm Center that the transfer guard from University of Iowa via Peoria, Ill., will be inactive due to coaching staff being cautious with a recent undisclosed preseason injury to the 5-foot-7 guard.

Green said Wednesday she wasn’t concern with Guyton’s injury being a lingering problem but an exhibition game against Division II Maryville isn’t high enough of a priority to risk further damage to a player expected to be an instant contributor to a fully remade backcourt.

“She’ll be fine. She’ll be back,” Green said. “

By Kedric Prince Staff Writer

October 29, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The term “Twin Towers” will often be used when the Illinois men’s basketball team takes the court this season. Why? Because Illinois will have two seven-footers on the floor at the same time.

Tomislav Ivisic stands 7-foot-1, and Zvonimir checks in at 7-foot-2. In a recent interview with the media, Illinois head basketball coach Brad Underwood addressed the excitement surrounding the Ivisic twins. “Yes, before you guys asked, we have looked at both of the twins together a good amount. I think that’s something we can see at different times. We’ve even looked at sliding Zvonimir some to a perimeter spot because of his ability to shoot it and space the floor.”

Zvonimir, from Vodice, Croatia, began his college basketball career at Kentucky before transferring to Arkansas. Now, he’ll suit up alongside his brother Tomislav in Champaign.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The Naismith […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

October 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois men’s basketball program continues to work hard on the recruiting trail. This time, the focus is squarely on the frontcourt. Head coach Brad Underwood and his staff are looking to secure a big man, and it appears they’re down to the wire with a pair of highly touted prospects.

Luigi Suigo, a 7-foot-3, 240-pound center from Italy, has reportedly narrowed his list to Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Purdue. However, sources believe the decision will likely come down to a two-team race between the Illini and Boilermakers.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst October […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

October 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just before the Illinois men’s basketball team boarded a plane for a “secret” scrimmage against Florida, the program received some major recruiting news. Lucas Morillo, a 6-foot-6, 185-pound guard from The Newman School in Boston, Massachusetts, announced his commitment to the Illini.

Morillo, a consensus four-star prospect and top-75 player in the 2026 class according to ESPN, visited Champaign on September 27 when Illinois hosted USC. At the time, he told IlliniGuys, “Illinois is a place I could see myself playing. Their program has been great under Coach (Brad) Underwood.”

By Kedric Prince Staff Writer

October 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini men’s basketball team is gearing up for what is expected to be another exciting season. Last week’s Big Ten Media Day offered an early glimpse into expectations for 2025-26, as the conference’s preseason rankings were released.

The media selected Illinois to finish fourth behind, in order, Purdue, Michigan, and UCLA. KenPom.com’s preseason rankings were equally high on the Illini, placing them at No. 6 nationally, the second-highest Big Ten team behind the No. 2 Boilermakers.

Illinois assistant coach Zach Hamer spoke about his expectations for the upcoming season and the energy surrounding the program.

October 23, 2025

IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst Kedric Prince shared the following insider notes earlier this week following Illinois' 92-65 exhibition win over Illinois State on Sunday.  He gives an intriguing glimpse inside the program, looking at how players are developing 

What I learned yesterday at the State Farm Center, where Illinois defeated Illinois State 92-65 in front of 15,180 fans, goes beyond the final score.
Let’s start with what happened off the court. Recruiting is nowhere near what it used to be or how it’s done, and Illinois has adjusted its approach accordingly. In Brad Underwood’s early years as head coach, he had to sell his vision. Now, with the success he’s built, the Illini approach things differently.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

October 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Fighting Illini men’s basketball program welcomed several visitors to campus this past weekend, including committed forward Landon Davis from Waukee, Iowa, 2026 4-star guard prospect Adam Oumiddoch; and Ben Wade, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound small forward from Iowa City, Iowa, in the Class of 2028.

Wade doesn’t yet hold an offer from Illinois, but he told IlliniGuys that the Illini are high on his list, especially with Davis already committed, adding extra appeal to the recruitment. The two sat together inside the State Farm Center to watch Illinois roll past Illinois State 92-65.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – At this time, it seems as though one of the key cogs in the Illinois offense this season will be point guard Mihailo Petrovic. Head coach Brad Underwood has harped on the 6-foot-3 Serbian point guard’s pace, a key strength as the Illini are looking to play faster and more downhill than ever.

Petrovic made the flip to college basketball after a strong campaign in the Adriatic League, where he averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game and became a potential MVP candidate. At just 22 and beginning to establish himself as one of the top players in a league that’s produced the likes of Nikola Jokic, Dario Saric, and Goga Bitadze, Petrovic explained why he made the move from the Balkan Peninsula to Champaign.