Basketball

In what was likely his last game at Illinois, Kasparus Jakucionis commits four first-half turnovers to dig Illini into early deficit in 84-75 loss to Kentucky in second round of NCAA Tournament.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 24, 2025

MILWAUKEE — If Sunday night marked the last time Kasparus Jakucionis takes off an Illinois jersey, he isn’t likely to have fond memories of the NCAA Tournament.

Following the 84-75 loss to Kentucky, the 18-year-old had plenty of self-awareness to know the major talking point of the evening and likely subsequent days would surround his six turnovers, four of which came in the first 10 minutes of the contest.

“I’m mad at myself that I let the team down today,” Jakučionis said while sitting in his post-game locker room stall inside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. “We lost tonight because of turnovers and I’m the one that turned the ball over.”

After securing its first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years, Illinois goes for arguably the program’s biggest March Madness upset in program history.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 24, 2025

When asked her immediate thoughts on trying to take down a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in their own building, Illinois head coach Shauna Green had the response anybody who’s met her would think she’d have.

Been there and already done that before.

Two Illini starters declare after the NCAA Tournament second-round loss that they would like to return for another year of college basketball in Champaign-Urbana.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 23, 2025

MILWAUKEE — And now the attention for Illinois coaches, players and especially fans gets immediately focused on roster building for the 2025-26 season.
In the losing locker room of the Fiserv Forum following the 84-75 to Kentucky in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Kylan Boswell and Tre White verbally declared they would prefer to ignore the lure of the transfer portal with an intent to return to the 2025-26 Illinois roster.

Boswell, who transferred back to his hometown of Champaign after two seasons at Arizona, detailed how he planned to handle this offseason amongst his current Illini teammates.

Kentucky outscored Illinois 29-10 before the first media timeout of each half in the NCAA Tournament second round matchup.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 23, 2025

MILWAUKEE — An extensive film session certainly wasn’t going to be necessary for Illinois head coach Brad Underwood to determine when this NCAA Tournament game was lost.

The 2024-25 season is ending the Illini because they were outscored by Kentucky 29-10 before the first media timeout of each half of this 84-75 victory for the 3-seed Wildcats.

By IlliniGuys Staff March 23, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois forward Ben Humrichous is still considering a return to Champaign-Urbana decision for the 2025-26 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 23, 2025

MILWAUKEE — On the night before his NCAA Tournament debut with Illinois, Kylan Boswell could be seen on his tablet watching copious amount of film of his Xavier opponent - Ryan Conwell.

“I may have watched three or four hours of film on him the night before because I know I watched his last 12 games and the cutups that the guys on our staff put together for me,” Boswell said. “I also have learned what about using [Synergy Sports Technology] can be helpful for me to know where a player likes to operate on the floor and where he likes to shoot it. It’s not just about having the information but how it can help me learn.”

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 23, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – During the 1984 NCAA Tournament, Illinois faced Kentucky in a game played at Rupp Arena, where the Wildcats won a narrow 54-51 victory. However, controversy surrounded the game due to a missed traveling call that many believed favored Kentucky and helped lead them to the win.

With so many preseason matchups and holiday tournaments, it is surprising that Illinois and Kentucky have not faced each other since that game.

Today, that changes, but with several new narratives intertwining the two programs. Let’s take a look at some of the key storylines surrounding this long-awaited rematch.

No particular order of importance:

Brad Sturdy, Illini Insider & Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 23, 2025

For Orlando Antigua it’s a battle between his past 2 employers, but it’s not quite the same as a typical homecoming game. You see, Kentucky has no returning players outside of walk-ons and 1 player, guard Travis Perry who was recruited by Antigua. Other than that, it’s all new. The connection with administration, boosters, managers and Lexington neighbors is obviously there, but this college basketball world is different. 

By IlliniGuys Staff March 22, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois freshman wing Will Riley is enjoying having his first NCAA Tournament experience overcome his normal calm, cool and emotionless style on the court.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 22, 2025

MILWAUKEE — By the time the Illinois players and coaches were ready for Saturday’s closed practice session inside Fiserv Forum, Will Riley had seen his highlight reel, and-one bucket over and over again.

With 10 minutes and 40 seconds left in the NCAA Tournament first round matchup against Xavier, the Illini freshman maneuvered his body through two defenders on his way to a winding layup while being fouled by Musketeers forward Zack Freemantle.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 22, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The 2025 NCAA transfer portal will be in full swing on Monday for men's and women's basketball. Some players entering the portal will be hot commodities, while others will not. One name generating significant interest is Nevada center Nick Davidson, who Illinois views as a serious prospect.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 22, 2025

Illinois head coach Shauna Green knew the scouting report on Creighton the minute that the matchup popped up during the NCAA Tournament selection show.

The Blue Jays is a high-powered motion offense that will play a five-out motion and shoots threes early and often when the NCAA Tournament first round matchup is tipped off tonight (6:15 p.m. CST, ESPN News) at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

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

March 22, 2025

The Illini defeated Xavier 86-73 on Friday night in an extremely physical game that saw the Illini veteran lead them on the defensive and the Illini freshmen showing why they are such a talented group. Kylan Boswell locked up Ryan Conwell and scored an efficient 15 points, while Tomislav Ivisic had 20 and 10, Kasparas Jakucionis had 16 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds and Will Riley went off in the second half, finishing with 22 points on 12 shots, 18 coming after the break.

The Illini advance to take on Kentucky on Sunday at 4:15PM on CBS in a battle that much of Illini nation has been waiting for for 40 years.

These 3 Things:

Illinois point guard Kasparas Jakucionis finished one rebound shy of the program’s second-ever triple double in a NCAA Tournament game as the Illini cruise to 86-73 win over Xavier.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 22, 2025

MILWAUKEE — When asked on Friday night how many offensive sets were called out from the his bench in the second half, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood immediately smiled from ear to ear.

The answer is simple.

“None,” the Illini eight-year head coach said knowing the answer would get some confused looks from media members.

By IlliniGuys Staff March 21, 2025 MILWAUKEE - If […]