Basketball

Illinois holds Nebraska, a projected 2024 NCAA Tournament at-large team, without a field goal for the final five minutes of a 74-73 victory for the Illini. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 3, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois finished the 2023-24 season with a home win against a projected NCAA Tournament team.

A dramatic 74-73 victory over a Nebraska squad that came to State Farm Center looking to lock up the No. 4 seed and the final double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament ended with several missed jump shots and free throws in a frantic defensive effort by the veteran Illini group. 

Illinois (14-14, 8-10 in Big Ten Conference) forced Nebraska to miss its last nine field goal attempts to preserve the Illini’s first home win against Nebraska since 2017 and overcame a late deficit with a finishing 6-0 run over the final two minutes and 10 seconds. 

Makira Cook topped 1,500 career points in her four-year college tenure Sunday with a 20-point effort that also included six rebounds and five assists for the 5-foot-6 guard. 

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

March 3, 2024

Well, it technically wasn’t homecoming, but it was a homecoming for Marcus Domask, the 5th year senior and former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball that went back and dominated the Badgers on Saturday with 31 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists to help Illinois win their 4th straight in the Kohl Center and solidify a top 3 seed in the Big Ten tourney with the 91-83 win. 

This sets up a showdown between the top 2 teams in the Big Ten on Tuesday night from the State Farm Center in Champaign that should have the college basketball world buzzing., 

Here’s what we saw on Saturday….

Domask-ination - In his first interview on the weekly IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular I asked Marcus Domask if there was one game he had circled on the schedule. He deferred, but after some extra prodding it became clear that he wanted to play this game in Wisconsin. He did not disappoint. His ability to finish with either hand, score over taller defenders, and now shooting 39% from 3 in Big Ten play is elite, and you throw in his passing ability, and you have a mismatch nightmare. Illinois continues to ask for a lot from the SIU transfer and Wisconsin native, and he continues to deliver. 

Three Illinois starters who will be honored after this […]

Former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball selection Marcus Domask leads No. 13 Illinois with 31 points to erase a terrible final high school memory inside the Kohl Center in Madison.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 2, 2024

MADISON, Wis. — Marcus Domask had this March 2nd matchup circled on his calendar for months with the mission of correcting a wrong in his basketball life. 

The last time Domask had stepped off the Kohl Center floor was March 16, 2019, as the Waupun (Wis.) High School senior was trying to mentally and emotionally recover from losing his final high school basketball game. The fifth-year senior, who said he figured 250-300 members of friends and family related to him were in attendance today, waited 1,813 days to guarantee himself a much better feeling in his last ever basketball game just 55 miles from his hometown. 

Domask finished with a game-high 31 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes played. 

“I wasn’t about to go out of here with a L,” Domask said. “It was real important that we got the win today for sure.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezlFhcFmOoU    

The 54 combined points from Marcus Domask and Terrence […]

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

March 2, 2024

The Illini head to Madison on Saturday with an opportunity to clinch a double bye and a top 3 finish in the Big Ten, while also keeping their slim Big ten title hopes alive heading into Tuesday’s showdown with Purdue. To do that, they need to beat a struggling Wisconsin team that has lost 6 of 8. 

But most of the damage has happened on the road for the Badgers. Wisconsin has lost to only top 4 teams Purdue and Tennessee at home, and have wins over Marquette, Michigan State and Northwestern at the Kohl Center. It won’t be easy. 

Setting the Stage

#13 Illinois (21-7, 12-5 B1G) at Wisconsin (18-10, 10-7 B1G) 

March 2, 2024 // 12 p.m. CT // Madison Wis. // Kohl Center 

TV: BTN – Dave Revsine (Play-by-Play), LaPhonso Ellis (Analyst) 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notables

Mike Cagley, Co-Host of IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big […]

Illinois was down by as much as 33 points in the fourth quarter of its 87-70 defeat at Michigan State and must now win two in a row to guarantee a .500 overall record.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 1, 2024

A poor start and an even worse second quarter for the Illinois women’s basketball program resulted in a blowout loss at Michigan State on Thursday night forcing a desperate situation to qualify for postseason play. 

Despite having a KenPom.com defensive efficiency rating of No. 94, Illinois is still near the top of a Big Ten Conference that has more offensive weapons than previous seasons.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 29, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Despite Brad Underwood knowing his team was likely to win, a perfectly completed action resulting in a three-point shot by Mike Mitchell Jr. resulted in the Illinois seventh year head coach screaming at the top of his lungs and slamming his right fist on the scorer's table next to his bench. 

During the post-game radio interview following the victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night, Illinois color commentator Deon Thomas attempted to explain the 97 points allowed by the Illini by complimenting the home team's defensive overall efficiency. 

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

February 29, 2024

(Cover photo Joe Pickrell/IlliniGuys)

What we saw on Wednesday night was a legendary offensive performance from a pair of teams that just didn’t miss. The Illini won it 105-97 against Minnesota behind what was the best offensive performance in a Big Ten game for Illinois in at least 25 years. But on the other end, the defense was an issue. Minnesota shot 60% overall and 70% from 3, becoming the first high major team to lose while doing that in over 15 years, and perhaps longer. 

Terrence Shannon had 29 points and 6 rebounds while Marcus Domask had 22 points 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Coleman Hawkins had 20 points to lead Illinois to a 21-7 mark and a 12-5 record in Big Ten play. Minnesota got 29 from Dawson Garcia and 23 from Cam Christie as they fell to 17-11 and 8-9 in the B1G. 

These 3 Things

The Defense was Bad, but…..

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 29, 2024

Champaign, IL - Illinois played host to 2026 prospect, Andrew Jensen, a 6-9, 205-pound Power Forward hailing from Kaukauna, WI. Jensen, on an unofficial visit to the university, received more than just a glimpse into the Illini basketball program – he left with an official offer in hand.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 28, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

February 28, 2024

The Illini continue their Big Ten slate on Wednesday night when the upstart Minnesota Golden Gophers come to the State Farm Center. The Gophers are one of the surprise teams in the Big Ten and country this season and have positioned themselves for a postseason berth with a solid finish. The Illini are looking solidify NCAA seeding and double bye in the Big Ten tournament, with an outside chance at a Big Ten Championship

Tip-off is at 8PM CST and here is what we are looking for. 

Setting the Stage

#13 Illinois (20-7, 11-5 B1G) vs. Minnesota (17-10, 8-8 B1G) 

Feb. 28, 2024 // 8 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center 

TV: BTN – Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play), Stephen Bardo (Analyst), Andy Katz (Sideline) 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas 

Notables

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 27, 2024

Zion Gross is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Joliet West High School in the Chicagoland area. Despite not being highly ranked in the state of Illinois for the class of 2025, Gross has proven himself as a formidable player with a possible bright future at the next level.