Basketball

The five straight Illinois wins for a 2024 WBIT championship saw the return of a confident Makira Cook to the court where she proved she’s one of the nation’s best perimeter players. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 3, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS --- Postseason play saw the return of a healthy, confident and rejuvenated Makira Cook. 

The Illinois guard effectively put away all anxiety and frustrations from early and midseason struggles related to a severe concussion in non-conference play. The recent play of the 5-foot-6 guard in March and the two games in Hinkle Fieldhouse in April more resembled the star perimeter who led Illinois to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. 

By IlliniGuys Staff April 3, 2024 INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - […]

Illinois will look to push the pace inside Hinkle […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 1, 2024

Today, Illinois basketball received a significant boost as they welcomed Jake Davis, a talented shooter, to their roster. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 210 pounds, Davis, a freshman from McCordsville, Ind., previously attended Cathedral High School and brings with him three years of eligibility following his transfer from Mercer.

Davis's decision to commit to Illinois came after considering offers from several other schools, including Butler, DePaul under new head coach Chris Holtman, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Colgate, and Wyoming, among others. His announcement was made via Twitter on March 13th that he was going to enter the transfer portal.

For the first time in program history, Illinois women’s […]

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

April 1, 2024

The Illini wasted no time in adding to their roster after the season ending loss to UConn on March 30th and added Mercer sharpshooter Jake Davis to the fold. The 6’6 Davis was a tremendous player at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis before heading to Mercer. After a coaching change, he wanted to hit the portal and see what options he had. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 1, 2024

After an awful loss in the Elite 8 against a formidable UConn in Boston last Saturday to Connecticut, the Fighting Illini men's basketball team found themselves grappling with disappointment but refusing to dwell in defeat. 

The Illinois squad through the season had been nothing short of a storybook tale, a journey that began with Head Coach Brad Underwood's declaration last August that this team would be something special. Throughout the season, Illinois notched an impressive 29 victories, secured a Big Ten tournament title, and embarked on an Elite 8 run, marking a historic moment for the program as they reached this stage for the first time in over two decades.

Following the 77-52 loss to Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament East Regional Final, Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins declared he believes his college basketball career is over. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 31, 2024

BOSTON — For the second time in his life, Coleman Hawkins believes a NCAA Tournament loss has ended his college basketball career.

While sitting in his locker inside TD Garden in Boston following a 77-52 blowout loss to No. 1 seed Connecticut in the East Regional Final on Saturday night, the 6-foot-10 senior forward declared his intentions that his college basketball is over. 

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

March 31, 2024

An Elite 8 run for Illinois didn’t end the way anyone wanted as Illinois fell to defending champion Connecticut 77-52 and saw a magical season come to an end in Boston. Marcus Domask had 17 points to lead Illinois but was the only Illini in double figures. Terrence Shannon had 8 in his final game, ending his long streak of double figure games, but UConn was just too good. 

Deep Thoughts

The strategy of attacking Clingan inside

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has accepted he must be on the phone with transfer portal prospects 24 hours before playing in a NCAA Tournament regional final. But that doesn’t mean he likes it.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 31, 2024

BOSTON — There was never a point on Friday afternoon that Illinois head coach Brad Underwood didn’t lose sight of the ridiculousness of what he was doing. 

At no point during the 77-52 loss on Saturday night in Elite Eight round was Illinois able to handle Connecticut 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan’s presence in the paint. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 30, 2024

BOSTON — Almost immediately into this NCAA Tournament East Regional Final, everybody on the Illinois bench had the Captain Ahab realization that dealing with Connecticut center Donovan Clingan was going to require a bigger boat. 

The defending national champions rode its 7-foot-2 mammoth frontcourt presence on both ends of the floor to a dominating 77-52 victory over the Illini in TD Garden in Boston. 

By IlliniGuys Staff March 30, 2024 BOSTON, Mass. - […]

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Co-Founder & Co-Host/Executive Producer, […]

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

March 30, 2024

Is it really David vs Goliath? UConn is very good, make no mistake, but the premise that Illinois is David seems a bit much. This Illinois team is 29-8 and is the best team that Connecticut has played in their two-year tourney run. The Illini are definitely using the pundits' views that they don’t have a chance against the Huskies as a motivating factor here. 

These Illini have accomplished a lot, no doubt, but as Marcus Domask told us on the Sports Spectacular this week, “We’re enjoying it, but we’re not ready to be done yet.”