Basketball

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood had some unpleasant and yet very choice words to describe his team’s mentality following one of the worst defensive efforts in several years last weekend.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 13, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Brad Underwood has broken out the emergency four-letter word about his basketball team - soft. 

It took one of the least consistent defensive efforts in several years for the emergency “soft” glass to be broken with just under a month remaining before postseason bids are handed out by the Illini seventh-year head coach. However, there Underwood sat inside the State Farm Center media room Monday afternoon calling his squad one of the most incredulous things his 60-year-old mind could think of following an 88-80 loss at Michigan State on Saturday afternoon. 

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

February 12, 2024

For 33 minutes it looked like Illinois was set to grab a massive road win at Michigan State. The Illini led 72-64 after a Marcus Domask 3 pointer and then after a Luke Goode blocked shot (it really happened), they got out in transition and Domask hit Harmon for a wide open wing 3 to go up by 11 with 6:47 to play. Ty Rodgers would foul on the rebound and Tyson Walker would make 2 free throws to begin the meltdown. 

Illinois would then go to Terrence Shannon for a 3 and then a mid-range jumper which were both misses, while Michigan State would get misses from Walker and Akins to keep it 72-66 with 5:05 to play. 

In a season marred by high expectations and several deflating injuries, Illinois still has an opportunity to make a postseason bid in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2006-07.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 12, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — With her team being one game under .500 through 23 games in a season filled with expectations, Shauna Green is attempting to see the long-term play of her program rebuild. 

As we enter the second week of February in her second year at Illinois, Green is trying to balance the frustration of getting this veteran team over the hump of defeating quality basketball teams while also feeling encouraged by the small portions of games that define the characteristics she’s trying to build. 

Power Forward Jason Jakstys Shines on the Court

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 11, 2024

Jason Jakstys is making a significant impact on the high school basketball scene as a 6-foot-10, 205-pound Power Forward for Yorkville High School (HS). As a three-star prospect, has a newfound talent for putting the ball on the floor and applying pressure on opposing defenses.

IlliniGuys recently caught up with Jakstys, who has committed to the University of Illinois, to discuss his ongoing high school season and his thoughts on joining the Illini in Champaign this summer.

Illinois’ trio of stars (Makira Cook, Genesis Bryant and […]

Illinois Women's Basketball Program Eyes Top Talents in 2025 Class at Today's Maryland Game.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 11, 2024

The Illinois women's basketball program is setting its sights on securing a formidable backcourt for the future, with two of the nation's top prep players in the class of 2025 on their radar and in attendance for today's Maryland game. 

ESPN HoopGurlz Super 60 ranks Divine Bourrage, a 6-foot-0 guard from Davenport North (HS) in Davenport, IA, at the 9th spot nationally, while Destiny Jackson, a 5-foot-6 guard from Whitney Young (HS) in Illinois, has climbed to the 29th position.

Michigan State outscored No. 10 Illinois 23-8 from the […]

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

February 10, 2024

The Fighting Illini are on the road on Saturday in a road tilt that will likely determine whether they are a legit player for the Big Ten title. Illinois is ranked in the top 10 in the opening poll of February for the first time since Feb. 6, 2006, and the Illini sit one game behind Purdue in the loss column in 2nd place alone and will need a strong finish to catch the Boilers. It starts on Saturday at Michigan State against a desperate Spartan squad that needs this win if they want to continue their 25-year streak of NCAA tournament appearances. 

The Spartans have just 2 Quad 1 wins at the moment, and one will likely slide to a Quad 2, and have only at Purdue remaining as a Quad 1. Should they lose this game, they would have almost no margin for error down the stretch. 

Here are our keys and a pick:

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 10, 2024

Lincoln Williams, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound shooting guard from the class of 2026, who recently received a scholarship offer from Illinois, making this his first Power 5 offer.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Media Box | YouTube […]

Jamarion Batemon, 3-star recruit from Milwaukee Considering Illinois in His Top Three

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 8, 2024

In the world of college basketball recruiting, Jamarion Batemon, a 6-3, 170-pound combo guard from Milwaukee, WI, is making noise as a 2025 three-star recruit. He is currently attending the Milwaukee Academy of Science. Sunday, Batemon made his second unofficial visit to the University of Illinois. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 6, 2024

On Sunday, 4-Star prospect Steven Reynolds took in the Illini experience on gameday on an unofficial visit. South Bend, Indiana's Steven Reynolds, a 6-foot-5, 170-pound shooting guard from the class of 2026, recently experienced a game at the State Farm Center. On this unofficial visit, Reynolds witnessed an Illinois victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers 87-84 in overtime on Sunday evening.

(Editor's note: IlliniGal Adalia McKenzie appears each week on […]

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

February 5, 2024

The Illini took a 10-point lead on a Terrence Shannon 3-pointer at 72-62 with 3:29 to play and Brad Underwood called a timeout to set his defense to prevent 3 pointers. 

“We just made a subtle change…” Underwood said. “It’s a downhill switch. We knew what was coming…we were gonna be OK with 2’s we just couldn’t give them 3’s. I called the timeout there, probably not a great decision because it maybe changed the momentum, but I still would have made the same call over and over again.”

On Sunday night, Coleman Hawkins finally got a matchup similar in stature and game and proved he was a more athletic, smarter and versatile center against Nebraska’s Rienk Mast. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 5, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Victory for Coleman Hawkins on Sunday night wasn’t so much a sight but a distinct sound.