Basketball

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 14, 2023

IlliniGuys caught up with

EDITOR'S NOTE: IlliniGuys co-founder Larry Smith has covered sports from the local to the international level for 35 years, including 12 Final Fours and six NBA Finals.  He is the creator of the Dirty Dozen, an office pool selection matrix that is 12-0 in its existence.)

By Larry Smith/IlliniGuys Staff

February 13, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

One of the most thrilling college basketball regular seasons I can remember is quickly coming to a conclusion.  Four weeks from today, we will be discussing first round matchups, who got snubbed, which ACC team that the all-ACC ESPN studio crew incorrectly thinks got robbed, and who ya got in your Final Four.

It's the time of year that the nerd in me rises to the surface.  I do my own 68-team field twice a week.  I begin to research my Dirty Dozen to see which favorites are doomed and will not win the national title (more on that at another time).  When the 80 index cards go on the wall of my "war room" in about two weeks, my family is warned...Dad is just in his zone and we'll see him again in a couple of weeks.

Here are some quick thoughts after another crazy weekend:

In a 82-71 loss, No. 8 Maryland got 29 points off the Illinois’ 25 turnovers. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 12, 2023

Illinois head coach Shauna Green isn’t interested in hearing the argument that her team’s second-half breakdown has plenty to do with the absence of Genesis Bryant. 

The near 10-minute stretch where Rutgers didn’t score in a 69-60 home victory for Illinois was catapulted by the defensive strengths of Coleman Hawkins. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 11, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The boos from the Orange Krush student section every time Sam Mulcahy touched the basketball weren’t at all phasing the confidence of the Rutgers’ senior guard. 

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 11, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - For most of Saturday afternoon, 24th ranked Rutgers could smell its first ever victory in Champaign.  But Illinois stepped up its defense in the second half to come away with a 69-60 win at State Farm Center

The Scarlet Knights took a 47-41 lead on a pair of Caleb McConnell free throws with 15:03 remaining.  But Illinois (17-7, 8-5 in Big Ten) held them without a field goal for the next 10:05 to spur a 19-0 run and take the lead for good.

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 10, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illinois women's team got a big road win at Nebraska 72-64 Thursday night.  It's a statement win and a victory that further boosts their already impressive resume as they work toward their first NCAA tournament bid since 2013.

We at IlliniGuys began our commitment to covering the women's basketball team at our first anniversary in January 2022 by bringing then-freshman guard Adalia McKenzie on for a weekly segment on the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular radio show.  Adalia's insights into the team has given our audience, which includes 30 stations and an audience reaching six Midwestern states each weekend, a first-hand view of the team's highs and lows as they struggled through the end of last season and then began a new program under head coach Shauna Green.

We have noticed an increase in interest in the team among our IlliniGuys members, so we will do a special one-on-one with Adalia and IlliniGuys co-founder Larry Smith after every game for the rest of the season.  It has been a treat for us to watch Adalia grow as a student-athlete as well as a person during the past year and we are thrilled to provide our members with this exclusive access and to give Adalia the opportunity to expand her growing platform.

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 9, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

LINCOLN, Neb. - Eleven months ago, Nebraska ended Illinois' season with a 92-74 rout in the Big Ten tournament.  Thursday night, they found out this is a very different Illini team.

Jayla Oden scored 12 second half points off the bench and the Illini defense held Nebraska without a field goal for more than 10 minutes in the second half to score a key 72-64 road victory over the Huskers.

Illini coach Brad Underwood talks about Saturday's home matchup […]

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular February 7, 2023 […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 6, 2023

Let us face facts here: not a single person involved in the Illinois women's basketball program thought that they would have the success they are having right now.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer February 6, 2023 (updated […]

If Illinois sophomore guard Adalia McKenzie decides to stay home for college, the Illini’s back-to-back wins over Minnesota this season likely don’t occur. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 5, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Adalia McKenzie is the butterfly effect of Illinois women’s basketball being able to complete a regular season sweep of Minnesota. 

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 5, 2023

Makira Cook (3) scored a team-high 21 points, including eight in the final two minutes as Illinois defeated Minnesota 69-62 Sunday afternoon at State Farm Center. (Photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Makira Cook scored a team-high 21 points and the Illinois defense locked down Minnesota in the final minutes as the Illini turned away the Gophers' upset bid to post the 69-62 win Sunday afternoon at State Farm Center.

The victory came on the day when Illini all-time leading scorer Jenna Smith had her jersey hung in the rafters.

Smith and the other 4,533 in attendance had to like what they saw, though the Gophers - who lost to Illinois at home 70-57 three weeks ago - made it interesting, as they seemed to answer every time Illinois built a lead.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 5, 2023

Meghan McKeown is one of the brightest and up-and-coming stars in the media world today.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 5, 2023

The Illini couldn’t get it done on the road at Iowa on Saturday