Basketball

By IlliniGuys Staff

January 28, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MADISON, Wisc. - With leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. handcuffed by foul trouble, Matthew Mayer delivered a career-high 26 points as Illinois defeated Wisconsin for the sixth consecutive game, 61-51 Saturday afternoon.

Illinois (15-6, 6-4) has now won six of its last seven games to put that 0-3 start in the Big Ten behind them and climb into a 4th place tie in the conference.

After a storybook start to the 2022-23 season, Illinois has lost three of its last five games and is searching for the mentality that got them to national ranking in an unforgiving Big Ten Conference. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 27, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Without wanting to admit it out loud, Shauna Green knew the reality check portion of her first season as head coach at Illinois was coming.

Illinois misses 22 of 26 from three-point range leading […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 25, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini got back on the winning side of things with a 69-60 win over Ohio State on Tuesday night behind a balanced offensive performance and some stellar defense as they moved to 14-6 overall and 5-4 in league play. Terrence Shannon had 17 to lead the way, but the Illini got 14 from Jayden Epps, 12 from Matthew Mayer and a complete performance from Coleman Hawkins with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks as they controlled the game for the final 30 minutes against the Buckeyes. 

Here’s a quick recap:

These 4 Things:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Jan. 25, 2023

On Tuesday live on ESPN, it announced the winners of the 2023 men's and women's McDonald's All-American team. From a recruiting standpoint, I was not expecting a player from the men's 2023 recruiting class to make the list, but for the women's side, I did.

Several fans asked me personally on our message boards if I thought the selection process was somewhat political; for the first time ever, I can say “yes,” only because I have a little proof.

Illinois forward Matthew Mayer spent the last few days in bed with the flu but newfound health led to 12 points and a comfortable win.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 25, 2023

(Photos courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In case anybody might have been wondering, a healthy Matthew Mayer without the flu is a better basketball player than the opposite.

The Illinois graduate transfer had practically every physical and medical reason to feel, look and most importantly act differently than the last time he stepped on the State Farm Center playing floor. Following a scoreless outing in 22 minutes against Indiana in which Mayer was likely in between being sick in the bathroom, Mayer couldn’t have been more different for a simple reason. He felt better.

By IlliniGuys Staff January 24, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 24, 2023

Illinois recently offered Blooming Central Catholic 6-foot-4 point guard Cole Certa last week. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 24, 2023

IlliniGuys learned that at tonight's Ohio State basketball game

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 24, 2023

Illinois (13-6, 4-4) vs. Ohio State (11-8, 3-5) Jan. 24, 2023

#21 Illinois dominates Northwestern in the paint 44-20 thanks to a double-double from Kendall Bostic to take the first regular season sweep of the in-state rivalry in a decade.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 22, 2023

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Illinois head coach Shauna Green sent a text message to Kendall Bostic

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular January 22, 2023 […]

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 21, 2023

When the Fighting Illini introduced point guard Niccolo Moretti to their roster

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood publicly says he’s fine with giving up nearly a career night to Trayce Jackson-Davis but was worried about Indiana’s perimeter shooting if they doubled the post. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 20, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Everything out of the mouth of the Illinois’ six-year head coach insists Trayce Jackson-Davis’ 35 points wasn’t a problem.

By IlliniGuys Staff

January 19, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - There is nobody in America who is happier that Kofi Cockburn no longer wears an Illini uniform than Trayce Jackson-Davis.

After being owned for three years by the massive two-time All-American, Jackson-Davis exploded for a season-high 35 points as Indiana dominated their rival, 80-65 Thursday night.

It was a must-win effort for the Hoosiers, the preseason Big Ten favorite who was in danger of falling four games behind front-running Purdue. But they played like a team with everything to lose, dominating the game on both ends.  Indiana shot a season-best 65% from the field, eclipsing the 61% effort against Morehead State in their season opener back in early November.