Basketball

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 19, 2023

We are in the meat of the basketball season

Kendall Bostic’s foul trouble leads to a dominating night for Indiana center Mackenzie Holmes in front of an energized State Farm Center crowd.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 19, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- At one point in the third quarter

By IlliniGuys.com Staff January 18, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

A 35-11 run in the second half opened up the opportunity for Illinois (13-5, 4-3 in Big Ten) to cruise to another comfortable Big Ten road victory. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 16, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Krohn/USA Today Sports)

If Illinois keeps up this kind of trend inside Minnesota’s Williams Arena, Brad Underwood’s program may have to start considering these trips home games. 

For the third straight season, Illinois will be leaving the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul with a blowout win as an impressive second-half stretch clinched a 78-60 victory. In the last two seasons, Illinois had left Minnesota with a victory where the average margin in those games was 27 points. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 16, 2023

Illinois (12-5, 3-3) at Minnesota (7-8, 1-4)
Jan. 16, 2023 // 5 p.m. CT // Minneapolis, Minn. // Williams Arena
TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play), Stephen Bardo (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas (Analyst) // SiriusXM 84, SXM App 84

Illinois holds Minnesota to a season-low, single-game point total in a Big Ten road game in the Illini’s first game as a ranked team in 23 years. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 15, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS -- Along with its Associated Press Top 25 ranking, Illinois didn’t forget to pack its week-long defensive practice emphasis in its luggage up north this weekend.

Illinois Department of Athletics & IlliniGuys Staff

January 15, 2023

Champaign, ILL.– As expected, Italian point guard Niccolo Moretti has signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid and is set to join the Fighting Illini Basketball program.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 14, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini trailed by as many as 9 points in the second half, but rallied to win by 9, 75-66 behind 20 points from Dain Dainja and 19 from Matthew Mayer as they took down a red hot Michigan State team in Champaign. The Illini are now 12-5 and 3-3 in league play with a 3-game winning streak as they head to Minneapolis for a Monday tip from Williams Arena. 

Here’s a quick recap:

Even down by as many nine points early in the second half, Illinois rallied to knock down and match the physicality of Michigan State - the reigning Big Ten bully of physical play. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

January 14, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Call it a technical knockout for Illinois. 

By IlliniGuys Staff January 13, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

In the spread offense with two inexperienced, freshman guards, Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins is serving as the traffic cop of where the basketball should go.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 13, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In the early and middle parts of what turned into a blowout win at Nebraska this week, it became seemingly obvious the Illinois true freshman point guard duo of Jayden Epps and Sencire Harris were seeing different things for the first time on the road.

Instead of panicking and guessing about what to run, where the basketball should go in its halfcourt offense and breaking off plays for 1-on-1 action, Coleman Hawkins reacted in the way a veteran was needed at that moment.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 12, 2023

The Fighting Illini women's basketball team is ranked for the first time in 23 years.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 11, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy FIBA)

The morning after they beat Nebraska the Illini added another piece to the puzzle in Italian point guard Niccolo Moretti, who trained at the NBA Global Academy and DME Academy, announced that he would be joining the Fighting Illini for the spring semester. First reported by Tipton Edits and On3 Sports.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

January 11th, 2023

The Fighting Illini men's basketball program received some good news today, point-guard Niccolò Moretti committed early this morning via his Twitter page.

Moretti's commit date was a surprise, but not a shock of his interest in Illinois. Assistant basketball coach Geoff Alexander had seen Moretti on several occasions, and felt he would be a staple to add to the 2023 roster.

By IlliniGuys Staff January 10, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]