Basketball

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 21, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Heading into the season, this was expected to be one of Illinois head coach Brad Underwood’s best shooting teams. Some of his most successful coaching years have come when his rosters were filled with shooters.

To date, however, this year’s Illinois squad ranks 17th out of 18 Big Ten teams in three-point shooting, hitting just 31 percent from beyond the arc. The conference leaders are Ohio State (38.3 percent), Purdue (37.7 percent) and Iowa (37.5 percent). With matchups against both the Boilermakers and Hawkeyes still ahead, it doesn’t get any easier for Illinois.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 20, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) #25/RV Illinois at #3/3 […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 20, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Don’t you just love recruiting? Watching Illinois play two or three times a week, you have to wonder, how do they maintain such strong relationships with high-profile recruits from afar while never missing a game?

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 19, 2025

The Illini went to Madison as a shell of the team we saw 6 weeks ago. Injuries and illness have run rampant through this team to the point they didn’t even shake hands during the post game. But that doesn’t matter and nobody is going to feel sorry for them. The Illini were humbled 95-74 by a hot Wisconsin team led by Jon Tonje, who scored every which way possible and finished with 31 points.

Illinois got some good minutes from Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn as he led them with 17 points, but this was not a good performance otherwise.

These 3 (4) Things

The Defense has to Change 

By IlliniGuys Staff February 18, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 18, 2025

The reeling Illini are headed to Wisconsin to take on the red-hot Badgers on Tuesday night at the Kohl Center. The Badgers have won 4 in a row and are 12-2 in their last 14 while the Illini are coming off of an abysmal finish in a home loss to Michigan State. The Illini beat the Badgers 86-80 way back in December in Champaign, but these two teams have gone in different directions.

Here’s a look at the matchup.

Setting the Stage

Illinois (17-9, 9-7) at #11 Wisconsin (20-5, 10-4)
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Madison, Wis. // Kohl Center
TV: FS1 – Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-Play) & LaPhonso Ellis (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Coaches enter […]

A projected NCAA 2-seed just a month ago, Illinois is shooting itself into a double-digit seed in both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments next month.​

By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 15, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - There's an old saying that you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.

However, there's always a cost and, right now, it's a fair question whether the Illinois basketball team has enough in its pockets to pay the tab.

One month ago, the Illini were flying high and had the nation paying attention, admiration that this program hasn't always enjoyed in mid-January; a proverbial Humpty Dumpty sitting atop a brick wall and looking down at most of college basketball.

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

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 17, 2025

The Illini continue to chuck away from 3, and although they have won 2 of 3, the last 5 minutes against UCLA and the last 8 minutes against Michigan State have looked like rec league basketball, and that’s being kind.

But at some point there needs to be a change in philosophy and execution.

Fool’s Gold

Bill Self used to call hot shooting early ‘Fool’s Gold’, and we saw that against Michigan State. The Illini hit By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 17, 2025

The Illini continue to chuck away from 3, and although they have won 2 of 3, the last 5 minutes against UCLA and the last 8 minutes against Michigan State have looked like rec league basketball, and that’s being kind.

But at some point there needs to be a change in philosophy and execution.

Fool’s Gold

Bill Self used to call hot shooting early ‘Fool’s Gold’, and we saw that against Michigan State. The Illini hit 3 of their first 4 from deep and led 31-15, but shot 1-16 from behind the arc in the second half as they went scoreless for the final 8 minutes. They actually scored a -2 points, as one basket was taken away.3 of their first 4 from deep and led 31-15, but shot 1-16 from behind the arc in the second half as they went scoreless for the final 8 minutes. They actually scored a -2 points, as one basket was taken away.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]

Despite losing starting guard Jasmine Brown-Hagger to a hamstring issue in the second quarter and playing a five-player lineup for the entire second half, Illinois still defeated Nebraska.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After finding their program-record eighth straight Big Ten Conference win Sunday afternoon, Illinois head coach Shauna Green has a message for everybody else outside her locker room.

“We don’t care. Keep doubting us. It’s okay,” Green said following a 77-68 win over Nebraska. “Nobody feels sorry for us that we only have six players, sometimes just five. Nobody gives a (expletive) that we’re hurt, right? And I love that so let’s just keep on fighting.”

By IlliniGuys Staff February 16, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Illinois vs. Nebraska Sunday, […]