Basketball

Illinois doesn’t allow any of Colgate’s All-Patriot League players […]

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio

December 17, 2023

Colgate Preview

After a week off, final exams, and multiple recruiting trips, the Illini are finally back in action Sunday as they take on the Colgate Raiders. Colgate is the best team in the Patriot League and are coming off of an NCAA tourney season. They have made the big dance in 4 of the past 5 seasons and are favored to win the league again. 

Illinois is now #16 in the country and look like the 2nd best team in the Big Ten. They have 3 games in the next 2 weeks that are games they need to win heading into Big Ten play. 

Setting the Stage

#16 Illinois (7-2) vs. Colgate (6-4) 

Dec. 17, 2023 // 12 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center 

TV: BTN – Connor Onion (Play-by-Play), Trent Meacham (Analyst) 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Doug Altenberger 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 17, 2023

The Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions (Washington, Illinois) is one of the best holiday Thanksgiving basketball tournaments in the county. Each year the event continues to bring in teams from all across the country, with several states being represented, including Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, and Florida.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 16, 2023

Coming into the season freshman guard Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn appeared to be a lock in the 2023-24 men's basketball team rotation. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 14, 2023

The year 2028 seems so far away in terms of recruiting, but in the Illinois women's basketball program, they have found a gem who is a star in the making.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 13, 2023

Berry Wallace is Illinois women's basketball coach Shauna Green's most prestigious recruit to date. Wallace, a five-star wing from Pickerington Central H.S. in Ohio, made a surprise visit this past weekend.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 12, 2023

The Illinois women had five-star guard Divine Bourrage on campus for the second time in two months. This time it was to watch the Illini in action and not watch them on TV. Bourrage is a key recruit for Shauna Green and her staff. Green and assistant coach DeAntoine Beasley have been to the Quad Cities four times this fall to watch her work out and play.

The All-American guard told IlliniGuys, "I'm averaging

Illinois suffers the worst loss in the 40-game women’s basketball tenure of head coach Shauna Green in a 36-point home defeat to open Big Ten Conference play.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 10, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Sunday afternoon was not one of those instances where the tangible scoreboard didn’t reflect the exact intangible situation of both teams. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio

December 10, 2023

The Illini lost on the road to a very good Tennessee team that desperately needed a top win after losing close games to Purdue and Kansas and they came out hot and ready on Saturday in an 86-79 win over Illinois. Dalton Knecht looked like an NBA draft pick, showing off his game in this one, but Tennessee put all 5 starters in double figures as they pulled away late for the win.

Here’s a look at what we saw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kxLW6h4-Hs    

By IlliniGuys Staff December 9, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 9, 2023

This past spring Illinois basketball fans waited and waited to see who was going to be the floor general this year, all the while social media and message boards thought they had the answer.

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

December 9, 2023

(Cover phot courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The song goes ‘Headed East to Tennessee: Destination Fame’, and the Illini are looking for even more after a pair of huge wins last week at Rutgers and over Florida Atlantic at Madison Square Garden. But the Vols will be the biggest test of all. Tennessee is a battle tested group with high level athletes that plays some of the best defense in the country. The Illini will need a great effort in this one to get the win. 

Setting the Stage

#20/18 Illinois (7-1) at #17/13 Tennessee (5-3) 

Dec. 9, 2023 // 11 a.m. CT (12 p.m. ET) // Knoxville, Tenn. // Food City Center 

TV: CBS – Rich Waltz (Play-by-Play), Bill Raftery & Jay Wright (Analysts), Jon Rothstein (Sideline) 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas (Analyst)

Notable

"Illinois deserves all the credit for allowing Terrence to showcase his skills." – Treanette Redding

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Dec. 7, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

"Illinois deserves all the credit for allowing Terrence to showcase his skills." –Treanette Redding

Last Saturday at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey, my IlliniGuys colleague Brad Sturdy informed our subscribers of at least five NBA teams in attendance watching senior Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins.  That got my wheels spinning and got me digging more into what is possibly to happen for Shannon specifically.   

Of the NBA's 30 teams, 28 of them were in attendance Tuesday night

As Illinois approaches the Big Ten Conference opener this weekend against Michigan, Illinois head coach Shauna Green still has concerns about her team on the defensive end. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 6, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — The idea that Northern Kentucky had trouble finding any perimeter success Wednesday night did not make Illinois’ second-year head coach feel satisfied in the final tune-up before Big Ten Conference play.