Basketball

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio & Illini Uber Insider

February 5, 2024

The Illini took a 10-point lead on a Terrence Shannon 3-pointer at 72-62 with 3:29 to play and Brad Underwood called a timeout to set his defense to prevent 3 pointers. 

“We just made a subtle change…” Underwood said. “It’s a downhill switch. We knew what was coming…we were gonna be OK with 2’s we just couldn’t give them 3’s. I called the timeout there, probably not a great decision because it maybe changed the momentum, but I still would have made the same call over and over again.”

On Sunday night, Coleman Hawkins finally got a matchup similar in stature and game and proved he was a more athletic, smarter and versatile center against Nebraska’s Rienk Mast. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 5, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Victory for Coleman Hawkins on Sunday night wasn’t so much a sight but a distinct sound. 

By IlliniGuys Staff February 4, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio & Uber-Illini Insider

February 4, 2024

The Illini welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the State Farm Center on Sunday night as they look to take advantage of a 4-day prep and an upcoming 5-day prep after a grind of a start to Big Ten play. The Illini will be in a tie for 2nd place in the league following this one if they can pull out the win, just 1 game behind the Purdue/Wisconsin winner. As the Illini attempt to improve their NCAA seeding and fight for a Big Ten title, they need to take care of business at home starting on Sunday evening. 

Below are our keys and a pick. 

Setting the Stage

#14 Illinois (16-5, 7-3 B1G) vs. Nebraska (16-6, 6-5 B1G) 

Feb. 4, 2024 // 5:30 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center 

TV: BTN – Dave Revsine (Play-by-Play), Robbie Hummel (Analyst) 

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

Notables

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 4, 2023

Fresh off their road win Wednesday night against the Michigan Wolverines the Fighting Illini 77-64 avenging a devastating loss at home 84-48. The very next day the staff went out looking for the next prospect. 

(Editor's note: Illini guard Marcus Domask appears each week […]

Illinois center Dain Dainja has been a little-used backup this season but Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is trying to find more ways for the Baylor transfer to contribute. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 4, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — The mission for Illinois head coach is as uncomplicated as you might think. 

As the calendar has flipped to the final two months of the season, Brad Underwood is convinced he needs to find more minutes for reserve center Dain Dainja. However, in order to accomplish this task, the tradeoff is taking one of his favorite and most versatile bigs, Coleman Hawkins, off the floor. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 2, 2024

While Illinois's assistant coach Chester Frazier is helping lead the 14th-ranked Fighting Illini to victories, he is also a masterful recruiter which is the livelihood of any successful program.

Illinois freshmen duo Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Amani Hansberry were both forced into action late in the first half of the win at Ohio State but performed more than adequately in emergency relief.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 1, 2024

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a critical conference game away from home, Illinois found itself in a situation where two of its most important players had two fouls in the first half and head coach Brad Underwood desperately looked down his bench.

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

January 31, 2024

The Illini did what they needed to do on Monday night when they thumped Ohio State 87-75 in Columbus to move to 16-5 and 7-3 halfway through the Big Ten slate. Perhaps an even bigger story is the return of the real Terrence Shannon. The star guard had his best performance since returning from suspension with 23 points to go along with 23 from Marcus Domask. Ty Rodgers had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his 2nd double-double as the Illini got their 3rd road win in Big Ten play. 

These 3 Things

Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. showcased every bit of the dangerous game he possesses that led him to getting All-America honors hype before his suspension

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 31, 2024

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After intensely studying the body language of his most prized teammate for several months, Marcus Domask quickly knew Terrence Shannon Jr. was back to her old form. 

By IlliniGuys Staff January 30, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

January 30, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Fighting Illini are back on the road, this time at Ohio State. The Buckeyes are another talented, yet underachieving team that are looking for a signature win. The Illini need another roadie to offset their home loss to Maryland and stay in the Big Ten race. 

Setting the Stage

#14 Illinois (15-5, 6-3 B1G) at Ohio State (13-7, 3-6 B1G) 

Jan. 30, 2024 // 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) // Columbus, Ohio // Value City Arena 

Stream: Peacock – Jac Collinsworth (Play-by-Play), Stephen Bardo (Analyst) 

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

Notable

*Tuesday’s game will be Illinois’ first on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform. Fans will need to purchase a Peacock subscription to watch the game, which is available starting at $5.99 per month or $59.99 annually.

In what will likely be the most tame road environment of the 2023-24 season, Illinois guard Terrence Shannon endured “no means no” and “guilty” chants at Northwestern.

By Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 30, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN — The scene was almost impossible to ignore following the post-game handshakes at mid-court at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Following the 96-91 overtime loss at Northwestern, Terrence Shannon Jr. was entering the tunnel to the visitors locker room with a fan pointing directly at the 23-year-old guard and shouting one word of “rapist”.

For everybody who was curious at how a road game with the newly reinstated All-Big Ten player would look, feel and be, the one-word description was uncomfortable.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 30, 2024

Illinois men's and women's basketball programs are still actively involved in talented high school players. The world of the transfer portal is a new way of life in terms of basketball rosters.