Illini Overcome Cold Starts To Put Down Hoosiers, 70-62
By IlliniGuys Staff January 27, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Illini Overcome Cold Starts To Put Down Hoosiers, 70-62
By IlliniGuys Staff January 27, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Sturdy's Indiana Preview
By Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
January 27, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
The Illini host the Hoosiers on Saturday afternoon at the State Farm Center as they look to bounce back from a difficult overtime loss at Northwestern. It’s Stripe the State Farm Day as well as the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game of sneakers and suits. But most importantly, it’s a game the Illini need to win to stay in the Big Ten hunt and get the momentum back they had back in December.
The key to that will be defense. Illinois is one of the best offensive teams in the country, but since the Missouri game they are barely in the top 100 defensively. That has to change on Saturday.
Setting the Stage
#10 Illinois (14-5, 5-3 B1G) vs. Indiana (12-7, 4-4 B1G)
Jan. 27, 2024 // 2 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: FOX – Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play), Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas
Notable
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Anthony Thompson
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 25, 2024
Sunday afternoon Illinois played Big Ten conference foe, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team. Typically, Illinois has not had many potential recruits on campus. On Sunday, it had 2026 prep Anthony Thompson.
The Domask Family Is Enjoying This Orange & Blue Ride
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting
Jan. 24, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)
Marcus Domask is living out his lifelong dream.
He burst onto the scene five years ago, when he was named Wisconsin's 2019 Mr. Basketball.
The 6-foot-6 wing from the town of Waupun, population 11,344, averaged 26.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.7 assists during his senior year in high school. But the home state Wisconsin Badgers weren't that impressed and didn't offer a scholarship and Domask ended up spending four years at Southern Illinois University.
Sturdy's Rewind - Defense Struggles in Northwestern Loss
Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio
January 25, 2024
Usually, if you score 91 points you should win basketball games. But usually, the opponent doesn’t score 96 while shooting 55% from the floor and 61% from 3. That’s a recipe for a loss. The Illini beat Northwestern by 30 just 3 weeks ago but the Cats turned the tables and got the overtime win 96-91 on Wednesday evening.
Here’s what we saw.
Buie’d: Illinois’ Inability to Guard Northwestern’s Ball Screen Action Leads to Road Loss
Northwestern guard Boo Buie and his friends manhandled Illinois’ defensive scheme on simple ball-screen switches in route to the Illini’s 96-91 overtime loss.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
January 25, 2024
EVANSTON — Three words was all Brad Underwood needed to describe Illinois’ inability to effectively guard Northwestern in the final 25 minutes of a crushing road for the Illini.
Hot-shooting Northwestern Shocks #10 Illini in Overtime, 96-91
By IlliniGuys Staff January 24, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Sturdy's Illini Basketball Preview - Illini Face Challenge at Northwestern
Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio as well as the Illini Insider
January 24, 2024
After beating a team by 30 at home, it should mean an easy road win, especially considering the return of All-American Guard Terrence Shannon. But life on the road in the Big Ten isn’t that easy.
Just 3 weeks ago, Illinois dominated Northwestern 96-66 at the State Farm Center without Shannon, but it’s going to be much more difficult in Evanston. The Wildcats are 3-0 at home in Big Ten play. Having already beaten Purdue, Michigan State and Maryland. Illinois is 2-1 on the road, losing only at Purdue and it should be a fairly evenly split crowd.
Let’s look at the particulars.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Future Illini Wallace Tabbed For McDonald's All-American Game
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting
January 23, 2024
Illinois commit Berry Wallace was named to the 2024 McDonald's All-American game today. Wallace is only the third player in the school's history to play in the prestigious game, joining 6-foot-3 post Destiny Williams in 2009 and Chatrice White in 2014.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illini Commit Morez Johnson Snubbed By McDonalds All-American Committee
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting
January 23, 2024
(Photo courtesy Morez Johnson)
In recent days the buzz around the Illinois program has been great. Illinois received news that its All-American wing Terrence Shannon Jr. was going to return, then handily beat Rutgers at home 86-63, and then on Monday receiving a commitment from the highest-rated recruit in well over 20 years when Jeremiah Fears committed to Illinois.
A player who will suit up for Illinois this fall is Morez Johnson from Thornton High School. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward is the leading candidate for Mr. Basketball in the state but found out Tuesday that he just missed out on making the final cut for the McDonald's All-American game. According to a source,
Sturdy's Basketball Recruiting Spotlight on Illini Commit Jeremiah Fears
Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio and on the Mount Rushmore of Illini Insiders
January 22, 2024
The Illini added talented 2025 guard Jeremiah Fears on Monday as their first commitment in the class of 2025. Fears is ranked in the top 50 on virtually every service and should make an immediate impact at Illinois.
Let’s breakdown his areas of strength and weaknesses and were he needs to grow over the next 20 months before he begins his collegiate career.
Class of 2025 Rankings
ESPN - #16
24/7 - #44
Rivals - #27
HoopSeen - #37
On3 - #51
Fears is a dynamic 6’3 guard that can
Illini Land Big-Time 2025 Commit Jeremiah Fears
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting January 22, 2024 […]
Sturdy's Rewind - That's My Dude
Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio, IlliniGuys Resident Illini Guru & the man who puts "Zoom" into IlliniGuys Subscriber Zoom tonight at 7:15 pm central
January 22, 2024
It doesn’t usually matter where they came from or how old they are, it takes time for transfers to find their fit and adjust to the new playing style. We have seen this before. In 2018-19, Andrez Feliz started slowly, but continued to improve and became a fan favorite down the stretch in that season as the young Illini improved and Feliz showed the toughness and shot making ability that made him so important the following season.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Decision Day
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 22, 2024
Today is decision day for top 25 guard Jeremiah Fears; the ESPN nationally ranked and the four-star guard will make his college destination final this afternoon in Arizona at 2 p.m. CT.
The 6-foot-3 guard has been tight-lipped about where he is going to end up. Those close to the situation feel it is a three-team race between Illinois, Ole Miss, and Providence.
“Back to who we were” - Illini Welcome Back High-Speed Transition With Terrence Shannon Jr.
After just two practices, the Illinois high-powered fast break was suddenly back in a 23-point blowout win over Rutgers with the return of potential All-American guard Terrence Shannon Jr.
Matthew Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
PHOTO CREDIT: Matthew Stevens/IlliniGuys.com
January 21, 2024
CHAMPAIGN — Gentlemen, restart your engines.
After just two team practices following a three-week internal suspension, Terrence Shannon Jr. was back behind the wheel of the Illinois high velocity transition game in an 86-63 blowout win over Rutgers in front of a sold-out State Farm Center crowd.
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