Basketball

(Editor's Note: Illini junior guard Adalia McKenzie appears each week on the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show https://illiniguys.com/radio/.)

November 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Larry Smith: Let's talk about Monday night and what it was like to get a chance to go play with so many new teammates against somebody else.

Adalia McKenzie: Yeah, it was a really good game, it felt good to be able to play against someone else and get back in the groove. You know, (to) have people in the crowd. It was really fun.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 2, 2023

Sunday's Illinois win over the nation's number one-ranked Kansas Jayhawks program was an exhibition game on paper but a program momentum builder.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 1, 2023

This past weekend the Fighting Illini women's basketball program hosted one of the state's highly touted prospects on campus Sunday. 

Illinois All-Big Ten first-team guard Makira Cook is being evaluated for a potential injury after being removed in the second quarter of the Illini’s 121-60 victory over Division II Truman State in an exhibition game on Monday night. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

(Cover photo Eleanor Guinan/Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois’ All-American guard Makira Cook is being evaluated by the team medical staff for a potential injury following the Illini’s exhibition victory over Truman State. 

Illinois head coach Shauna Green confirmed to local media following the 121-60 win over the Division II opponent that the team’s medical staff was evaluating the 5-foot-6 guard for an undisclosed injury after she received contact in the head and neck area. 

By IlliniGuys Staff October 30, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood previewed what he believes is the perfect go-to lineup down the stretch of a game in an exhibition win over No. 1 Kansas. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 30, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Coming out of the final media timeout, there was an age limit to get on the floor for Illinois, which is exactly what Brad Underwood has wanted. 

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

October 30, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini and Jayhawks got together and raised over $1 million for the Maui relief fund and a basketball game broke out. And what a fun game it was. The #25 Illini took care of business with an 82-75 win over the #1 Jayhawks behind 28 points from Terrence Shannon, who led 4 players in double figures for Illinois to offset 22 points from Hunter Dickinson and 25 points from Kevin McCullar. 

The game didn’t count for their record, but there is no question that Illinois showed they can compete with anyone. The Illini led by as many as 8 points and led for 36:18 in this one. The Illini lost the points in the paint battle 50-22 in this one, but found a way to out rebound the Jayhawks 39-32. 

Here’s a look at what we saw: 

These Three Things

Let the Old Men In - “Been there, done that,” was what Brad Underwood said at the post game presser in reference to the geriatric crew that finished the game.

By IlliniGuys Staff October 29, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 29, 2023

Champaign, Ill.–Sunday Illinois commit Morez Johnson is at the State Farm Center tonight, watching his future teammates. 

(Editor's Note: IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular co-host Mike Cagley interviewed […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 29, 2023

The Illinois football team is currently 3-5. It is not the first half of the season it expected; after a tough loss to the Wisconsin Badgers on Homecoming, the Illini will have a week off. Head coach Bret Bielema said he plans to use the off weekend to get healthy and recruit. 

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

October 29, 2023

Self's Return & Maui Strong Fundraiser

Former Illinois Head Coach Bill Self brings his #1 preseason Kansas Jayhawks to the State Farm Center on Sunday evening for an exhibition to benefit the Maui Strong Fund, a benefit for those that lost so much in the Maui wildfires this past summer. If you would like to donate the link can be found here.

https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strengthening/maui-strong-fund

The #25 Illini and the #1 Jayhawks met in a secret scrimmage a year ago that saw the Illini come away with a win, but this will look much different. It’s unclear how they will set this game up, as a true exhibition game with 20-minute halves or will they break it into segments as they have done in prior scrimmages. Regardless, both teams are looking to find out more about their squads. 

Tickets for this event are still available, starting at just $40, and can be purchased online at FightingIllini.com.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 26, 2023

The Fighting Illini women's basketball program is off to a great start in terms of recruiting, but you can never have enough quality talent on your roster.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 24, 2023

Champaign, Ill.--This weekend the men's basketball program was big in terms of recruiting. Illinois played its first exhibition game Friday night against an NAIA opponent, the Ottawa Braves. The final outcome was 116-65 with a great performance from Illinois.

With eight Illinois players recording multiple assists and six different players bringing the ball past midcourt, Brad Underwood’s squad is undertaking a massive recharacterization of a critical positional group.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 20, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — The concept of point guard is about to change in a big way at Illinois.