Basketball

By IlliniGuys Staff

March 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - On Senior Night, it was those who were honored before the game who shined the bright at the end of the game.

Matt Mayer and Terrence Shannon Jr., playing for the last time in State Farm Center to end their lone season in an Illinois uniform, scored all 10 Illini points in the second overtime to pull off the 91-87 thriller over Michigan.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 2, 2023

Illinois (19-10, 10-8) vs. Michigan (17-12, 11-7)
March 2, 2023 // 6 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: ESPN – Kevin Brown (Play-by-Play), Seth Greenberg (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas (Analyst) // SiriusXM 382, SXM App 972

News & Notes
Illinois is expected to be

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

March 2nd, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Max Preps)

Illinois guard Jayden Epps collapsed after physical contact at practice on Tuesday causing the freshman to be kept at Carle Hospital in Urbana overnight for testing and observation. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

March 1, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois guard Jayden Epps was hospitalized after collapsing during a practice session. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 1, 2023

Dennis Evans, a 7-foot-1, 210-pound center from Riverside, California, started as a top 100, but not listed as a top 20 prospect in the 2023 class.

(EDITOR's NOTE:  Fighting Illini guard Adalia McKenzie is a member of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular radio show, giving her exclusive perspective each week.  She was received honorable mention for the all-Big Ten team shortly after this interview.)

March 1, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Larry Smith: Adalia, 21st win to close out the regular season and doing it without two of your best players.  What does that mean for you guys?

Adalia McKenzie: It means a lot.  We know that this game was really huge for us and critical and really wanted this one and we definitely wanted to get the win for those who are out.

Illinois freshman forward Ty Rodgers’ effort level on both ends of the floor 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 28, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Sports)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Less than two weeks before the bracket is announced for the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Illinois may be considering a starting lineup and rotation change. 

Following the disappointing 72-60 loss at Ohio State, which had lost 14 of its last 15 games before arriving at Schottenstein Center on Sunday, Illinois must now decide if the one player the head coach thinks is playing with the proper effort and energy is worthy of a first career start and bigger role. 

February 27, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

This season is a LONG way from being over, but already there are so many questions from fans about next year!

Who's going?

Who's staying?

What is the staff looking for in the transfer portal?

Nobody has his ear to the ground like longtime IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy, who gave his expert take today on the moves we are likely to see come April and May...EXCLUSIVELY for IlliniGuys members!

(EDITOR'S NOTE: IlliniGuys co-founder Larry Smith has covered sports from the local to the international level for 35 years, including 12 Final Fours and six NBA Finals.  He is the creator of the Dirty Dozen, an office pool selection matrix that is 12-0 in its existence.)

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

(Cover photo courtesy The Sporting News)

---I'm jumping off the Illini rollercoaster until March 16th.  That's when Illinois will play its opening round NCAA tournament (or will be doing the usual pregame media/practice routine the day before their opener). 

Another emotionless and energy-free first 20 minutes puts Illinois in a massive hole that they can’t dig out of in a disappointing 72-60 loss at Ohio State. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 26, 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After experiencing another first half where Illinois showed little energy and arguably even less execution on either end, the program’s sixth-year head coach simply shook his head and uttered the honest three-word nobody wanted to hear. 

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 26, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Jada Peebles tied a season-high with 20 points as #25 Illinois jumped out to a 21-8 lead at the end of the first quarter and cruised to a 75-53 victory at Rutgers Sunday afternoon.

The win caps off an historic season for the Illini program and head coach Shauna Green.  The 21 wins is the most ever under a first-year coach and ties the third highest win total in team history, while the 11 Big Ten victories is one shy of tying the program record.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 26, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 26, 2023

I think it is pretty safe to say that the University of Illinois men's basketball team did very well for itself in the transfer portal last season. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 26, 2023

Illinois (19-9, 10-7) at Ohio State (11-17, 3-14) 

February 24, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Larry Smith: Three Illini women have been named District all Academic - Geo Lopes, Kendall Bostic, and - the IlliniGal herself -  Adalia McKenzie. She gets those dubs and she gets those A’s!  Adalia – congratulations!

Adalia McKenzie: Thank you so much!