Basketball

By IlliniGuys Staff

March 3, 2023

(Cover photo Illinois Athletics)

** Editor's Note: IlliniGuys.com is the only Illinois media on location at the Big Ten women's tournament in Minneapolis **

MINNEAPOLIS, Mn. - Makira Cook led four Illini players in double figures with 19 points, but it wasn't enough to slow down a Maryland team with sights set on a Big Ten tournament title and more this month as the Terrapins post the 73-58 win Friday night in the final quarterfinal game of the night.

Illinois (22-9, 11-7 in Big Ten) was coming off a record-setting 81-55 win over Rutgers one night earlier in the biggest Big Ten tournament winning margin in program history.  But the 3rd seeded Terps proved their double-digit win over the Illini last month in College Park wasn't a fluke.

Illinois, with the help of Minneapolis native Adalia McKenzie, will try to knock off No. 5 Maryland tonight in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 3, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MINNEAPOLIS -- Over the course of this week, Adalia McKenzie became a part-time ticket scalper for the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament being played in her favorite place. 

Before and after practice, McKenzie has been slowly figuring out ways to pry away the ticket allotment of certain Illinois teammates so her local fan section can get bigger and bigger as the tournament play gets closer and closer to the weekend stages. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 3, 2023

Brad Underwood is now 6-0 against Juwan Howard but the win on Thursday night was anything but easy.

Illinois coaches optimistic that Brynn Shoup-Hill (foot) could be back for the first round game of the NCAA Tournament. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 3, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS -- Illinois head coach Shauna Green was not dismissive of the idea that quite possibly the most important element of her team’s 81-55 blowout win on Thursday night was the fact

The early-season offensive squad that Illinois head coach Shauna Green built and showcased in November and December came back to life in a March blowout 81-55 win in Big Ten Tournament opener.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 3, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Illinois women’s basketball team is hopeful the game they play just might be as simple as being confident the ball is going through the hoop every time you let it go. 

By IlliniGuys staff March 2nd, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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).