Basketball

By Larry Smith - Host and Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

April 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy USA Today)

In a brilliant scheduling move by CBS last Sunday, the Eye network ran an in-depth piece on the loquacious and always entertaining Charles Barkley on "60 Minutes".  The former NBA All-Star makes more money now and raises more eyebrows - hard to believe - than he did during his playing days.  I've had the pleasure of knowing Charles personally for about 20 years; working alongside him at Turner Sports and even doing a long-form sit-down interview as part of a series I was working on at the time.

What makes him so special - and he said as much during this terrific segment done by former Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim and his excellent producer - is that he's honest.  He once told me that he doesn't do social media and doesn't have a public relations firm speaking for him.  He says what he thinks, whether it's right or wrong and regardless if you like it or not.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 1, 2023

Illinois women's assistant coach Ryan Gensler was named the head coach of the Akron Zips on Wednesday morning.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 31, 2023

Lots going on behind the scenes and much will have to happen before this all plays out. Stay tuned, but here's what I know as of now:

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 31, 2023

Is this not a fun time of the year? Just think how everyone was excited about the first game last October, and now the NCAA Transfer portal is in rare form.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting March […]

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular March 29, 2023 […]

Illinois head coach Shauna Green will now have to […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

March 29, 2023

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins has announced he will test his viability in the 2023 NBA Draft process but will not sign with an agent in order to maintain his college eligibility. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 28, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Coleman Hawkins feels it is time to test his viability for the 2023 NBA Draft. 

The Illinois forward, who just finished his third season in the Illini program, announced on social media Tuesday afternoon his intention to explore the possibility of entering the draft process following a 2022-23 season where he averaged 9.9 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, three assists per game and shot 44 percent from the field. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys & IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular Director of Recruiting

March 27, 2023

Illinois guard Jayden Epps was expected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

By IlliniGuys Staff

March 27. 2023

(NOTE: Illini sophomore guard Adalia McKenzie has been a contributing member of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular show team since January, 2022.)

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Larry Smith: Good to talk with you. You've had a little bit of time now to process that NCAA opening round loss that capped just a tremendous and historic season.  Give us your thoughts.

Adalia McKenzie: Yeah, it sucks that we lost, you know, I feel like I still even haven't processed it yet. And I've been sad and hurt just a lot of mixed emotions. But I'm really proud about the season that we have, and really like how to turn it around in the program.

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

March 27, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy ESPN)

Put your tattered brackets away and clear your mind for a moment as I ask you this one question:

Isn't this awesome?!

Yeah, I know you may have had Kansas repeating as champion or Alabama going all the way.  Maybe Houston in another Final Four or Purdue making the final weekend for the first time in decades.

But none of that happened, so get over it.  Instead, we all bore witness to a daily reminder of why this is the greatest tournament in sports.  There is no other event with the drama, the uncertainty, the thrills, and the classic moments like the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Florida Atlantic vs. San Diego State.  Miami vs. UConn.  A most unusual quartet that seems destined to deliver a classic weekend in Houston in a few days.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 27, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Georgetown University Athletics)

As the college basketball season enters its final week, nearly every team is already hip-deep into the offseason and the decision-making required to transition into next fall.

(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 Writer

March 25, 2023

--If you feel like there's a little extra drama sprinkled into this weekend's Elite Eight games, you're right.  At least one program (Creighton or San Diego State) will earn a trip to their first-ever Final Four and two others (Florida Atlantic, Miami) could join them.

This is another sign of the growing parity in college basketball. 

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

March 25, 2023

If you are a college basketball fan and the team you root for is out of the tournament, the next exciting thing on the agenda should be recruiting.