Basketball

Illinois freshman wing Ty Rodgers has carved out a role in his freshman season as the “invaluable” complimentary part to Brad Underwood’s rotation. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 31, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Being a complimentary part isn’t something new in the basketball life of Ty Rodgers, but the freshman cites his current mindset toward what was a breakout performance. 

By IlliniGuys Staff

January 31, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Matthew Mayer scored a team-high 16 points and the Illinois defense completely locked down Nebraska down the stretch to put together a convincing 72-56 win Tuesday night at State Farm Center.

It's the seventh win in eight games for the Illini (16-6, 7-4), who become just the second team to win seven games in Big Ten play after Purdue.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 30, 2023

Arguably the best sophomore player in the state of Illinois in girls' basketball is Destiny Jackson from Whitney Young High School in Chicago.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular January 31, 2023 […]

Illinois is 3-0 with freshman guard Jayden Epps in the starting lineup. The former four-star prospect had 13 points and held Wisconsin’s perimeter players to being a non-factor on Saturday. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 31, 2023

MADISON, Wis. -- Jayden Epps isn’t being treated by his coaching staff with the brand of a first-year player any longer.

Illinois sophomore wing Adalia McKenzie responded from one of her career worst performances earlier in the week to one of her best this season in a 10-point home win. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 30, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Sometimes when you have to fix something, you have to do it yourself.

By IlliniGuys Staff January 29, 2023 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]

The sixth win in the last seven games for Illinois is slowly building head coach Brad Underwood’s brand of winning with defense, toughness and rebounding.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 29, 2023

MADISON, Wis. -- What occurred in the Kohl Center is the definition of what Illinois head coach Brad Underwood talks about from the point of the first preseason practice when the topic of toughness is brought up. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 29, 2023

The first half wasn’t pretty, but in the 2nd half the Illini put up 41 points beyond a stellar 26-point effort from Matthew Mayer to cruise to a 61-51 win over the struggling Wisconsin Badgers.

By IlliniGuys Staff

January 28, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MADISON, Wisc. - With leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. handcuffed by foul trouble, Matthew Mayer delivered a career-high 26 points as Illinois defeated Wisconsin for the sixth consecutive game, 61-51 Saturday afternoon.

Illinois (15-6, 6-4) has now won six of its last seven games to put that 0-3 start in the Big Ten behind them and climb into a 4th place tie in the conference.

After a storybook start to the 2022-23 season, Illinois has lost three of its last five games and is searching for the mentality that got them to national ranking in an unforgiving Big Ten Conference. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 27, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Without wanting to admit it out loud, Shauna Green knew the reality check portion of her first season as head coach at Illinois was coming.

Illinois misses 22 of 26 from three-point range leading […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 25, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini got back on the winning side of things with a 69-60 win over Ohio State on Tuesday night behind a balanced offensive performance and some stellar defense as they moved to 14-6 overall and 5-4 in league play. Terrence Shannon had 17 to lead the way, but the Illini got 14 from Jayden Epps, 12 from Matthew Mayer and a complete performance from Coleman Hawkins with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks as they controlled the game for the final 30 minutes against the Buckeyes. 

Here’s a quick recap:

These 4 Things:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Jan. 25, 2023

On Tuesday live on ESPN, it announced the winners of the 2023 men's and women's McDonald's All-American team. From a recruiting standpoint, I was not expecting a player from the men's 2023 recruiting class to make the list, but for the women's side, I did.

Several fans asked me personally on our message boards if I thought the selection process was somewhat political; for the first time ever, I can say “yes,” only because I have a little proof.

Illinois forward Matthew Mayer spent the last few days in bed with the flu but newfound health led to 12 points and a comfortable win.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 25, 2023

(Photos courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In case anybody might have been wondering, a healthy Matthew Mayer without the flu is a better basketball player than the opposite.

The Illinois graduate transfer had practically every physical and medical reason to feel, look and most importantly act differently than the last time he stepped on the State Farm Center playing floor. Following a scoreless outing in 22 minutes against Indiana in which Mayer was likely in between being sick in the bathroom, Mayer couldn’t have been more different for a simple reason. He felt better.