Basketball

Brad Sturdy, C0-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
November 18, 2022

Continental Tire Main Event - Las Vegas, Nev. - T-Mobile Arena

IlliniGuys Staff November 16, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy Illinois […]

#19 Illini make history by opening the season with […]

Illinois gets 30 points off 24 Monmouth turnovers in a 103-65 blowout win over an overmatched, low-major opponent just days before heading to Las Vegas to face No. 8 UCLA. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 14, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois used an easily overmatched Monmouth program to send a nationwide message. 

The warning to future opponents is clear: Don’t run with us because we promise that we’re better at that style than you. 

In a 103-65 blowout win that was essentially over when No. 19 Illinois (3-0) ran out to an early 8-0 lead just 44 seconds into the game that forced Monmouth head coach King Rice into a very early timeout. It didn’t get better for the Hawks (0-3) as the Illini rattled and frustrated Monmouth into 24 turnovers, only 21 field goals and had 18 points in transition. 

IlliniGuys Staff November 14, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy Steve […]

Illini coach Brad Underwood's looking for a 3-0 start […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

November 12, 2022
On a night when last year's Illini hung a Big Ten championship banner for the second year in a row, this year's team showed glimpses of being capable of getting a banner of their own. (Photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Dain Dainja scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in his second double-double in as many games this season as #23 Illinois overcame a cold shooting start to cruise to an 86-48 victory over Missouri-Kansas City. Terrence Shannon pitched in 14, Jayden Epps 13 and Skyy Clark 10 for the Illini as they moved to 2-0 to start the season. 

Here’s a look back.

IlliniGuys Staff

November 11, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Dain Dainja scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in his second double-double in as many games this season as #23 Illinois overcame a frigid start to cruise to an 86-48 victory over Missouri-Kansas City.

It was a perfect finish to a night that saw the Illini raise their first Big Ten regular season championship banner since 2005 and departed star players Kofi Cockburn, Trent Frazier, Alfonso Plummer, and Da'Monte Williams return to get their championship rings.

Former Illini head coach Bruce Weber was more than happy to call No. 23 Illinois’ 86-48 win over Kansas City as Brad Underwood’s squad raised a championship banner.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 11, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Brandon Leeb/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Not many people would classify Bruce Weber as anything other than an emotional person so please forgive the man if he was fighting his feelings on Friday night. 

Weber says he was more than honored for his new employer to assign him to Illinois’ 86-48 over Kansas City on a night where the Illini raised a Big Ten Conference championship banner and handed out title rings. 

“Every time I go through O'Hare or Midway, somebody grabs me for a picture or autographs and even in St. Louis, somebody this summer got out in the middle of the street and stopped traffic and said ‘I got to shake your hand, coach’ and I was telling him ‘man, there’s people beeping at you’,” Weber said. “A lot of special memories." 

From Illinois Sports Information Office  November 11, 2022 #23 […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 11, 2022

What happened: The men's and women's basketball programs both signed some of the nation's top preps during national signing day. 

Illiniguys Mike Cagley and Sturdy talk about the Illini […]

Illinois head coach Shauna Green picks up a dominating 35-point win in her regular season debut with the Illini as five players finish with double-figure scoring efforts.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 9, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- One constant that Shauna Green can draw for her debut at Illinois is if she can get her squad to consistently defend the way they did in game one many more wins will come. 

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 9, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Monteverde Academy Athletics)

The Illinois Women’s team also had a successful signing day on Wednesday as they added a pair of coveted scorers in Gretchen Dolan and Cori Allen to the FamILLy. The Illini women may not be done in the class of 2023 as they look to bolster their roster. Stay tuned to Illiniguys.com to see who’s next for Shauna Green and company. 

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

November 9, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Amani Hansberry Twitter page)

(Editor's note:  This is a compilation of today's official signing of National Letters of Intent by future Illinois men's basketball student-athletes.  Check back in throughout the day as we will update this as other players submit their signed NLIs.)

The Illini have been on a recruiting roll over the past few seasons and the class of 2023 has done nothing to diminish the expectation that this program will continue to recruit at a high level both in the high school ranks and in the portal. On Wednesday, the Illini are expected to add to their roster with 3 talented prospects.