Illini Basketball Preview - NCAA Tourney - Illini vs Houston
Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer March 20, 2022 Essentials: […]
Illini Basketball Preview - NCAA Tourney - Illini vs Houston
Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer March 20, 2022 Essentials: […]
Sturdy's 6 Things to Look for Against Houston
Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuy
March 19, 2022
Brad Underwood on Houston: they do simple well.
Are You Ready to Rumble?: Illinois and Houston Prepared For 2nd Round Fight
The second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh is where the reputations of the Illinois and Houston program will collide in a fight disguised as a basketball game.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 19, 2022
PITTSBURGH -- At just past high noon tomorrow local time, the PPG Paints Arena might as well be a well-attended Pizza Hut parking lot.
When Rejection Leads to Elation: Illini’s Coleman Hawkins Story
Illinois sophomore forward Coleman Hawkins’ ability to get the block of Chattanooga's final shot Friday night sent the Illini into the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 19, 2022
PITTSBURGH -- Coleman Hawkins says he doesn’t know if his block on Malachi Smith to ensure a victory in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament was his best play.
Sturdy's 3 Takeaways - Defense Keys Victory Over the Mocs
Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuy
March 19, 2022
The Illini stole a win from a game Tennessee Chattanooga team on Friday night
Heat Checks and Hail Marys - 25 Seconds Equals Forever
Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy March 19, 2022 As an older […]
Illini Survive Scare From Chattanooga to Avoid NCAA 1st Round Upset, 54-53
IlliniGuys Staff March 18, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy Joe […]
Illini’s 4-seed NCAA Tournament History
Illinois will be trying on Friday to make seven consecutive times where they’ve won its first game of the NCAA Tournament as a 4-seed.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 18, 2022
PITTSBURGH -- The good news for Illinois fans on Friday is their favorite program has always had first-day success in the NCAA Tournament when they’ve received a 4-seed.
Kofi Must Be King for Illini to Win
In order for Illinois to win Friday, Kofi Cockburn has to prove one 7-foot All-American is better than a revolving door of Chattanooga bigs.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 18, 2022
PITTSBURGH -- Kofi Cockburn says Friday is the exact moment he returned to Illinois for his third season of college basketball.
Chattanooga’s Plan For Alfonso Plummer? Been There, Defended That
Chattanooga isn’t intimidated or afraid at Illinois senior guard Alfonso Plummer getting on a shooting heater. Why? Their head coach has seen the NCAA’s all-time best in their conference.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 18, 2022
PITTSBURGH -- Chattanooga already has it built into their game plan that Illinois guard Alfonso Plummer is going to hit some perimeter shots you just can’t defend.
Illini Basketball Preview - NCAA Tourney - Illini vs Chattanooga
Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer March 18, 2022 Essentials: […]
Three in the Key: Three Reasons Illini Possibly Advance & Lose NCAA Tournament Opener
We give you three reasons 4-seed Illinois can get past 13-seed Chattanooga on Friday in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament...and three reasons the Illini might get sent home early.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 17, 2022
PITTSBURGH -- When Illinois takes the floor Friday in the NCAA Tournament, it’ll be the sixth time they’ll be playing as a four-seed
Illini Coaches Expect Jacob Grandison to be Available for NCAA Opener
Barring a drastic change of circumstances, Illinois coaches are […]
“I love that kid”: Why Brad Underwood Knows Illini Need Curbelo to be Great
In order for Illinois to advance deep in this 2022 NCAA Tournament, they’ll need a healthy dose of Andre Curbelo at his best on both ends of the floor.
Matthew Stevens, IlliniGuy Staff Writer
March 17, 2022
PITTSBURGH -- After Andre Curbelo missed a lay-in that forced Illinois to leave the Big Ten Conference Tournament earlier than expected, his head coach didn’t waver in support of his sophomore guard.
David Jean-Baptiste’s Miraculous Buzzer Beater Symbolizes “the good, the bad, the ugly” of His Long Chattanooga Tenure
Chattanooga sixth-year guard David Jean-Baptiste finally gets a taste of the NCAA Tournament on Friday against Illinois in the first round matchup.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 17, 2022
(Cover photo courtesy Michael Shroyer/USA Today Sports)
PITTSBURGH -- There’s a more than practical argument to be made that this Illinois-Chattanooga first round matchup wouldn’t be happening without a miracle shot by David Jean-Baptiste.
If Jean-Baptiste hadn’t hit nothing but the bottom of the net on a 30-foot contested heave at the buzzer in the Southern Conference Tournament final on March 8, Illinois would have certainly had a different opponent in their opening game of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
The 81st converted three-point shot by Jean-Baptiste prompted a massive mood and momentum switch in Harrah's Cherokee Center to give Chattanooga a shocking 64-63 win over a upset-minded Furman squad and gave college basketball fans its first magical moment in the month of March.
“I think I've had close to 2,000 texts," Jean-Baptiste said. "My phone's crashed twice. I'll always be tied to that moment. And no words can describe it. It's crazy."
For Jean-Baptiste, it was the exact moment he stayed around the Chattanooga program to experience.
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