Basketball

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

November 19, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Pickrell/IlliniGuys)

Illinois Senior Guard Terrence Shannon was ‘HIM’ on Friday evening in Las Vegas, posting a 29 point and 10 rebound effort while tying the Illinois school record by hitting 8 of 9 three pointers to lead Illinois to a 79-70 win over #8 UCLA and set up a Sunday at 2pm CT showdown with a veteran Virginia squad to win the Continental Tire Main Event. 

The Illini got off to a good start but saw UCLA end the first half on a 10-0 run to take a 9 point halftime lead that they would extend to 15 before Sencire Harris provided a defensive spark. Harris, who didn’t see action in the first half, played 9 second half minutes and harassed UCLA point guard Tyger Campbell into turnovers and helped wear down the UCLA star PG as the Illini pulled away. 

IlliniGuys Staff November 18, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy Joe […]

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.