Basketball

Illini Basketball Preview - Illini at Michigan State

Illini Basketball Preview - Illini at Michigan State

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer February 19, 2022 (Cover […]

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Illini Desperately Need More from Grandison & Williams

Illini Desperately Need More from Grandison & Williams

In order for Illinois to be as good as everybody wants them to be in 2022, the older guard must have to rise up one more time.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 18, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In order to believe that major changes are coming to the lineup and player rotations inside Illini basketball, two things must occur.

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Anybody Wanna Fight?  Underwood's Ready To Take It Outside in Spartans Showdown

Anybody Wanna Fight? Underwood's Ready To Take It Outside in Spartans Showdown

The Illini basketball coach is looking for energy and […]

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Heat Checks and Hail Marys - High Risk Solutions

Heat Checks and Hail Marys - High Risk Solutions

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy February 18, 2022 The Illini lost […]

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“We’re not playing very hard right now”: Underwood Calls Out Illini’s Effort at Rutgers

“We’re not playing very hard right now”: Underwood Calls Out Illini’s Effort at Rutgers

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood calls out the leadership of his veteran Illini squad in a 70-59 loss at Rutgers.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 18, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- On several occasions, Brad Underwood enjoys making the game of basketball very simple for everyone to understand. 

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Red-hot Rutgers Sends Illini Back Into First Place Tie in Big Ten

Red-hot Rutgers Sends Illini Back Into First Place Tie in Big Ten

IlliniGuys Staff February 16, 2022 PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The […]

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illini Get a Surprise Big Man Visit

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illini Get a Surprise Big Man Visit

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 16, 2022

For those unwilling to admit it, I will do it for you. Illinois basketball is hot right now.

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Illini Basketball Preview - Illini at Rutgers

Illini Basketball Preview - Illini at Rutgers

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer February 16, 2022 Essentials […]

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Big Ten-leading Illini net 3-seed in latest IlliniGuys Bracketology

Big Ten-leading Illini net 3-seed in latest IlliniGuys Bracketology

IlliniGuys Staff February 15, 2022 The Illinois Fighting Illini […]

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Hometown Star Comes Back for Official Visit

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Hometown Star Comes Back for Official Visit

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 15, 2022

This was a big-time recruiting weekend for the Fighting Illini men's basketball program.

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Destination March:  Illini In The Driver's Seat

Destination March: Illini In The Driver's Seat

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

February 14, 2022

As you deliver your expensive cards, chocolates, and candy hearts (or as you scramble to pick up your expensive cards, chocolates, and candy hearts), don't forget to show a little love and maybe even blow a kiss or two toward your Fighting Illini basketball team and staff.  After all, they deserve your affection.  Despite suspension and concussions and injured shoulders and flu bugs and COVID spread, they enter mid-February right where you thought (hoped?) they'd be: in first place in the Big Ten.

However...many of us probably thought (assumed?) the Orange and Blue would be at best tied for first at this juncture, having caught a ballyhooed Michigan squad and their stud freshmen or found a way to equal Purdue and their roster of veteran stars.  But it's even BETTER than that!  The Illini - deep breath here - sit all by themselves atop the conference.  It would be a monumental task if everything had gone as planned since preseason practice began.  It's beyond impressive that they've done it while navigating more obstacles than Wile E. Coyote lays out for Roadrunner in any given sequence.

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Heat Checks and Hail Marys - The One That Didn't Get Away

Heat Checks and Hail Marys - The One That Didn't Get Away

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy February 14, 2022 Welcome to the […]

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RJ Melendez’s Career Day Showcases Present & Future for Illini Freshman Wing

RJ Melendez’s Career Day Showcases Present & Future for Illini Freshman Wing

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 13, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The development of Illinois freshman wing RJ Melendez went from mythical to real in 17 minutes and 18 seconds of game action.

On Super Bowl Sunday 2022, Melendez changed the narrative of his freshman season from a young, naive and lost player desperately trying to find a consistent role to the x-factor of why No. 13 Illinois won a Big Ten Conference game in the middle of February.

Melendez’s near season-high in minutes included 14 points, six rebounds, 6 of 6 from the foul line, a crowd-roaring dunk in the second half and a defensive effort that didn’t remind the sellout crowd he was a first-year player.

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Big Ten-leading Illini Overcome Cold-Shooting 2nd Half to Beat Wildcats, 73-66

Big Ten-leading Illini Overcome Cold-Shooting 2nd Half to Beat Wildcats, 73-66

IlliniGuys Staff February 13, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy Joe […]

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Illini Basketball Preview - Illini vs Northwestern

Illini Basketball Preview - Illini vs Northwestern

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer February 12, 2022 Essentials […]

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