Basketball

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting November […]

The loss to Marquette Monday night confirms Illinois isn’t yet ready as a program to withstand the loss of a consensus first-team All-American such as Ayo Dosunmu.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November ,2022

MILWAUKEE -- In the last five minutes of a close game against a downtrodden Marquette program, Andre Curbelo tried and failed spectacularly to prove he’s Illinois’ next replacement for Ayo Dosunmu. 

Illinois made it clear this year that it wanted two outstanding guards in the class of 2022 and one dominant wing. Both guards signed are four-star recruits: Sencire Harris is a 6-foot-3, 160-pound combo guard from Akron, Ohio, and Jayden Epps is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound point guard from Suffolk, Virginia.

Now add Ty Rodgers, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound small forward originally from Grand Blanc, Michigan, who recently transferred to Thornton High School in Harvey, Illinois. 

IlliniGuys Staff November 17, 2021 The B1G basketball season […]

Sturdy breaks down the Ty Rodgers commitment and what […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst November 17, 2021 […]

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy November 16, 2021 The Illini game […]

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood points out the absence […]

Illinois sophomore point guard Andre Curbelo played like anything but the All-Big Ten talent he was hyped to be in the preseason during a 67-66 loss at Marquette Monday night. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 16, 2021

MILWAUKEE -- In order to close out its first road test of the 2021-22 season, Illinois turned to its celebrated sophomore point guard and Andre Curbelo simply couldn’t deliver. 

With 8:28 to play, the Illini had an 8-point lead and looked in control on the road at Marquette. Fans watched the collapse live or on TV and were shocked as the Illini fell to Marquette 67-66. Some said Illinois didn't run any offense down the stretch. They did, but didn't execute. Some felt Illinois didn't let Trent Frazier run the point. They did, that didn't work either. Here's a breakdown of each possession in the final 8:28, where the Illini offense had 1 free throw and no field goals in the final 5:36.

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Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer November 15, 2021 In […]

IlliniGuys Mike Cagley and Brad Sturdy break down the […]

A lot has changed with the Marquette program since the last time Illinois faced them in 1993.
For one, their nickname.  Gone is the “Warriors” moniker, put away in the antiquities closet somewhere on the Milwaukee campus just months after Illinois suffered a loss on their last visit.  Illinois holds a 9-5 edge in the all-time series that has never before seen the two teams meet before Thanksgiving.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The rotation piece role that Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk has carved out for the rest of this 2021-22 season is a product of two things being true.

Yes. Illinois has been playing without consensus first-team All-America center Kofi Cockburn and this forced Illini coaches to turn to Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk for more minutes. Yes. Bosmans-Verdonk has used this opportunity to further force Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and this Illini coaching staff to use him as a rotational bench piece once Cockburn returns to the lineup following the conclusion of his three-game NCAA-mandated suspension.