Featured

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Steven Reynolds

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Steven Reynolds

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 6, 2024

On Sunday, 4-Star prospect Steven Reynolds took in the Illini experience on gameday on an unofficial visit. South Bend, Indiana's Steven Reynolds, a 6-foot-5, 170-pound shooting guard from the class of 2026, recently experienced a game at the State Farm Center. On this unofficial visit, Reynolds witnessed an Illinois victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers 87-84 in overtime on Sunday evening.

Read
Ked's Recruiting Roundup:  2024 DB Tanner Heckel Commits to Illinois

Ked's Recruiting Roundup:  2024 DB Tanner Heckel Commits to Illinois

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 6th, 2024

Surprising development for the Fighting Illini football team, they secured a commitment for the class of 2024 from safety Tanner Heckel, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound talent hailing from Lyndon, Kansas, and Lyndon High School.

Read
The Farrell Files Illinois - PWO of Interest, WR Coach Gone & Zafir Stewart Evaluation

The Farrell Files Illinois - PWO of Interest, WR Coach Gone & Zafir Stewart Evaluation

February 6, 2024

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a new preferred walk on of interest, talk about the loss of WR Coach George McDonald and continue to look at the 2024 class with a look at OL Zafir Stewart in four important categories.

Read
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illini Add OL Barrett as PWO

Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illini Add OL Barrett as PWO

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 5th, 2024

Orland Park's Zach Barrett, a strong 6-foot-3, 270-pound offensive lineman from the class of 2024,  officially committed to the University of Illinois football program on Sunday as a preferred walk-on, one day after making a visit to camps. Barrett made the decision to join the Fighting Illini, citing the program's aggressive mentality and commitment to dominating opponents as key factors in his choice.

Read
Adalia McKenzie Talks With The IlliniGuys, Courtesy HX Home Solutions

Adalia McKenzie Talks With The IlliniGuys, Courtesy HX Home Solutions

(Editor's note: IlliniGal Adalia McKenzie appears each week on […]

Read
Sturdy's Nebraska Rewind - Anatomy of an Almost Collapse

Sturdy's Nebraska Rewind - Anatomy of an Almost Collapse

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio & Illini Uber Insider

February 5, 2024

The Illini took a 10-point lead on a Terrence Shannon 3-pointer at 72-62 with 3:29 to play and Brad Underwood called a timeout to set his defense to prevent 3 pointers. 

“We just made a subtle change…” Underwood said. “It’s a downhill switch. We knew what was coming…we were gonna be OK with 2’s we just couldn’t give them 3’s. I called the timeout there, probably not a great decision because it maybe changed the momentum, but I still would have made the same call over and over again.”

Read
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - PWO Commit Harrysson Ngassa

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - PWO Commit Harrysson Ngassa

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 5, 2023

Whitney Young Prep Harrysson Ngassa commits to Illinois Football as Preferred Walk-On.

Read
Coleman Hawkins Defense Key to No. 14 Illini’s Overtime Win Over Upset-Minded Nebraska

Coleman Hawkins Defense Key to No. 14 Illini’s Overtime Win Over Upset-Minded Nebraska

On Sunday night, Coleman Hawkins finally got a matchup similar in stature and game and proved he was a more athletic, smarter and versatile center against Nebraska’s Rienk Mast. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 5, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Victory for Coleman Hawkins on Sunday night wasn’t so much a sight but a distinct sound. 

Read
14th Ranked Illini Survive In OT After Late Game Collapse

14th Ranked Illini Survive In OT After Late Game Collapse

By IlliniGuys Staff February 4, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Read
Sturdy's Illini Men's Basketball Preview - Nebraska

Sturdy's Illini Men's Basketball Preview - Nebraska

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio & Uber-Illini Insider

February 4, 2024

The Illini welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the State Farm Center on Sunday night as they look to take advantage of a 4-day prep and an upcoming 5-day prep after a grind of a start to Big Ten play. The Illini will be in a tie for 2nd place in the league following this one if they can pull out the win, just 1 game behind the Purdue/Wisconsin winner. As the Illini attempt to improve their NCAA seeding and fight for a Big Ten title, they need to take care of business at home starting on Sunday evening. 

Below are our keys and a pick. 

Setting the Stage

#14 Illinois (16-5, 7-3 B1G) vs. Nebraska (16-6, 6-5 B1G) 

Feb. 4, 2024 // 5:30 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center 

TV: BTN – Dave Revsine (Play-by-Play), Robbie Hummel (Analyst) 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notables

Read
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Taliyah Henderson

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Taliyah Henderson

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 4, 2023

Fresh off their road win Wednesday night against the Michigan Wolverines the Fighting Illini 77-64 avenging a devastating loss at home 84-48. The very next day the staff went out looking for the next prospect. 

Read
Marcus Domask Talks With the IlliniGuys, Presented By HX Home Solutions

Marcus Domask Talks With the IlliniGuys, Presented By HX Home Solutions

(Editor's note: Illini guard Marcus Domask appears each week […]

Read
Expanding the Dainja Zone: Underwood Balancing More Minutes for Illini Backup Center

Expanding the Dainja Zone: Underwood Balancing More Minutes for Illini Backup Center

Illinois center Dain Dainja has been a little-used backup this season but Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is trying to find more ways for the Baylor transfer to contribute. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 4, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — The mission for Illinois head coach is as uncomplicated as you might think. 

As the calendar has flipped to the final two months of the season, Brad Underwood is convinced he needs to find more minutes for reserve center Dain Dainja. However, in order to accomplish this task, the tradeoff is taking one of his favorite and most versatile bigs, Coleman Hawkins, off the floor. 

Read
Football Recruiting Spotlight on Griffin Rousseau

Football Recruiting Spotlight on Griffin Rousseau

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst February 3, 2024 Illinois […]

Read
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Darrin Strey

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Darrin Strey

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 3, 2024

Three-star lineman Darrin Strey, a 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive tackle from Paw Paw, Michigan, recapped his visit with Illinois last weekend. The Illinois staff did a great job of bringing recruits on campus for junior day. 

Read