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No. 12 Illinois leads nearly from start to finish […]

Clint Sintim has been hired to be Illinois’ third […]

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

March 10, 2024

Over the past few years, the rivalry between Illinois and Iowa has grown even more, in large part because they have been two teams near the top of the Big Ten. On Sunday the game has massive implications for both teams, as the Illini are looking to solidify a top 4 seed in the NCAA tournament with another win, while the Hawkeyes are looking to play their way into the NCAA tourney during the last week. 

Although Iowa City isn’t the madhouse it normally is this season, expect a great crowd and hostile environment on the road. 

Setting the Stage

#12 Illinois (22-8, 13-6 B1G) at Iowa (18-12, 10-9 B1G) 

March 10, 2024 // 6 p.m. CT // Iowa City, Iowa // Carver-Hawkeye Arena 

TV: FS1 – Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-Play) & Stephen Bardo (Analyst) 

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

Notables

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 9, 2024

The Fighting Illini have found a new spark with the arrival of new football coach Justin Stepp. Emerging talents like wide receiver Michael Thomas III are also making waves, particularly with the recent revelation of his top five college choices.

By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 9, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Associated Press)

We spend a lot of time these days talking about the massive shift in college football that's coming this summer as the Big 10, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 expand and the Pac-12 shrinks into near oblivion.  But change in college basketball has been in the making for a while.  

There are six blueblood schools that have ruled the game: UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Indiana.  From the launch of the NCAA tournament in 1939 until 2012, they combined to dominate with 36 national championships and 86 Final Four appearances.  They won the most, they recruited the best, and they had the biggest names.  Allen, Knight, Krzyzewski, McCracken, Rupp, Smith, Williams, Wooden...Alcindor, Alford, Hansbrough, Jordan, Laettner, Thomas, Walton... just to name a few.

They were so dominant that, in the nearly half-century between 1963 and 2012, there were only four years in which none of them appeared in the Final Four.  If it was April, one of them was stealing the spotlight, whether they won it all or not.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

March 8, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at something odd with one 2025 in state target and an out of state prospect who will be visiting Illinois and another Big Ten school.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 8, 2024

In the midst of the ongoing success of the Illinois men's basketball team, Illini basketball recruiting efforts continue to yield promising results.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting March 8, 2024 […]

The 2023-24 campaign for Illinois women’s basketball ends in […]

Mike Cagley, Co-Host of Big Sports Radio and IlliniGuys […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

March 6, 2024

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

I’m this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a few interesting prospects who have visits set up.

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

March 6, 2024

There are only a few games left in the season for the Fighting Illini, and yet they are still learning from these close losses. After falling to Purdue 77-71 in a game where Illinois once again held a lead late only to see the Boilers hit everything down the stretch and pull out the 6-point win. 

At some point, they need to learn how to win these games or when it happens in the NCAA tourney it will mean the end of the road for these Seniors. 

The question becomes, what can they learn, and can they learn in time? 

These 3 Things

Despite being up six at halftime, Illinois coaching staff elected to switch defensive coverages to limit likely back-to-back Wooden Award winner Zach Edey and Purdue’s guards bury Illini.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 6, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — The plan for Illinois’ defense switched on Tuesday night from one half of play to the final 20 minutes of action. 

After the halftime break, Illinois’ coaches decided that if your name wasn’t Zach Edey, you now were formally invited to do everything you could to win this basketball game. This is all the sophomore guard duo of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, along with Purdue head coach Matt Painter needed to see. 

By IlliniGuys Staff March 5, 2024 (Photo courtesy Joe […]

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois wide receiver Isaiah Williams is the […]