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Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Illini Insider & Co-Host of IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 15, 2025

The Illini host the 11th ranked Michigan State Spartans on Saturday night in what looks to be a key game for them if they want to grab a double bye and a top 4 seed in the NCAA tourney. It should be another emotional event, as they will also honor Terrence Shannon Jr. during a halftime ceremony. 

But this is a huge gam

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Chicago Sun-Times)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The class of 2027 is beginning to make waves in football recruiting, and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and his staff have shown they can compete with the top programs.

Mundelein, Illinois, star quarterback Trae Taylor, a 6-foot-3, 186-pound standout, recently narrowed his list of potential schools from 25 to five, announcing his decision via his Twitter (X) page.

The finalists include Nebraska, LSU, Illinois, Texas A&M, and Michigan. Taylor spoke with IlliniGuys about what factored into each school making the cut.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 14, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The class of 2027 may still be years away, but building relationships early is crucial in recruiting. Illinois is doing just that with 6-foot-4 combo guard Joe Nunez.

Nunez, who plays for the New York Gauchos, recently visited Champaign and shared his thoughts on the visit with us.

Illinois still managed a 12-point victory over Penn State Thursday night even with head coach Shauna Green at times angry, frustrated and disappointed.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — We may be officially at the point where Illinois can pick up critical Big Ten Conference victories while their head coach isn’t completely thrilled at the way her team executed.

Shauna Green, who has found the way to turn around arguably one of the most dormant women’s basketball programs among all the power conferences, was thrilled with a rallying fourth quarter where the Illini outscored on overmatched Penn State program 24-7.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 13, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 13, 2025

IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince was the first to report on 7-foot-3 inch, 240-pound center Luigi Suigo's recruiting visit to the Illinois campus earlier this year. The prospect from Italy toured campus, watched practice, and took in Tuesday night's win over UCLA and former All-American Kofi Cockburn's banner ceremony.

Ked gave this update on the IlliniGuys premium board:

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Illinois vs. Penn State […]

Illinois has lately turned to a Ben Humrichous-Morez Johnson-Tomislav Ivisic frontcourt and the answer is the oldest quality in basketball - size.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — With the Illinois roster being healthier than they’d ever been for a month, it appears Illini head coach Brad Underwood has found a go-to lineup for February and March.

Illinois showcased a completely clean league-mandated availability report two hours before tip of what would turn out to be a 83-78 home victory over UCLA.

However, in the midst of, according to the report, having every player active for the game there were still two players who didn’t see the playing court much or at all.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini got a much-needed win on Tuesday evening over a red hot UCLA Bruins team that came in on a 7-game winning streak. They weren’t perfect and struggled to finish but closed it out 83-78 behind 24 points from Kasparas Jakucionis and 16 from Tomislav Ivisic as they moved to 17-8 and 9-6 in the Big Ten.

Here’s a look back.

These 3 Things

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —The Illinois women’s basketball program boasts the nation’s seventh-ranked recruiting class, according to ESPNW, and one of the key reasons for that ranking is forward Cearah Parchment, a 6-foot-2 scoring wing from Fort Erie International Academy in Canada.

The four-star recruit has already arrived on campus and is acclimating to playing under one of the nation’s top coaches, Shauna Green. IlliniGuys spoke with her father, Kevin Parchment, to learn more about her decision to commit to Illinois.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 11, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Despite all the outside expectations for his college career, former Illinois All-American center Kofi Cockburn says he never thought a jersey retirement was likely.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 11, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The outside expectations at Illinois for Kofi Cockburn always seemed even bigger than his 7-foot and 290-pound frame.

However, no matter what was anticipated from him going back 2,120 days ago when he signed a National Letter-of-Intent with Brad Underwood’s Illini operation in late April 2019, Cockburn admitted Tuesday night that he never envisioned what he was about to experience. Arguably the largest post player presence to ever wear an Illinois jersey saw that uniform raised to the rafters of State Farm Center at halftime of the UCLA-Illinois contest.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 11, 2025

The Illini are back home for a two game homestand beginning against the hottest team in the Big Ten, the UCLA Bruins. After losing 4 in a row, the Bruins come in on a 7-game win streak and Mick Cronin’s crew are hoping to make a run at the Big Ten title.

Illinois continues to try and get healthy and hope that a dominating win at Minnesota can spur them forward in the next two games against Quad 1 opponents at the State Farm Center. The Illini have 6 Quad 1 wins and 10 Quad 1 and 2 wins, but they need more wins overall and this week could determine how high they are seeded in the NCAA tournament.

Setting the Stage

Illinois (16-8, 8-6) vs. UCLA (18-6, 9-4)
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 // 7 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
STREAM: Peacock – Jac Collinsworth (Play-by-Play) & Stephen Bardo (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 11, 2025

Illinois hasn't focused on the great state of Texas in his high school recruiting in the Bielema era.  The only Texas recruit in the last five years was the already-departed Chase Canada from the Class of 2023, and the only state of Texas recruit to make an impact in the last five years was Casey Washington. 

However, Illinois changed course on that when safety/ linebacker Kaedyn Cobbs committed to the Illini over offers from several Big 12 and other local schools to give the Illini their 9th commitment in the Class of 2026.  Cobbs had offers from several area teams and has a few 4 star mentions from evaluators though he's generally seen as a three star recruit.  However, I think those are questions about his fit on a defense, and I'm high on him since I think he fits in very well with the Illini.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois forward Will Riley is […]