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By IlliniGuys Staff

March 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - On Senior Night, it was those who were honored before the game who shined the bright at the end of the game.

Matt Mayer and Terrence Shannon Jr., playing for the last time in State Farm Center to end their lone season in an Illinois uniform, scored all 10 Illini points in the second overtime to pull off the 91-87 thriller over Michigan.

Former Illinois athletics employee and athlete Kathleen Knight is leading what she desires to be the high-dollar non-profit Name, Image and Likeness Collective for Illini athletes. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy University of Illinois)

In a relatively short amount of time, Kathleen Knight has gone from a University of Illinois athletics employee with extreme hesitation over embracing name, image and likeness for college athletes to now being the CEO and president of what many hope is the high-dollar collective option.

“At a certain point, that doesn’t really matter anymore because it’s here and it’s not going away so we all need to just get over that fear. I will say I personally got over it when I was able to part of, with the leadership of (Illinois athletics director) Josh Whitman, really needed to be thoughtful in our philosophy about what NIL success looked like at the University of Illinois,” Knight said. “The fact of the matter is (NIL) continues to be a lever that allows us the greatest opportunity to gain and maintain a competitive advantage. It started to become too important to me to not do everything possible, not to drop everything to figure out a way for Illinois to have success on the NIL front.” 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 2, 2023

Illinois (19-10, 10-8) vs. Michigan (17-12, 11-7)
March 2, 2023 // 6 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: ESPN – Kevin Brown (Play-by-Play), Seth Greenberg (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas (Analyst) // SiriusXM 382, SXM App 972

News & Notes
Illinois is expected to be

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

March 2nd, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Max Preps)

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 2, 2023

This spring you should expect to see a lot of potential and committed football recruits on campus.

Illinois guard Jayden Epps collapsed after physical contact at practice on Tuesday causing the freshman to be kept at Carle Hospital in Urbana overnight for testing and observation. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

March 1, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois guard Jayden Epps was hospitalized after collapsing during a practice session. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 1, 2023

Dennis Evans, a 7-foot-1, 210-pound center from Riverside, California, started as a top 100, but not listed as a top 20 prospect in the 2023 class.

(EDITOR's NOTE:  Fighting Illini guard Adalia McKenzie is a member of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular radio show, giving her exclusive perspective each week.  She was received honorable mention for the all-Big Ten team shortly after this interview.)

March 1, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Larry Smith: Adalia, 21st win to close out the regular season and doing it without two of your best players.  What does that mean for you guys?

Adalia McKenzie: It means a lot.  We know that this game was really huge for us and critical and really wanted this one and we definitely wanted to get the win for those who are out.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

March 1, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at some recruiting news for 2024 and break down a few of the big OL targets as well.

Illinois nearly a strike away from sweeping a weekend series at then-No. 18 Southern Mississippi - a program that hosted a NCAA Regional, and an NCAA Super Regional last season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 1, 2023

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 28, 2023

Illinois’ offense has showcased the running game for the past two years and the receiving core on next year's roster could be the best in 10 years.

Illinois freshman forward Ty Rodgers’ effort level on both ends of the floor 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 28, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Sports)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Less than two weeks before the bracket is announced for the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Illinois may be considering a starting lineup and rotation change. 

Following the disappointing 72-60 loss at Ohio State, which had lost 14 of its last 15 games before arriving at Schottenstein Center on Sunday, Illinois must now decide if the one player the head coach thinks is playing with the proper effort and energy is worthy of a first career start and bigger role. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 27, 2023

Back in the day, when Illinois recruited players with 31 DI offers and from the South, they did not have much of a chance.

February 27, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

This season is a LONG way from being over, but already there are so many questions from fans about next year!

Who's going?

Who's staying?

What is the staff looking for in the transfer portal?

Nobody has his ear to the ground like longtime IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy, who gave his expert take today on the moves we are likely to see come April and May...EXCLUSIVELY for IlliniGuys members!

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

February 27, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll break down the tight end situation for 2024 and review the 2023 linebacker haul versus the rest of the Big Ten.