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By IlliniGuys Staff October 14, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

October 14, 2023 IlliniGuy Larry was the one person […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 14, 2023

Illinois point guard commit Jase Butler has heard all of the criticism of his game and his ability to play Power 5 basketball. There is an unwritten rule that has been around for a long time with some basketball players: “If you're going to bet, bet on yourself.” Former Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu lived by that cliche.

With as many as three injured tailbacks removed from the depth chart, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is turning to two gems of the 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 14, 2023

Illinois at Purdue

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023: 2:30 p.m. CST, SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland

Surface: Field Turf

Capacity: 51,802

Records: Illinois 2-4, 0-3 in Big Ten; Maryland 5-1, 2-1 in Big Ten

Betting Line: Maryland by 14

Series notes: Maryland has won both games in this series. In 2018, Maryland defeated the Illini 63-33 in College Park and the Terrapins won 20-17 in 2021 in Champaign in come-from-behind fashion.

TV: NBC; Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), and Kathryn Tappen (reporter).

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O'Donnell (analysis), Michael Martin (sidelines) & Steve Kelly (Pre/HT/Post) » The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, SiriusXM (388), SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com.

CHAMPAIGN — With as many as three injuries depleting the tailback depth chart, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema now must likely turn to a youth movement to revive a rushing attack near the bottom of the Big Ten Conference.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 13, 2023

Back in November 2021, Baylor transfer Dain Dainja committed to the Illini. Back then transfer rules were different, but now that he is a mainstay for Illinois and head coach Brad Underwood, Dainja is expecting a lot more from himself this season. 

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

October 13, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at rumors of another possible decommitment and my weekly analysis of the Big Ten.

(Editor's Note: Maryland reporter George Gerbo of the Washington […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 12, 2023

Several days ago, the Fighting Illini women's basketball program lost a tough recruiting battle for an Illinois prep. If you read my piece, one of the items mentioned in my closing paragraph was that this staff will roll up their sleeves and get back to work; that is what they have been doing. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 11, 2023

Illinois assistant basketball coach Chester Frazier went back to the lab (gym) looking to find another player that may have been overlooked by other Power 5 foes.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has always made it a mission to not undermine his coordinators and assistants and isn’t going to start now just because Illini are 2-4 in 2023. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 11, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Since being announced as the head coach successor to Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin nearly 18 years ago, Bret Bielema has made it a point not to overtake the responsibilities of his coordinators. 

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

October 11, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at why the recent decommitment from OL Caleb Pyfrom isn’t a huge deal.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 10, 2023

The men's basketball program held its annual media day a week ago. Our staff provided multiple videos with different questions and answers. This year, unlike in the past, I am going to focus on three players that I spoke to off the video, not the entire team, for the subscribers here at IlliniGuys.

Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry has admitted to struggling to find a proper adaption to the 2023 defensive unit with younger, inexperienced talent.  

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 10. 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — The message being immediately sent by veteran defensive Illinois players after the loss at Kansas is now being reinforced by this Illinois coaching staff following a 2-4 start to the 2023 season. 

Last year is gone. And it can’t be replicated in the same way. 

Following the team’s second straight loss and third straight Big Ten Conference loss, Illinois first-year defensive coordinator Aaron Henry presented the harsh reality to fans of the program that NFL secondary pieces Devon Witherspoon, Sydney Brown and Jartavius Martin aren’t ever walking through the Smith Family Football Complex ever again in an Illini football jersey. Neither are leading tackler Issac Darkangelo, sixth-year senior safety Kendall Smith and nose tackle Calvin Avery.

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio

October 9, 2023

The Illini hoops team welcomed some quality talent on Friday for the first practice and the football game against Nebraska along with an indoor tailgate at Ubben due to the weather. They did get out on the golf carts to see some tailgating prior to the Football game. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 10, 2023

The Fighting Illini football program had as much buzz around the program as one could expect. Athletic director Josh Whitman proudly put his chest out with 10,000 new season ticket holders.

But now reality has set in; the team is 2-4, and one pass away from being 1-5. Senior wideout Casey Washington made a game-saving catch to keep a drive alive against Toledo in game one which Illinois won 30-28.

Time to be realistic here. Illinois is having a dismal season, and it is starting to have an effect on recruiting.