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By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

April 4th, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Grand Canyon University Athletics)

(Note: this was posted on the IlliniGuys.com message forums Tuesday morning.  For instant access to the very latest Illini news, subscribe to IlliniGuys.com here: https://illiniguys.com/subscribe/

Happy Post National title game day.

It's a wild time for college athletics, and basketball is probably the craziest. There are roughly 4500 players on Division I basketball scholarships. Take out roughly 800 that are out of eligibility, then throw in a few NBA guys and you have 1,243 guys in the portal. That is over 1/3. And more are coming. Portal Kombat.

For high school kids, this is a wild time. First, they continue to lose opportunities to kids that are using 'COVID years'. Second, high majors aren't often taking 4 or 5 Freshmen, because they will transfer out anyway. What's crazy is the best way right now to build a program is to find a kid like Jayden Epps that has already gotten experience and has used his transfer, but still has 3 years of eligibility left

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RJ Melendez, a 6-foot-7 wing who played 21.6 minutes […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting April […]

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By Larry Smith - Host and Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

April 2, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy USA Today)

In a brilliant scheduling move by CBS last Sunday, the Eye network ran an in-depth piece on the loquacious and always entertaining Charles Barkley on "60 Minutes".  The former NBA All-Star makes more money now and raises more eyebrows - hard to believe - than he did during his playing days.  I've had the pleasure of knowing Charles personally for about 20 years; working alongside him at Turner Sports and even doing a long-form sit-down interview as part of a series I was working on at the time.

What makes him so special - and he said as much during this terrific segment done by former Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim and his excellent producer - is that he's honest.  He once told me that he doesn't do social media and doesn't have a public relations firm speaking for him.  He says what he thinks, whether it's right or wrong and regardless if you like it or not.

(From University of Illinois Sports Information Office) (Cover photo […]

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 2, 2023

It's time to answer some subscriber questions. There is a whole thread full back on the football message board for subscribers to peruse at their leisure, but here are a few examples of what you can find back there. Enjoy!

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 1, 2023

Cael Brezina, a 2024 three-star outside linebacker from North Downers Grove, Illinois, was on the Illinois campus Tuesday for an unofficial visit. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

April 1, 2023

Illinois women's assistant coach Ryan Gensler was named the head coach of the Akron Zips on Wednesday morning.

A 12-2 deficit resulting in another opening game loss to a power program has Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb searching for answers. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 31, 202e

(Photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- At this point, Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb could likely not possibly care less about the school’s all-time wins record but can’t wait for his team to be more competitive.

For what is arguably the fifth time this season, the Illini dug themselves a massive hole against a power program early in the game that it could make its way out of in the later innings. A 12-9 defeat to Michigan on Friday night represents what Hartleb would consider uncompetitive losses in the first game against high quality competition. In losses at No. 2 Wake Forest, Coastal Carolina, Nebraska and now the Wolverines in the first game against them in either a weekend tournament or series, Illinois has been outscored 44-22. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 31, 2023

Lots going on behind the scenes and much will have to happen before this all plays out. Stay tuned, but here's what I know as of now:

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 31, 2023

Is this not a fun time of the year? Just think how everyone was excited about the first game last October, and now the NCAA Transfer portal is in rare form.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

March 31, 2023

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

A few notes in the Farrell Files Illinois including some big visits.