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Illinois Dominates Inside Williams Arena Again; Illini Second Half Run Guarantees Fourth Straight Win

Illinois Dominates Inside Williams Arena Again; Illini Second Half Run Guarantees Fourth Straight Win

A 35-11 run in the second half opened up the opportunity for Illinois (13-5, 4-3 in Big Ten) to cruise to another comfortable Big Ten road victory. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 16, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Krohn/USA Today Sports)

If Illinois keeps up this kind of trend inside Minnesota’s Williams Arena, Brad Underwood’s program may have to start considering these trips home games. 

For the third straight season, Illinois will be leaving the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul with a blowout win as an impressive second-half stretch clinched a 78-60 victory. In the last two seasons, Illinois had left Minnesota with a victory where the average margin in those games was 27 points. 

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BREAKING NEWS: Newton & Randolph Both Elect To Return to Illinois For 2023 Season

BREAKING NEWS: Newton & Randolph Both Elect To Return to Illinois For 2023 Season

With the return of Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph, […]

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Illini Men's Basketball Preview at Minnesota

Illini Men's Basketball Preview at Minnesota

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 16, 2023

Illinois (12-5, 3-3) at Minnesota (7-8, 1-4)
Jan. 16, 2023 // 5 p.m. CT // Minneapolis, Minn. // Williams Arena
TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play), Stephen Bardo (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas (Analyst) // SiriusXM 84, SXM App 84

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The Farrell Files - 2023 Prep Recruiting Isn't Over, Yet

The Farrell Files - 2023 Prep Recruiting Isn't Over, Yet

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 16, 2023

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

Well would you look at this, 2023 prep recruiting isn’t over after all,

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Illinois Defense Travels to Twin Cities in No. 24 Illini’s 70-57 Victory Over Gophers

Illinois Defense Travels to Twin Cities in No. 24 Illini’s 70-57 Victory Over Gophers

Illinois holds Minnesota to a season-low, single-game point total in a Big Ten road game in the Illini’s first game as a ranked team in 23 years. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 15, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS -- Along with its Associated Press Top 25 ranking, Illinois didn’t forget to pack its week-long defensive practice emphasis in its luggage up north this weekend.

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Moretti is Officially an Illini

Moretti is Officially an Illini

Illinois Department of Athletics & IlliniGuys Staff

January 15, 2023

Champaign, ILL.– As expected, Italian point guard Niccolo Moretti has signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid and is set to join the Fighting Illini Basketball program.

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Bret Bielema Says Possibility of Hiring NFL Assistants with Open Staff Vacancies; The Illini Coach Has Done This Before

Bret Bielema Says Possibility of Hiring NFL Assistants with Open Staff Vacancies; The Illini Coach Has Done This Before

In the back half of his five-year tenure at Arkansas, Bret Bielema hired assistants straight from the National Football League and in 2023, he says he’s interested in doing so again. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 14, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois still hasn’t filled the assistant coach openings at the positions of outside linebacker and running backs and the Illini leader says he’s looking at the three-letter professional league for candidates.

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Sturdy's Takeaways: Michigan State

Sturdy's Takeaways: Michigan State

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 14, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini trailed by as many as 9 points in the second half, but rallied to win by 9, 75-66 behind 20 points from Dain Dainja and 19 from Matthew Mayer as they took down a red hot Michigan State team in Champaign. The Illini are now 12-5 and 3-3 in league play with a 3-game winning streak as they head to Minneapolis for a Monday tip from Williams Arena. 

Here’s a quick recap:

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Technical Knockout: Illinois Win Physical Friday Night Fight With Spartans

Technical Knockout: Illinois Win Physical Friday Night Fight With Spartans

Even down by as many nine points early in the second half, Illinois rallied to knock down and match the physicality of Michigan State - the reigning Big Ten bully of physical play. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

January 14, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Call it a technical knockout for Illinois. 

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Illini Outmuscle Spartans For Signature 75-66 Win

Illini Outmuscle Spartans For Signature 75-66 Win

By IlliniGuys Staff January 13, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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The Farrell Files: Bielema and the Games Coaches Play

The Farrell Files: Bielema and the Games Coaches Play

By Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 13, 2023

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

It’s been kind of quiet on the portal front since ECU OL transfer Avery Jones flipped his commitment from Illinois to Auburn and Bret Bielema flipped out on social media. Could this mean less work in the portal? And a couple more names have emerged as visitors this weekend.

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How Coleman Hawkins Acts Like a Point Forward Even Without the Basketball

How Coleman Hawkins Acts Like a Point Forward Even Without the Basketball

In the spread offense with two inexperienced, freshman guards, Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins is serving as the traffic cop of where the basketball should go.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 13, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In the early and middle parts of what turned into a blowout win at Nebraska this week, it became seemingly obvious the Illinois true freshman point guard duo of Jayden Epps and Sencire Harris were seeing different things for the first time on the road.

Instead of panicking and guessing about what to run, where the basketball should go in its halfcourt offense and breaking off plays for 1-on-1 action, Coleman Hawkins reacted in the way a veteran was needed at that moment.

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Move-In Week for David Olano

Move-In Week for David Olano

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 13, 2023

David Olano, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound kicker from Naperville, Illinois, committed to Illinois in June of 2022. 

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Football Recruiting Spotlight on Nicario Harper

Football Recruiting Spotlight on Nicario Harper

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 12, 2023

Illinois made its first 2023 addition via the transfer portal when safety Nicario Harper decided to transfer from Louisville to Illinois for his last year of eligibility.

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Illinois' Kendall Bostic is the Glue to the Team's Recent Success

Illinois' Kendall Bostic is the Glue to the Team's Recent Success

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 12, 2023

The Fighting Illini women's basketball team is ranked for the first time in 23 years.

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