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The sixth win in the last seven games for Illinois is slowly building head coach Brad Underwood’s brand of winning with defense, toughness and rebounding.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 29, 2023

MADISON, Wis. -- What occurred in the Kohl Center is the definition of what Illinois head coach Brad Underwood talks about from the point of the first preseason practice when the topic of toughness is brought up. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 29, 2023

The first half wasn’t pretty, but in the 2nd half the Illini put up 41 points beyond a stellar 26-point effort from Matthew Mayer to cruise to a 61-51 win over the struggling Wisconsin Badgers.

By IlliniGuys Staff

January 28, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MADISON, Wisc. - With leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. handcuffed by foul trouble, Matthew Mayer delivered a career-high 26 points as Illinois defeated Wisconsin for the sixth consecutive game, 61-51 Saturday afternoon.

Illinois (15-6, 6-4) has now won six of its last seven games to put that 0-3 start in the Big Ten behind them and climb into a 4th place tie in the conference.

Bullen brings 11 years of experience in the National Football League and the Palantine, Ill. native started his coaching career as a student assistant under Kirk Ferentz at Iowa. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 28, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bret Bielema said he was looking at experienced people in the three-letter league, NFL, for his assistant coaching vacancies

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 28, 2023

Illinois football is building something special here

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 27, 2023

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

In the Farrell Files Illinois, I look at an interesting new name to watch and break down the linebackers in the 2023 class.

After a storybook start to the 2022-23 season, Illinois has lost three of its last five games and is searching for the mentality that got them to national ranking in an unforgiving Big Ten Conference. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 27, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Without wanting to admit it out loud, Shauna Green knew the reality check portion of her first season as head coach at Illinois was coming.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 27, 2023

While it makes all kinds of sense, I don't think many Illinois observers expected the addition of quarterback John Paddock to the 2023 roster. 

Illinois misses 22 of 26 from three-point range leading […]

Whether he likes it or not, Luke Altmyer’s month of December […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 25, 2023

The Fighting Illini football program appears to finally look like a Division I team.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 26, 2023

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

The latest in the Farrell Files Illinois has info on the new QB, some preferred walk on info for 2023 and my breakdown of the 2023 DL class.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 25, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini got back on the winning side of things with a 69-60 win over Ohio State on Tuesday night behind a balanced offensive performance and some stellar defense as they moved to 14-6 overall and 5-4 in league play. Terrence Shannon had 17 to lead the way, but the Illini got 14 from Jayden Epps, 12 from Matthew Mayer and a complete performance from Coleman Hawkins with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks as they controlled the game for the final 30 minutes against the Buckeyes. 

Here’s a quick recap:

These 4 Things:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Jan. 25, 2023

On Tuesday live on ESPN, it announced the winners of the 2023 men's and women's McDonald's All-American team. From a recruiting standpoint, I was not expecting a player from the men's 2023 recruiting class to make the list, but for the women's side, I did.

Several fans asked me personally on our message boards if I thought the selection process was somewhat political; for the first time ever, I can say “yes,” only because I have a little proof.

Illinois forward Matthew Mayer spent the last few days in bed with the flu but newfound health led to 12 points and a comfortable win.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 25, 2023

(Photos courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In case anybody might have been wondering, a healthy Matthew Mayer without the flu is a better basketball player than the opposite.

The Illinois graduate transfer had practically every physical and medical reason to feel, look and most importantly act differently than the last time he stepped on the State Farm Center playing floor. Following a scoreless outing in 22 minutes against Indiana in which Mayer was likely in between being sick in the bathroom, Mayer couldn’t have been more different for a simple reason. He felt better.