Charlie Bullen Mixing & Matching Illini’s Unique OLB Skills
Illinois’ new outside linebacker coach spent 11 years of experience in the National Football League training pass rushers and he inherits a position room with arguably the potential.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 30, 2023
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The position of outside linebacker is the position on defense at the University of Illinois that is not a one size, one skill fits all situation
Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Building a Team in the NIL & Transfer Portal Era
Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular March 29, 2023 […]
Illinois Assistant Coach Ryan Gensler Hired As Women’s Basketball Head Coach at Akron
Illinois head coach Shauna Green will now have to […]
Farrell Files Illinois - Recruits Soon to Be on Campus
Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert
March 29, 2023
(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)
Coleman Hawkins Declares For 2023 NBA Draft; Illini Forward Maintains College Eligibility
Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins has announced he will test his viability in the 2023 NBA Draft process but will not sign with an agent in order to maintain his college eligibility.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 28, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Coleman Hawkins feels it is time to test his viability for the 2023 NBA Draft.
The Illinois forward, who just finished his third season in the Illini program, announced on social media Tuesday afternoon his intention to explore the possibility of entering the draft process following a 2022-23 season where he averaged 9.9 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, three assists per game and shot 44 percent from the field.
Illini Guard Jayden Epps Enters the Transfer Portal as Expected
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys & IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular Director of Recruiting
March 27, 2023
Illinois guard Jayden Epps was expected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Illini Spring Football Practice Report No. 3 (Practice No. 4)
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
March 28, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Good morning and welcome to the fourth of 15 allotted spring football practices for the University of Illinois program as we are still months away from the third year of the tenure of Illini head coach Bret Bielema.
It was approximately a 30 to 35-minute viewing period of the second day in full pads but the first practice session for the Illini since Saturday afternoon. Therefore, I wanted use this opportunity to focus on the defensive side of the ball and special teams so here are a few quick notes:
IlliniGuys Exclusive: All-Big Ten Guard Adalia McKenzie Reflects On Historic Season
By IlliniGuys Staff
March 27. 2023
(NOTE: Illini sophomore guard Adalia McKenzie has been a contributing member of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular show team since January, 2022.)
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
Larry Smith: Good to talk with you. You've had a little bit of time now to process that NCAA opening round loss that capped just a tremendous and historic season. Give us your thoughts.
Adalia McKenzie: Yeah, it sucks that we lost, you know, I feel like I still even haven't processed it yet. And I've been sad and hurt just a lot of mixed emotions. But I'm really proud about the season that we have, and really like how to turn it around in the program.
The 2023 Final Four: Welcome To The New World Order
By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff
March 27, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy ESPN)
Put your tattered brackets away and clear your mind for a moment as I ask you this one question:
Isn't this awesome?!
Yeah, I know you may have had Kansas repeating as champion or Alabama going all the way. Maybe Houston in another Final Four or Purdue making the final weekend for the first time in decades.
But none of that happened, so get over it. Instead, we all bore witness to a daily reminder of why this is the greatest tournament in sports. There is no other event with the drama, the uncertainty, the thrills, and the classic moments like the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Florida Atlantic vs. San Diego State. Miami vs. UConn. A most unusual quartet that seems destined to deliver a classic weekend in Houston in a few days.
Sturdy's Portal Watch: Monday AM Edition
Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
March 27, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy Georgetown University Athletics)
As the college basketball season enters its final week, nearly every team is already hip-deep into the offseason and the decision-making required to transition into next fall.
Farrell Files Illinois - Where will the Illini Go Next
Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert
March 27, 2023
(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)
In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, we look at a couple of losses in the 2024 class and where they may go next.
In-state Lineman in Awe of his Visit
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
March 26, 2023
Once again, the Fighting Illini football staff has put on their X-Ray vision glasses seeing talent when others miss.
Illini to Utilize Running Back-by-Committee Approach Post Chase Brown
In his first year back as running backs coach Thad Ward wants to split the workload of his position room among some big and experienced options.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 26, 2023
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The 2012 Big Ten Conference Championship Game still serves as not only his finale at Wisconsin but also the peak of success of the running game of a Bret Bielema program.
Elite Eight Notes
(EDITOR'S NOTE: IlliniGuys co-founder Larry Smith has covered sports from the local to the international level for 35 years, including 12 Final Fours and six NBA Finals. He is the creator of the Dirty Dozen, an office pool selection matrix that is 12-0 in its existence.)
By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
March 25, 2023
--If you feel like there's a little extra drama sprinkled into this weekend's Elite Eight games, you're right. At least one program (Creighton or San Diego State) will earn a trip to their first-ever Final Four and two others (Florida Atlantic, Miami) could join them.
This is another sign of the growing parity in college basketball.
Illini Football 2023 Spring Practice Report #2 (Practice No. 3) - Illini Offensive Line Pieces Coming Together
Illinois conducted its first spring practice in full pads on Saturday afternoon.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
March 25, 2023
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Good afternoon and welcome to the third of 15 allotted spring football practices for the University of Illinois program as we are months away from the third year of the tenure of Illini head coach Bret Bielema.
It was approximately a 40-minute viewing period of the first day in full pads so here’s a few quick notes:
The Saturday afternoon session (or at least the media viewing portion of the practice was moved from Memorial Stadium to inside the Irwin Indoor Facility due to looming weather conditions in the central Illinois area.
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