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By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

March 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Illinois got a second big early addition to the Class of 2027 when Evanston Township defensive back Justin Johnson committed to the Illini over at least six other Big Ten offers as well as interest from around the country.  Johnson is a really big defensive back prospect who could fit all over the defensive backfield.  However, as you'll see, its rather hard to see where he fits into the Illini future because he played for a rough Evanston Township program that went 6-12 in the last two years.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

Johnson is clearly a Big Ten football player.  His athletic ability stands out even against 8A competition and in case you were doubtful,

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. The Illini once again got a big lead, and once again failed to close it out in another overtime loss, this time to Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament, 91-88. The Illini led by 15 points in the second half at 60-45, but Wisconsin battled back behind a monster second half from star guards Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, who combined for 69 points as the Badgers advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals where they will take on Michigan.

Here’s a look at what we saw.

These 3 Things

Missed Free Throws Kill You - Illinois was 9-15 from the line and missed 2 front ends. In a game that goes to OT and is a 3 point game after OT, that is a losing proposition.

On a night where Wisconsin shoots 10 of 41 from three-point range, Illinois still surrenders 91 points in a frustrating Big Ten Tournament loss.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHICAGO — In the days following a regular season finale victory, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood was sure his team needed two full days off to adapt to the constant elimination game mentality of college basketball’s postseason.

After a frustrating 91-88 overtime loss to Wisconsin in Illinois’ first game of the 2026 Big Ten Tournament, Underwood left the United Center Friday evening believing a mental reset would likely be needed once again to avoid a one-and-done fate in the NCAA Tournament.

“I don't like narratives. I like figuring out how to solve the problems, and that's what we've got to do,” Underwood said following the quarterfinal loss in the Big Ten Tournament. “It's just one possession here or there. That's what this group has to understand. Today, I thought it was just a lack of focus.”

Underwood said Friday he has had to learn how to coach this Illini group differently than past teams because of the personality of this 2025-26 Illini roster being more comfortable with being relaxed, free-flowing and almost care-free in their mentality. With Illinois now being 1-6 in games where the final deficit is five points of less and Illinois’ sixth loss this season when they’ve scored at least 80 points in the game, Underwood may be seeing now that free attitude is the key to turning likely wins into perplexing defeats.

Illinois allows 69 combined points from Wisconsin guard duo […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Washington Wizards rookie Will Riley (left) takes in a game at State Farm Center with fellow former Illini star and Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis during last month's All-Star break. (Courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – When Will Riley arrived at Illinois, expectations were already sky high for the talented wing from Canada. A five-star recruit with a reputation as a dynamic scorer, Riley was widely considered one of the best prospects to join the program in years.

He did not disappoint.

From his breakout freshman season in Champaign to carving out a role in the NBA, Riley’s path has followed the trajectory many projected. Now playing for the Washington Wizards, the former Illini continues to show the scoring ability and confidence that made him one of the most intriguing young players in college basketball last season.

Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Riley prepared for college basketball at The Phelps School in Pennsylvania. The 6-foot-8 wing entered the 2024 recruiting class as a five-star recruit according to ESPN and finished ranked as the nation’s No. 12 overall prospect.

Illinois associate head coach Orlando Antigua immediately recognized the talent.

"This kid is a can't miss, his ability to score in bunches is something I've not seen in a few years," Antigua told IlliniGuys.

Riley wasted little time proving that assessment correct.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini are in Chicago with an opportunity on Friday to likely secure a 2-seed in the big dance with a win over a Wisconsin team that has some of the best wins in the country this season. The Badgers beat Illinois back on February 10th in Champaign 92-90 in overtime, but the Illini were without Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic. Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combined for 49 points and reserve big man Austin Rapp had 18 as Wisconsin overcame a 12-point deficit with 8 minutes to play.

Illinois could be on a revenge tour if they can handle the Badgers with a likely matchup against Michigan on Saturday for the winner.

Setting the Stage
2026 Big Ten Tournament // Chicago, Ill. // United Center
Quarterfinal
#9 Illinois // 24-7 Overall, 15-5 Big Ten 4 Seed vs. 5 seedWisconsin
Friday, March 13 // 1:30 p.m. CT
TV: BTN – Jeff Levering (Play-By-Play), Don MacLean (Analyst) & Rick Pizzo (Sideline)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas National Radio: Compass Media Networks – Matt "Money" Smith (Play-By-Play) & Mike Wozniak (Analyst)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM – 84

Notable
*Illinois is 24-7 overall, notching the program's most regular-season victories in the last 20 years. Illinois was Big Ten runner-up at 15-5, tying the second-most conference wins in school history. Head Coach Brad Underwood now owns the top three, and five of the top nine, winningest Big Ten seasons ever at Illinois. This is the fifth time in the last seven years that Underwood has led the Illini to a top-4 Big Ten Tournament seed and bye into the quarterfinals. Illinois has four Big Ten Tournament titles all-time, including two in the Underwood era in 2021 and 2024. Illinois is the winningest team in Big Ten play this decade, registering 96 league victories since 2019-20. The Illini are also one of only four teams nationally to record 20-win regular seasons in each of the last seven years, joined by Gonzaga, Houston, and San Diego State.

With scouts and professional personnel from all 32 NFL teams in attendance, former Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer’s final moments in Champaign was a complex throwing session.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 12, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — There is a time not that long ago where Luke Altmyer realizes that a pro day workout or a throwing session workout at the National Football League Scouting Combine might have overwhelmed his emotions.

Three years ago, Betsy Altmyer dropped off her son in Champaign hopeful he was on the road to being able to solve confidence and anxiety issues that go along with being a starter quarterback at a power conference program. On Thursday, Betsy was in attendance watching her 23-year-old conduct a full throwing workout in front of scouts from all 32 teams inside the Irwin Indoor Facility connected to the Smith Center.

“They dropped off a young man here a few years ago and I truly believe he transformed himself into a man,” Luke Altmyer said Thursday. “It’s taken some time but today was just another example of trying to make people believe that I’m the man for this job and I can do it whether it’s command a huddle, being an elite athlete and do everything needed to be a quarterback at this next level.”

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

March 11, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Recruiting conversations in college basketball can change quickly, especially when a highly ranked prospect reopens his commitment. Over the past week, one name that has quickly returned to the radar for Illinois is Quentin Coleman, a former Illini recruiting target whose recent decision has sparked new intrigue around the program.

Just last week, Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst and co-host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular, and I put together our list of realistic targets for the Illinois 2026 men's basketball class.

At the time, there was no mention of Quentin Coleman, an outstanding 6-foot-4 scoring guard from St. Louis, Missouri, who averaged 22.1 points per game, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals per game. Coleman was still committed to Wake Forest.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst' March 11, […]

Illinois guard Keaton Wagler becomes just the fifth player […]

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is just 1-5 inside the home of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and hasn’t picked up a victory there since 2018.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 10, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Despite the idea the University of Illinois boasts having its largest alumni base in Chicago, Brad Underwood would still have some trouble calling the United Center his program’s home away from home.

While the Illinois alumni representation in the third-largest city in the United States comes out to approximately two out of every five graduates working in Chicago, this orange and blue fanbase hasn’t resulted in program wins inside the city’s largest indoor sports arena. In his nine seasons leading the Illini men’s basketball program, Underwood has only one win inside the United Center - an overtime victory over Northwestern in the opening round of the 2019 Big Ten Conference Tournament. And the near six-year drought of futility inside the Chicago Bulls home arena hasn’t been for a lack of trying.

So when Illinois (24-7) will debut in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal round on Friday (approx. 1:30 p.m. CST, Big Ten Network), it will represent a chance to turn around a embarrassing history of losses to quality competition in the building with Michael Jordan’s statue looming large and just 138 miles north of the Illini’s home arena in Champaign.

“It’s obviously a great, great basketball city inside Chicago and we’ve got a great number of alums, donors and supporters there,” Underwood said

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 9, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Four years ago, he was a 19-year-old freshman holding a clipboard on the sideline while Michigan State pulled off an upset victory on the road over a No. 16 Fighting Illini football team. In just a few months, he’ll be under center for the Fighting Illini.

The journey to becoming a starting quarterback for a Big Ten program has taken an up, down, and around route for East Carolina transfer Katin Houser, but the former Spartan and Pirate seems to believe that he’s finally where he belongs.

“It’s exciting, it’s humbling,” Houser said on Wednesday during his first availability to local media. “I’m just really blessed to be here, I’m blessed to be here and be a part of the family.”

Houser said that towards the end of his redshirt junior season at East Carolina, he had already begun to consider entering the transfer portal. He had high market value. He led his team to an 8-4 record, and threw for 3,300 yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions while also punching in nine rushing touchdowns before opting out of the Military Bowl and entering the transfer portal.

The transition to life in Champaign has been smooth, according to Houser, but that could have been expected back in January. Houser entered the portal on December 16, took his official visit on January 4, and committed later that day. The reason given for the quick decision is a buzzword that Bret Bielema uses frequently and is a response that the soon-to-be sixth-year head coach probably loved to hear.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 9, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

For the first 36 minutes neither team took a lead larger than two possessions before Illinois took control and then weathered a Maryland rally to win 78-72 and finish in a tie for 2nd place in the Big Ten at 15-5 and at 24-7 overall. David Mikrovic led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds for Illinois while Maryland got 30 from Andre Mills, another guard that torched the Illini D.

Here’s a quick recap:

These 3 Things

Closing Time - The Illini have lost 3 ‘close’ games in a row (in overtime) and their last 3 wins have been blowouts. Brad Underwood didn't like my question in the postgame press conference, but finding a way to win on the road in a tight game should be a positive thing for this Illinois team.

The program-record eighth road win in Big Ten Conference […]