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There are a handful of names among Illini Nation that draw instant respect when you say them.  Deon Thomas is near the top of that list.

The all-time leading scorer in Illini history - that may change a year from now - joined us recently on the syndicated IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular radio show.

Larry Smith: Deon, so great to have you join us!  Welcome to the Sports Spectacular.

Deon Thomas: Well, I know it's a pleasure to be here, man. I've been waiting to come on. So you know, I got to make sure I'm knocking out the park on my first try. Make sure you give me a second one, you know haha!

LS: We've got judges on the side to check it out haha!  One thing I wanted to talk with you about, it's a topic that's been discussed quite a bit on IlliniGuys.com - we're surprised that Brad Underwood did not get more Coach of the Year buzz. You take off one of your top two players for two months, you take your best player - a national player of the year candidate and All-American - for five games, and you still win a Big 10 title.  It's really nothing short of just incredible.

DT: I would agree with you 100% on that. And I'll tell you, I was going back and forth with someone on Twitter the other day because I posted a picture during the Michigan State game. And I said 'two of the best in the country to do it'. Someone sent me a message back, saying 'well, I see Tom Izzo, who was the second one you're talking about?' And I took offense to it. And I kind of went back at the person because to me, he does not get the level of respect that he deserves. I mean, over the last three years, he's won more games in the Big 10 than anyone. And that's including Tom Izzo, who's one of my favorite coaches. He should have been the Big 10 regular season as well as tournament champions last year, because we beat the crap out of Michigan on their floor without Ayo Dosunmu. And you fast forward to this year. And he has done nothing but create the same magic.

March 30, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Philadelphia Inquirer)

Player meetings with the coaching staff are going on all this week, so we are on watch for any Illini player choosing entering the transfer portal.  We'll keep you updated here.

IlliniGuys Insider Brad Sturdy and Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince have been busy hitting the phones on potential transfers into the program.  The staff has had conversations and visits with a few prospects before the dead period, which begins tomorrow and coincides with the Final Four (which is also the coaches' convention).

Here is the latest from our dynamic duo:

Temple's Jeremiah Williams could very well be that veteran PG option. Although not known for his shooting, his floor game is very good and he is a 6'5 defensive stopper type that Underwood loves.

Following a season that included a NCAA Tournament berth […]

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

March 29, 2022

Illinois continued its early offseason recruiting activity when it secured a commitment from East St. Louis linebacker Antwon Hayden on Tuesday. 

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) March 29, 2022 (Cover […]

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

Marchi 29, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- Welcome to the fourth day of practices and second practice in full pads where the Illinois players and coaches moved to the grass fields next to the Smith Family Football Complex for the first time during this spring season.

The one major takeaway was the work being done by outside linebackers coach Kevin Kane with a position group that will require some inexperienced players stepping into new roles following the graduation of Owen Carney Jr. and Isaiah Gay from the past two seasons. One of the players who has quickly emerged is Virginia Tech transfer Alec Bryant, which should not be seen as a surprise after the 240-pound pass rusher was seen as a priority signee when arrived in Champaign last August but was ineligible to play during last season.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

March 29, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy ERT Preps)

Antwon Hayden, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete from East. St. Louis, Illinois, pledged to the Illini this morning. Last week the Illinois coaching staff was able to land four-star Kaden Feagin, a 6-foot-3, 221-pound athlete from Arthur, Illinois. Both know each other and talk to each other from time to time. Hayden is the Trent Frazier version of the class of 2023. He has known for a while how much he has liked Illinois, so he is recruiting others to join him and Feagin. Frazier was great at selling men's basketball coach Brad Underwood's dream; Hayden is selling football coach Bret Bielema's vision.

March 29, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

It wasn't a total shock, but Andre Curbelo made it official Monday afternoon: announcing that he will leave Illinois after two seasons and enter the transfer portal.  This is not the way he, nor anyone else, thought he would be spending his spring.  The preseason All-Big Ten pick had a tough season battling through injury.  We know we IlliniGuys join everyone in Illini Nation in wishing him good health and great success in the years to come.

'Belo's departure is the first of several roster changes expected this offseason.  What could be next for him?  Is Kofi talking to the NBA?  And what potential future Illini teammate has he been wooing?

IlliniGuys Insider Brad Sturdy has the answers to all of that and more in his latest platter of inside Illini stuff, served up exclusively on IlliniGuys.com.

Let's get to it!

Andre Curbelo confirms a widely regarded rumor that he’s entered the transfer portal with the intention of playing elsewhere after two seasons at Illinois. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 28, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- Andre Curbelo has likely played his final game as a member of the University of Illinois men’s basketball program. 

March 28, 2022

Good Monday afternoon from the IlliniGuys! Sitting here in the state-of-the-art IlliniGuys studio (that's a wink to everyone who listens to our radio show) and anticipating all that's about to happen in the week ahead.

IlliniGuys Insider Brad Sturdy is like your favorite nurse at the doctor's office; he's got his finger on the pulse of Illini basketball!   He's always sharing his notes on our message forum for premium subscribers.  If you have a friend who seems to know what's going on inside the program or hears of things before you do, well...they probably know Brad OR subscribe to IlliniGuys.com!

Here's his latest offerings, including the latest on 5-star recruit Skyy Clark:

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 25, 2022

Andrew Hines is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker from Atlanta, Georgia, who made the trip to Champaign recently and came away in awe.

The Illinois offensive line personnel give the Illini coaches more options but also more debate as to the starting five going into the 2022 season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 26, 2022

CHAMPAIGN -- For what you'd expect in a first-year coaching staff, Bart Miller arguably walked into a more ready-made situation than several of his colleagues.

Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Student Correspondent

March 27, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, IL – Casey Washington may be losing his hair, but not his confidence.

March 27, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

So what does a Big Ten tournament championship followed by a Big Ten regular season title bring you?

In the words of one message board insider  - "Illinois is now competing with the Kentuckys of the world and the big boys know it.  Illinois is back!"

The IlliniGuys message forums saw a record number of members online Saturday night as everyone speculates on the latest whispers.  Could a major decision with serious impact on the Illini's future success take place this week?

Here's the latest from IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy and our team of insiders.  If you didn't already know, Sturdy is the pre-eminent Illini basketball insider and you can find his stuff only on IlliniGuys.com. And we tease him a lot, but IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting Kedric Prince knows every mom in the country. His latest one-on-one conversation is below.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 25, 2022

The Illinois basketball team was on top of the world, winning a Big Ten Championship for the first time in 17 years.