Illini hold onto a spot on the 3-line in latest IlliniGuys Bracketology
IlliniGuys Staff February 22, 2022 If there is one […]
Illini hold onto a spot on the 3-line in latest IlliniGuys Bracketology
IlliniGuys Staff February 22, 2022 If there is one […]
Offseason Redux- Offensive Line
By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Contributor/Analyst
February 22, 2022
I'm going to recap the season and give everyone a peek at the next season position by position this offseason and, since we've had the most immediate news on the offensive line lately, I thought I'd start there.
Illinois was blessed with a wealth of experience on the offensive line in 2021, as the Illini were able to lean on five fifth or sixth year seniors as well as a couple of experienced returning players in Alex Pihlstrom and Julian Pearl. However, Illinois will lose stalwarts Vederian Lowe and Doug Kramer as well as transfers Doug Jeresaty and Jack Badovinac in 2022, so there's bound to be a lot of shuffling in the five line positions. I'm sure experienced fans know that filling the offensive line positions is a unique problem because experience is so important for success. So, players with a lot of experience will surely be more effective, yet you also need to get younger players some experience somehow. Not only that, but the physical nature of the position usually requires new players to spend a year or two sitting on the sidelines before they're even ready to take their shot, so it's difficult to manage the window in which a staff can get a player ready and still take advantage of the time he has to play.
What happened last year?
Column: The Case For Firing Juwan Howard
February 21, 2022
MADISON, Wisc. - Before Sunday afternoon, Juwan Howard epitomized the best of America.
He grew up on Chicago's South Side and became an All-American in his play and his personality as one of the faces of college basketball as part of Michigan's famous Fab Five.
He was a lottery pick by the NBA's Washington Bullets in 1994 and began a career that included an All-Star Game appearance and two league championships. His playing tenure was so long that it began in Clinton's first administration and didn't end until Obama's second. His talent was great enough to land him the first $100 million contract in league history. The respect he commanded was so widespread that his transition from player to assistant coach was seamless and his eventual ascension to a head coaching position was a foregone conclusion. It was a question of where and when, rather than if.
I have never met Juwan personally. But being close in age and having a number of friends in common and enjoying a lengthy career in the national media that paralleled his NBA years, I can tell you that I've never had anyone say a bad word about him, personally or professionally.
All which made his hiring as Michigan's head coach in 2019 a perfect fit. A "Michigan man" through and through, he had the pedigree and the temperament not to mention the street cred that few other coaches enjoy.
Or so we thought.
Catching Up With Illini Legend Doug Altenberger
February 21, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy U of I […]
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Peoria's Next Great Made the Visit to Champaign
Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting
February 18, 2022
Cooper Koch is a 2024 6'8" power forward from Peoria Notre Dame (Peoria, Illinois).
Heat Checks and Hail Marys - RoadKill Ruminations
Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy February 20, 2022 The Illini went […]
“Nothing new to an older guy like me.”: Illini Veterans Take Control in East Lansing
Illinois got its first road win at Michigan State since 2015 as Brad Underwood relied on key slumping veterans like Jacob Grandison, Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
February 19, 2022
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Illinois old guard rose up in a hostile and historically unsuccessful environment.
Illini Bring The Fight To Sweep Season Series With Spartans
IlliniGuys Staff February 19, 2022 EAST LANSING, Mich. - […]
Illini Land at #12 in NCAA Tournament Committee's Early Top 16
IlliniGuys Staff February 19, 2022 (Editor's note: updated to […]
Illini Basketball Preview - Illini at Michigan State
Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer February 19, 2022 (Cover […]
Illini Desperately Need More from Grandison & Williams
In order for Illinois to be as good as everybody wants them to be in 2022, the older guard must have to rise up one more time.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
February 18, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In order to believe that major changes are coming to the lineup and player rotations inside Illini basketball, two things must occur.
Anybody Wanna Fight? Underwood's Ready To Take It Outside in Spartans Showdown
The Illini basketball coach is looking for energy and […]
Heat Checks and Hail Marys - High Risk Solutions
Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy February 18, 2022 The Illini lost […]
“We’re not playing very hard right now”: Underwood Calls Out Illini’s Effort at Rutgers
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood calls out the leadership of his veteran Illini squad in a 70-59 loss at Rutgers.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
February 18, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- On several occasions, Brad Underwood enjoys making the game of basketball very simple for everyone to understand.
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