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Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 16, 2023

Illinois (12-5, 3-3) at Minnesota (7-8, 1-4)
Jan. 16, 2023 // 5 p.m. CT // Minneapolis, Minn. // Williams Arena
TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play), Stephen Bardo (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas (Analyst) // SiriusXM 84, SXM App 84

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 16, 2023

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

Well would you look at this, 2023 prep recruiting isn’t over after all,

Illinois holds Minnesota to a season-low, single-game point total in a Big Ten road game in the Illini’s first game as a ranked team in 23 years. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 15, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS -- Along with its Associated Press Top 25 ranking, Illinois didn’t forget to pack its week-long defensive practice emphasis in its luggage up north this weekend.

Illinois Department of Athletics & IlliniGuys Staff

January 15, 2023

Champaign, ILL.– As expected, Italian point guard Niccolo Moretti has signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid and is set to join the Fighting Illini Basketball program.

In the back half of his five-year tenure at Arkansas, Bret Bielema hired assistants straight from the National Football League and in 2023, he says he’s interested in doing so again. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 14, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois still hasn’t filled the assistant coach openings at the positions of outside linebacker and running backs and the Illini leader says he’s looking at the three-letter professional league for candidates.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 14, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini trailed by as many as 9 points in the second half, but rallied to win by 9, 75-66 behind 20 points from Dain Dainja and 19 from Matthew Mayer as they took down a red hot Michigan State team in Champaign. The Illini are now 12-5 and 3-3 in league play with a 3-game winning streak as they head to Minneapolis for a Monday tip from Williams Arena. 

Here’s a quick recap:

Even down by as many nine points early in the second half, Illinois rallied to knock down and match the physicality of Michigan State - the reigning Big Ten bully of physical play. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

January 14, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Call it a technical knockout for Illinois. 

By IlliniGuys Staff January 13, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

January 13, 2023

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

It’s been kind of quiet on the portal front since ECU OL transfer Avery Jones flipped his commitment from Illinois to Auburn and Bret Bielema flipped out on social media. Could this mean less work in the portal? And a couple more names have emerged as visitors this weekend.

In the spread offense with two inexperienced, freshman guards, Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins is serving as the traffic cop of where the basketball should go.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 13, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In the early and middle parts of what turned into a blowout win at Nebraska this week, it became seemingly obvious the Illinois true freshman point guard duo of Jayden Epps and Sencire Harris were seeing different things for the first time on the road.

Instead of panicking and guessing about what to run, where the basketball should go in its halfcourt offense and breaking off plays for 1-on-1 action, Coleman Hawkins reacted in the way a veteran was needed at that moment.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 13, 2023

David Olano, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound kicker from Naperville, Illinois, committed to Illinois in June of 2022. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 12, 2023

Illinois made its first 2023 addition via the transfer portal when safety Nicario Harper decided to transfer from Louisville to Illinois for his last year of eligibility.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 12, 2023

The Fighting Illini women's basketball team is ranked for the first time in 23 years.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

January 11, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy FIBA)

The morning after they beat Nebraska the Illini added another piece to the puzzle in Italian point guard Niccolo Moretti, who trained at the NBA Global Academy and DME Academy, announced that he would be joining the Fighting Illini for the spring semester. First reported by Tipton Edits and On3 Sports.