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Underwood “has a hard time” Stomaching Illini’s Lack of Toughness in Loss

Underwood “has a hard time” Stomaching Illini’s Lack of Toughness in Loss

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The word soft being thrown around after games at State Farm Center is becoming a little too common for Illinois head coach Brad Underwood to handle.

Following a 83-79 loss to No. 11 Arizona Saturday, the Illini fifth-year head coach found himself calling his team that four-letter word to describe his basketball team in clearly the most frustrated Underwood looked and sounded since the loss to Missouri in the 2019 Braggin’ Rights Game.

“Put it in all caps. Softness. Soft,” Underwood stated. “Have you guys ever known my teams to be that? And that I have a hard time with. When people are taking your ball and we’re not tough enough to get a stop on a good player when we need to, that’s something I gotta get right.”

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Sturdy's Four Takeaways - Arizona Edition

Sturdy's Four Takeaways - Arizona Edition

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

December 12, 2021

The State Farm Center was rocking and Trent Frazier was rolling, but the Illini fell to #1 NET ranked Arizona 83-79 in a high level basketball game. Frazier led Illinois with 27 points and 5 steals, while Alfonso Plummer continued his hot shooting with 25 points, but Ben Mathurin scored 30 to lead an Arizona team that moved to 9-0 on the season.

These 3 Things...

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Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Wildcats Deny Illini Victory

Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Wildcats Deny Illini Victory

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy December 12, 2021 The Arizona Wildcats […]

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Illini come up short against #11 Arizona, 83-79

Illini come up short against #11 Arizona, 83-79

IlliniGuys Staff December 11, 2021 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Trent […]

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Illini Basketball Preview - Illini vs Arizona

Illini Basketball Preview - Illini vs Arizona

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer December 11, 2021 The […]

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Investigating Illini’s Transfer Portal Options: Quarterback

Investigating Illini’s Transfer Portal Options: Quarterback

Former Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito has decided to transfer to Illinois and will compete for the starting job in the 2022 season. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 11, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Let’s be very clear about this very early, Bret Bielema doesn’t need my help, will never require my help and Lord knows he shouldn’t ever ask for my help in identifying talent. 

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“It’s a process”: The Continuing Mystery Surrounding Andre Curbelo’s Status

“It’s a process”: The Continuing Mystery Surrounding Andre Curbelo’s Status

Illinois sophomore point guard Andre Curbelo continues to categorized as inactive with the reasoning for his absence being publicly withheld. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 11, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois will likely be, once again, without one of its star pieces for a matchup against a Top 15 opponent this weekend with the reason and timetable being a mystery. 

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Illini’s Newest Tommy Boy: QB Tommy DeVito Selects Illinois

Illini’s Newest Tommy Boy: QB Tommy DeVito Selects Illinois

Former Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito has decided to transfer […]

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Recruiting:  Coveted big man on campus this weekend

Recruiting: Coveted big man on campus this weekend

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

December 10, 2021

Akil Watson, a 6-foot-9, 200-pound small forward from Roselle, New Jersey, is one of the nation's top forwards, ranked nationally in the top 60 in the 2023 class. It is no longer a secret that the Illinois basketball staff has put themselves in the best position in over a decade when it comes to recruiting. They are consistently landing top four or five recruits, which will pay dividends on the court. 

Watson is a recruit Illinois has put the hard press on and is a prospect this staff would love to land.  This weekend, it is Watson who will take a very hard look at Illinois with a visit to campus and a deeper dive into all that this program - and the U of I community - has to offer.

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Recruiting:  IlliniGuys.com Catches Up With 2022 WR Shawn Miller

Recruiting: IlliniGuys.com Catches Up With 2022 WR Shawn Miller

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

December 9, 2021

Shawn Miller is a 2022 6-foot-1, 190-pound wide receiver from Scottsdale, Arizona, who plays at IMG Academy in Florida and who committed to the Illini early mainly due to how the staff made him a priority.

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Illini Bow Out of NCAA Tournament With Loss To Nebraska

Illini Bow Out of NCAA Tournament With Loss To Nebraska

IlliniGuys Staff December 9, 2021 AUSTIN, Texas -- The […]

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Recruiting class retrospective

Recruiting class retrospective

I used to write short reviews of our incoming recruits for a different website, and over the years I've found it fun to look back and see where I was right or wrong.  This year, I decided to let everyone else in on the fun with each of the members of Illinois' outgoing class.

Tony Adams- Before:  I wrote how much I loved how this young man hits from the safety position.  He has a pretty good film as a wide receiver, but if you put him at that position you'd be wasting his biggest asset.  I can see why he doesn't have many high major offers due to the lack of competition and his difficult projection because he has the size of a corner but he only played safety in high school and that appears to fit his strengths.

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Recruiting:  Illini Pursuing 2023 SG from Florida

Recruiting: Illini Pursuing 2023 SG from Florida

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

December , 2021

Kris Parker courtesy newsbreak.com

Kris Parker, a 6-foot-6, 170-pound shooting guard from Quincy, Florida

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Ayo To Return for Jersey Ceremony Next Month

Ayo To Return for Jersey Ceremony Next Month

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) December 8, 2021 Champaign, […]

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Notable Quarterbacks in the Transfer Portal

Notable Quarterbacks in the Transfer Portal

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

December , 2021

The season is over now for the Fighting Illini, but this staff knows a key position to take the next step is finding a quality signal caller who can lead Illinois to the top of the West Division of the Big Ten. Here are several key players in the portal. 

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