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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - CB/WR/Athlete Jason Duclona talks Illinois offer

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - CB/WR/Athlete Jason Duclona talks Illinois offer

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 11, 2022

The Fighting Illini coaching staff continues to recruit the rich state of Florida.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Morez Johnson Featured Update

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Morez Johnson Featured Update

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 10, 2022

You know...this job never amazes me

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“It meant a lot”: How Bret Bielema Coming Prepared to Tommy DeVito’s Home Visit Sold the Syracuse Transfer QB

“It meant a lot”: How Bret Bielema Coming Prepared to Tommy DeVito’s Home Visit Sold the Syracuse Transfer QB

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 10, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bret Bielema certainly came prepared for the home visit of the quarterback he was recruiting out of the transfer portal. 

The Illinois head coach, along with offensive line coach Bart Miller, arrived at the home of former Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito ready to go through the normal process with his parents, Tom Sr. and Alexandra and Tom, and sell everything that the Illini program could provide for the quarterback for his final year of eligibility. 

What Tommy DeVito, his parents and everybody in the Cedar Grove, N.J. home (a 25-minute drive from the home of MetLife Stadium, the location of the Illini coach’s last gig with the New York Giants) possibly didn’t expect was has been quickly learned around Champaign-Urbana as a classic Bret Bielema film session. 

“So, yeah, he just sits in this chair right next to me, pulls out this tablet and says ‘Okay, I want to show you something’,” DeVito said to IlliniGuys.com following his first media availability in Champaign since signing with Illinois. “I was immediately blown away.” 

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Trent Frazier on Left Knee Injury at Purdue: “I’ll be fine”

Trent Frazier on Left Knee Injury at Purdue: “I’ll be fine”

Illinois senior guard Trent Frazier promises he’ll “be ready for Sunday” when the No. 13 Illini host Northwestern despite suffering a scary knee injury late in the loss at No. 3 Purdue

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 10, 2022

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Even after laying on the Mackey Arena playing floor in a fetal position while clutching at his left knee, Trent Frazier knew he had a leadership point to make. 

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Illini-Indiana 2022 Game Moved to Friday Night

Illini-Indiana 2022 Game Moved to Friday Night

The Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday afternoon that the […]

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Sturdy's 3 Takeaways (+1) - Purdue Edition

Sturdy's 3 Takeaways (+1) - Purdue Edition

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

February 9, 2022

The Illini led Purdue by 2 at the break in Mackey Arena, but the Boilers would take advantage of some porous Illinois defense and some cold Illini shooting to take control and cruise to an 84-68 win and a tie at the top of the Big Ten standings. Jaden Ivey scored 26 and was dominant to lead the Boilers (21-3, 10-3). Illinois got 18 from Kofi Cockburn and 15 from Andre Curbelo as they fell to 17-6 and 10-3. 

Here’s what we saw:

These 3 Things +1

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Poison Ivey: Purdue’s Top Player Showcases His Lottery Pick Status in Blowout Win Over Illini

Poison Ivey: Purdue’s Top Player Showcases His Lottery Pick Status in Blowout Win Over Illini

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 9, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Yahoo Sports)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The final scoreboard at Mackey Arena did say otherwise but Purdue essentially left its home arena with a 1-0 victory. 

On Tuesday night, Purdue had one future lottery pick in the upcoming National Basketball Association draft in Jaden Ivey and Illinois didn’t. And the Illini didn’t have an individual or collective way to defensively contain arguably the best athlete in the Big Ten Conference on his way to a game-high 26 points in a 84-68 victory over Illinois. 

“That’s what they look like. For anybody who doesn’t know what a pro looks like, that’s what a professional basketball player looks like,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. “It’s nice when you have them and you can capitalize on having them. In my opinion, he’s a different level athletically than anybody we’ve seen.”

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Big 2nd Half Lifts Purdue Past Illinois & Into First Place Tie

Big 2nd Half Lifts Purdue Past Illinois & Into First Place Tie

IlliniGuys Staff February 8, 2022 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - […]

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Illini Basketball Preview - Illini at Purdue

Illini Basketball Preview - Illini at Purdue

Connor Cagley, IlliniGuys Basketball Writer February 8, 2022 Essentials […]

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Meet Paxton Warden

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Meet Paxton Warden

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 7, 2022

Class: Glenbard West 2022 Walk-on 

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Column: Is This The End Of Duke?  And The ACC?

Column: Is This The End Of Duke? And The ACC?

February 7, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ball Durham)

Gosh darnit, you gotta give ESPN credit.  Did you watch any of Saturday's coverage of the Duke-North Carolina game?  They're doing their best to give Mike Krzyzewski the sendoff you expected and that he so richly deserves.

Like him or not, the venerable Duke coach is an icon.  More wins than any other coach, five NCAA championships, a dozen Final Four appearances, and 15 ACC titles highlight an illustrious career the likes of which we may never see again.  He took over a proud Duke team at the tender age of 33 and made it his own and over the past four decades built it into the pre-eminent college basketball program in the nation.

Krzyzewski announced his retirement last offseason after the Blue Devils missed the NCAA tournament for just the second time since 1983 and the farewell tour has been pretty much as expected.  However, there has been one thing missing:

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Sturdy's 3 Takeaways - Indiana Edition

Sturdy's 3 Takeaways - Indiana Edition

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

February 6, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy The Crimson Quarry)

The Illini trailed by 2 at the break despite Indiana star Trayce Jackson-Davis sitting most of teh half with 2 fouls. But the Illini came out in the second half with soem lockdown defense and then finally hit some shots from deep and cruised to a 74-57 win in Bloomington. Trent Frazier led the way with 23 points and 4 assists, while Kofi Cockburn added 17 points and 8 rebounds for the Illini (17-5, 10-2). 

Indiana got 13 from Race Thompson and 12 from Xavier Johnson, but leading scorer Jackson-Davis had just 6 as they fell to 16-6 and 7-5 in league play. 

Here’s a look back. 

These 3 Things:

Second Half Domination - I asked Brad Underwood if it was a great halftime adjustment, but the reality is that it was really just execution.

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Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Roadkill Massacre at Indiana

Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Roadkill Massacre at Indiana

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuys February 6, 2022 It was an […]

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“I’m back”: Palczewski Injects Life into Illini O-Line After 6th Season Granted by NCAA

“I’m back”: Palczewski Injects Life into Illini O-Line After 6th Season Granted by NCAA

Illinois announced the return of five-year offensive line starter Alex Palczewski for another year of college football where he’ll bring stability to a critical position for Illini head coach Bret Bielema.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 5, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Less than three days after Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said he and his staff had a “trick up his sleeve” regarding the return of a veteran player, we now know that move involved bringing back five-year starter Alex Palczewski for a sixth season. 

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Old, Veteran Experience Allow For Illini’s Second Half Dominance in Bloomington

Old, Veteran Experience Allow For Illini’s Second Half Dominance in Bloomington

Illinois relied on experience of veteran stars to carry them in a second half where they outscored Indiana 40-21 in the Illini’s largest winning margin in Bloomington since 1956. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 5, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois’ dominating performance in Bloomington’s Assembly Hall is a product of what Brad Underwood has been preaching for years. Old teams win a lot and win big in college basketball. 

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