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By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 23, 2025

(Editor's Note: Larry spent more than two decades as an anchor/correspondent for CNN Sports, Turner Sports, and NBA TV. He's a veteran of nearly 70 major championships worldwide and is the studio host of the WNBA on Ion Friday night show, which resumes on May 16th.)

--First off, great to see the IlliniGuys members who came out to have a beverage or two. Lots of nuggets to be had at the table and just good to say hello to some of you and put a face to a name (and even meet your kids).

--MSG is as advertised. Most people I've talked to have found it amazing that, of all the events I've covered worldwide, I had never been there. It's a very different experience from the time you walk in the door. Recent upgrades make it much more modern than I anticipated and the seating layout is outstanding. Illinois should try to play there as much as often (Underwood says this is a goal) and all fans should make an effort to get there at least once.

By IlliniGuys Staff  February 23, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff February 22, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 22, 2025

All season long this looked like a marquee game between two elite programs and team, but while the Blue Devils continue to dominate the ACC, the Illini are reeling due to injuries, illness and youth and don’t look like the same team they were just 6 weeks ago.

For now though the Illini appear to finally be (mostly) through the flu bug and mono issues and hope to have a lineup ready to compete on Saturday night from Madison Square Garden. Having won the past 2 seasons against high level competition (#2 Texas and Final Four FAU) they hope the magic can happen once again. If you throw in the Tevian Jones game which led to a shocking upset of Maryland, the Garden has been kind to the Illini recently.

Here’s a look at the matchup.

Setting the Stage

SentinelOne Classic
Illinois (17-10, 9-8 B1G) vs. #3 Duke (23-3, 15-1 ACC)
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 // 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) // New York, N.Y. // Madison Square Garden TV: FOX – Gus Johnson (Play-by-Play), Jim Jackson (Analyst), & Allison Williams (Sideline) Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 22, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – As the college basketball season approaches its final stretch, a new kind of anticipation is starting to build. Not for March Madness, but for what we call here at IlliniGuys "Portal Kombat." The NCAA transfer portal is set to heat up and it's that time of year when insiders like Brad Sturdy and I provide the scoop on potential transfers is one of their favorite times of the calendar year.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 21, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Heading into the season, this was expected to be one of Illinois head coach Brad Underwood’s best shooting teams. Some of his most successful coaching years have come when his rosters were filled with shooters.

To date, however, this year’s Illinois squad ranks 17th out of 18 Big Ten teams in three-point shooting, hitting just 31 percent from beyond the arc. The conference leaders are Ohio State (38.3 percent), Purdue (37.7 percent) and Iowa (37.5 percent). With matchups against both the Boilermakers and Hawkeyes still ahead, it doesn’t get any easier for Illinois.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 21, 2025

Just two years ago, many questioned Bret Bielema's ability to recruit top-tier talent. He had always done well with three-star prospects, which is by no means a bad thing—many top programs are built on three-star players, check rosters.

However, Illinois has capitalized on its recent success, and it's important to note that the program is no longer struggling to land high-profile recruits. What impresses me most as a recruiting analyst is hearing from the parents and players Illinois has beaten out for these commitments—and why they chose Illinois.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 20, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) #25/RV Illinois at #3/3 […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 20, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Don’t you just love recruiting? Watching Illinois play two or three times a week, you have to wonder, how do they maintain such strong relationships with high-profile recruits from afar while never missing a game?

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema valued preserving what continuity he had when needing to make another coaching change at the outside linebacker/pass rusher specialist spot of his staff.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 20, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Given the choice of continuity versus another national search for replacement assistant coach, Bret Bielema ultimately went with the idea of promoting a familiar face.

With Clint Sintim’s one-year tenure as outside linebackers coach ending when him eventually taking an open linebackers coaching job at Colorado State, Illinois star pass rusher Gabe Jacas was staring down the idea of having four different positional coaches during his four-year Illini playing career.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 19, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – AJ Marks, a 5-foot-11 defensive back from IMG Academy in the class of 2026, has named his top 10 schools that remain in contention for the three-star recruit.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 19, 2025

The Illini went to Madison as a shell of the team we saw 6 weeks ago. Injuries and illness have run rampant through this team to the point they didn’t even shake hands during the post game. But that doesn’t matter and nobody is going to feel sorry for them. The Illini were humbled 95-74 by a hot Wisconsin team led by Jon Tonje, who scored every which way possible and finished with 31 points.

Illinois got some good minutes from Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn as he led them with 17 points, but this was not a good performance otherwise.

These 3 (4) Things

The Defense has to Change 

By IlliniGuys Staff February 18, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]