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

January 27, 2025

If you could bottle up the energy that the Illini had on Sunday against in state foe Northwestern, you could have a team that is ready to go somewhere. The Illini cruised to an 83-74 win, leading by 20 points the majority of the game before a Northwestern fake rally at the end. The Illini placed 6 players in double figures and 7 of them had 8 or more points as they moved to 14-6 and 6-4 in league play.

Here’s a recap:

These 3 Things

Energy Is Contagious

By IlliniGuys Staff January 27, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Illinois vs. Purdue Date […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 26, 2025

Illinois closed the deal with wide receiver Kenyon Alston on Orlando's Bishop Moore High School on Wednesday.  Alston had long been rumored to be an Illinois lean, so much so that fellow Class of 2026 QB Michael Clayton has been talking about him as a future teammate from the time of Clayton's commitment.  Alston is a big time get whose high 3 star ranking is a bit misleading given that he has 20+ high major offers including Florida State and Miami.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

Illinois first-year center Morez Johnson has a confidence-building performance in the in-state rivalry win over Northwestern.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 26, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If there’s a college basketball head coach who has seen what a motivated and angry Morez Johnson can do for a basketball team, it’s Northwestern’s Chris Collins.

Whether it’s been his first three years at St. Rita or his senior year at Thornton Township High School, Johnson’s high school career has been about an hour drive south on Highway 41 from the Northwestern University campus and Collins, who has had a connection to the state of Illinois practically his whole life, had heard about the Illini’s 6-foot-9 freshman big since about the time Johnson entered puberty.

By IlliniGuys Staff January 26, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema declined to get into specifics about assistant coaching contracts and was vague about staff retention for the 2025 season. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 26, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When it comes to the topic of retention of his 2024 coaching staff, Bret Bielema refused to get into specifics and was intentionally vague in his first media session in nearly a month. 

The Illinois head coach claimed Sunday he “for the most part, feel really good about” about the 10 primary assistant coaches to be back on his Illini staff when spring practices begin in late March and early April. 

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

January 26, 2025

The Illini are back in action on Sunday and will once again be short-handed with 7’1 center Tomislav Ivisic against Northwestern. The Wildcats beat the Illini in Evanston back in December by a 70-66 score in overtime behind 27 points from Nick Martinelli. This time Illinois has a sold-out home crowd and are hoping for a bit of revenge.

Here’s a look at the particulars.

Setting the Stage

#17 Illinois (13-6, 5-4) vs. Northwestern (12-7, 3-5)
Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 // 2 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Dave Revsine (Play-by-Play) & Jordan Taylor (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 25, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Fighting Illini men’s basketball team finds itself in a must-win situation as it prepares to face cross-state rival Northwestern after dropping two consecutive conference games against Michigan State and Maryland.

Thursday's loss against Maryland was witnessed by a familiar face

Illinois loses productive receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin but intends to make up their contribution with depth in the receivers room instead of instantly ready alpha personalities.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 25, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The irony of why Justin Stepp needed a change of scenery when he made the move from South Carolina to Illinois was his ability as a recruiter.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer wanted what he believed was a more dynamic recruiter in that role and Illinois head coach Bret Bielema believed that is exactly who he was getting when he took Stepp away from the Gamecocks coaching staff.

By IlliniGuys Staff January 25, 2025 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]

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

January 25, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill - For many Illini fans, we got out of bed this morning with a little less pep in our step.

That 91-70 beatdown by Maryland Thursday night left us feeling like we just had a Salmonella Special at the local diner before the game and we felt worse as the night went on.

There's no way to sugarcoat it; it was ugly.  But here's the good news:

It was only...one...game.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Orlando Sentinel)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp is standing out from the competition when it comes to securing talented recruits for the future of Illinois football.

The most recent addition to the Illini roster is Kenyon Alston, a 6-foot-2, 172-pound wide receiver from Orlando, Florida. Alston chose Illinois over offers from some of the top programs in college football, including Baylor, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Missouri, Penn State, Mississippi State, and West Virginia. These were no mere courtesy offers—these programs made substantial efforts to land Alston.

IlliniGuys spoke with Alston shortly after his commitment for an exclusive Q&A session.

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

January 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. The Illini were the bug on Thursday night as the Maryland Terrapins totally dominated Illinois by a 91-70 score, one of the 12 worst defeats for Illinois at home in the entirety of their program, going back 120 years. Julian Reese had 27 and 17, but Derik Queen’s 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals was even more impressive. Kasparas Jakucionis had 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, but also had 7 turnovers, many leading to Maryland runouts.

Here’s a look back at what we saw.

Illinois picked up a 25-point victory inside Welsh-Ryan Arena in the in-state rivalry matchup against Northwestern but accomplished it while its trio of star players sat the bench.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

EVANSTON, Ill. — With about three minutes remaining in what was a 29-point blowout, Kendall Bostic signaled to her head coach that she was ready to go back in the game.

Illinois head coach Shauna Green didn’t even look at her fifth-year center.