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Sturdy's Basketball Rewind - Sweeping Iowa

Sturdy's Basketball Rewind - Sweeping Iowa

Brad Sturdy, Illini Uber Insider & Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio

March 11, 2024

The Illini beat the Hawkeyes on Senior Day in Iowa City by a 73-61 score behind 25 points from Terrence Shannon to finish the regular season at 23-8 and 14-6 in Big Ten play. Quincy Guerrier had 14 points and 13 rebounds to show the spark from earlier in the season, while Marcus Domask added 11 and Dain Dainja scored 9 off the bench to make the difference as the Illini held the high-powered Hawkeyes in check, Iowa shooting just 36% overall and 33% from 3-point range in their lowest scoring output of the season. 

It was a season of "what ifs" regarding the Shannon suspension, the late leads blown and just ‘one more player’, but this was a successful regular season that continued down the path of setting yourself up for a positive tournament run. Now, they need to complete the run. 

These 3 Things

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The Farrell Files Illinois - Under Ranked Hire & Under Ranked Possible Commit

The Farrell Files Illinois - Under Ranked Hire & Under Ranked Possible Commit

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

March 11, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the new hire at OLB and look at an impending commitment who could be under ranked.

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Illini Defense Suffocates Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye in Regular Season Finale

Illini Defense Suffocates Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye in Regular Season Finale

No. 12 Illinois leads nearly from start to finish […]

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OLB Coach Clint Sintim Completes Bielema’s 2024 Illini Coaching Staff 

OLB Coach Clint Sintim Completes Bielema’s 2024 Illini Coaching Staff 

Clint Sintim has been hired to be Illinois’ third […]

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Sturdy's Illini Basketball Preview - Expedition into Hostile Territory

Sturdy's Illini Basketball Preview - Expedition into Hostile Territory

Brad Sturdy, Illini Uber Insider and Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio

March 10, 2024

Over the past few years, the rivalry between Illinois and Iowa has grown even more, in large part because they have been two teams near the top of the Big Ten. On Sunday the game has massive implications for both teams, as the Illini are looking to solidify a top 4 seed in the NCAA tournament with another win, while the Hawkeyes are looking to play their way into the NCAA tourney during the last week. 

Although Iowa City isn’t the madhouse it normally is this season, expect a great crowd and hostile environment on the road. 

Setting the Stage

#12 Illinois (22-8, 13-6 B1G) at Iowa (18-12, 10-9 B1G) 

March 10, 2024 // 6 p.m. CT // Iowa City, Iowa // Carver-Hawkeye Arena 

TV: FS1 – Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-Play) & Stephen Bardo (Analyst) 

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notables

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Michael Thomas III's Journey Navigating Top College Choices and the Illini Connection

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Michael Thomas III's Journey Navigating Top College Choices and the Illini Connection

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 9, 2024

The Fighting Illini have found a new spark with the arrival of new football coach Justin Stepp. Emerging talents like wide receiver Michael Thomas III are also making waves, particularly with the recent revelation of his top five college choices.

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Who Are College Basketball's New Bluebloods?

Who Are College Basketball's New Bluebloods?

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

March 9, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Associated Press)

We spend a lot of time these days talking about the massive shift in college football that's coming this summer as the Big 10, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 expand and the Pac-12 shrinks into near oblivion.  But change in college basketball has been in the making for a while.  

There are six blueblood schools that have ruled the game: UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Indiana.  From the launch of the NCAA tournament in 1939 until 2012, they combined to dominate with 36 national championships and 86 Final Four appearances.  They won the most, they recruited the best, and they had the biggest names.  Allen, Knight, Krzyzewski, McCracken, Rupp, Smith, Williams, Wooden...Alcindor, Alford, Hansbrough, Jordan, Laettner, Thomas, Walton... just to name a few.

They were so dominant that, in the nearly half-century between 1963 and 2012, there were only four years in which none of them appeared in the Final Four.  If it was April, one of them was stealing the spotlight, whether they won it all or not.

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The Farrell Files Illinois - In State & Out of State Target Updates

The Farrell Files Illinois - In State & Out of State Target Updates

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

March 8, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at something odd with one 2025 in state target and an out of state prospect who will be visiting Illinois and another Big Ten school.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illinois Basketball Commit Jeremiah Fears Continues to Shine on the Court

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illinois Basketball Commit Jeremiah Fears Continues to Shine on the Court

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 8, 2024

In the midst of the ongoing success of the Illinois men's basketball team, Illini basketball recruiting efforts continue to yield promising results.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Morez Johnson's High School Journey Ended in Super-Sectional Championship Loss

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Morez Johnson's High School Journey Ended in Super-Sectional Championship Loss

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting March 8, 2024 […]

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Season Over: Illini Build 14-Point First Quarter Lead But Can’t Survive Maryland’s Rally

Season Over: Illini Build 14-Point First Quarter Lead But Can’t Survive Maryland’s Rally

The 2023-24 campaign for Illinois women’s basketball ends in […]

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Heat Checks and Hail Marys – The Future of College Sports is Brighter than Today

Heat Checks and Hail Marys – The Future of College Sports is Brighter than Today

Mike Cagley, Co-Host of Big Sports Radio and IlliniGuys […]

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The Farrell Files Illinois - New Football Prospects

The Farrell Files Illinois - New Football Prospects

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

March 6, 2024

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

I’m this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a few interesting prospects who have visits set up.

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Sturdy's Basketball Rewind - Learning from Losing

Sturdy's Basketball Rewind - Learning from Losing

Brad Sturdy, Illini Uber-Insider & Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio

March 6, 2024

There are only a few games left in the season for the Fighting Illini, and yet they are still learning from these close losses. After falling to Purdue 77-71 in a game where Illinois once again held a lead late only to see the Boilers hit everything down the stretch and pull out the 6-point win. 

At some point, they need to learn how to win these games or when it happens in the NCAA tourney it will mean the end of the road for these Seniors. 

The question becomes, what can they learn, and can they learn in time? 

These 3 Things

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“It’s pick your poison”: Illini Decide Edey Wasn’t Beating Them in Second Half; Loyer & Smith Answer Challenge

“It’s pick your poison”: Illini Decide Edey Wasn’t Beating Them in Second Half; Loyer & Smith Answer Challenge

Despite being up six at halftime, Illinois coaching staff elected to switch defensive coverages to limit likely back-to-back Wooden Award winner Zach Edey and Purdue’s guards bury Illini.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 6, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — The plan for Illinois’ defense switched on Tuesday night from one half of play to the final 20 minutes of action. 

After the halftime break, Illinois’ coaches decided that if your name wasn’t Zach Edey, you now were formally invited to do everything you could to win this basketball game. This is all the sophomore guard duo of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, along with Purdue head coach Matt Painter needed to see. 

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