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Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Insider & Co-Host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 9, 2025

The Illini dominated Minnesota on Saturday evening in Minneapolis behind a dominant performance from Freshmen Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionis, and a spirited effort from big man Tomislav Ivisic, who was not expected to play.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Illinois at Wisconsin […]

Injuries and illness didn't slow No. 23 Illinois as […]

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

February 8, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini are headed to the North when they are in Minneapolis to take on Minnesota Saturday night in a game that is a must win. The Illini are still battling injuries and illness as Brad Underwood continues to search for the right lineup combinations and system tweak to get this squad clicking on all cylinders. The Golden Gophers are trying to get into the Big Ten tournament and have a daunting schedule coming up.

Here’s a look at the matchup.

Setting the Stage

#23 Illinois (15-8, 7-6) at Minnesota (12-11, 4-8)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 // 5 p.m. CT // Minneapolis, Minn. // Williams Arena
TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play) & Shon Morris (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable

*Head coach Brad Underwood is

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 8, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Last weekend, Illinois hosted one of the nation's top recruits, Jaylan Mitchell. A five-star prospect per ESPN. Mitchell is ranked fifth in the country in the class of 2027, and Illinois is a program he has a strong connection and ties with.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 7, 2025

Under Bret Bielema, Illinois has always been ready to make a late addition and this year fits that pattern as Oak Park Fenwick linebacker Jack Paris committed to the Illini after decommitting from the Air Force Academy just a few days before the late signing day.  Paris had no high major offers but after compiling 91 tackles, two sacks, and an impressive 17.5 tackles for loss in his senior year, Illinois took a chance on the up and comer just as they have for Matthew Bailey, Mac Resetich and Tanner Heckel in recent years.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 7, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois added to its 2026 football recruiting class, which now stands at nine commitments, with the addition of Kaedyn Cobbs, a 6-foot-0, 195-pound defensive back. Cobbs plays safety and has occasionally lined up as a linebacker.

Illinois has four veteran presences in the starting lineup that are coaching and finding plays to be made on their own without being dictated to by third-year head coach Shauna Green.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 7, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If you’ve noticed Illinois be more relaxed, calm and even less vocal on the sideline this season, there’s a logical reason.

This Illini squad which still features a starting lineup of two fifth-year players and two four-year players has long officially gotten to the point where they don’t need play-to-play coaching. And even Shauna Green is starting to admit its most beautiful basketball is being played when this team can go off the script and just play by feel.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 6, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

February 6, 2025

The Illini once again got off to a slow start but this time were unable to overcome a poor shooting first half in an 82-73 loss at Rutgers. The Illini trailed by 17 points in the first half before storming back to take a lead, but they could never get any distance and a late Rutgers run led by future lottery pick Dylan Harper gave the Scarlet Knights the win. Will Riley showed flashes in the second half, scoring 11 second half points to help Illinois, but Harper had 15 in the second stanza to counteract Riley’s heroics.

Illinois falls to 15-8 and 7-6 in league play as they head to Minnesota on Saturday before a brutal stretch to close the season.

These 3(5) Things:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 6, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Ohio State may have won the 2025 college football national championship, but Illinois got a big victory of its own by landing three-star linebacker Cam Thomas from Buckeye country in West Chester, Ohio. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound standout chose the Fighting Illini over a host of Power Five programs, including Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Indiana, Duke, NC State, Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

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

By IlliniGuys Staff February 5, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois will boast arguably the most depth in its defensive front this spring than it ever has produced in the Bret Bielema era.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 5, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The offseason objective of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and his defensive line coach Terrance Jamison was to completely overhaul a defensive front that admittedly already was seeing depth issues in the 2024 campaign.

Therefore, Bielema and Jamison both went to a familiar stomping grounds for success in the transfer portal by raiding the University of Wisconsin program.

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

February 5, 2025

The Illini are headed to Piscataway on Wednesday night to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in what was expected to be a battle between 3 of the top Freshmen in the country. But Dylan Harper is likely out and although Ace Bailey and Kasparas Jakucionis continue to impress as lottery picks, Illini Freshman Will Riley and Morez Johnson took center stage in their last outing. Even without Harper, this is a fantastic group of youngsters.

Here’s a look at this matchup.

Setting the Stage

#23 Illinois (15-7, 7-5) at Rutgers (11-11, 4-7)
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Piscataway, N.J. // Jersey Mike’s Arena
TV: BTN – Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play) & Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas