Featured

Can Illinois Be a Final Four Contender with Defensive Struggles? Underwood Suggests Yes

Can Illinois Be a Final Four Contender with Defensive Struggles? Underwood Suggests Yes

Despite having a KenPom.com defensive efficiency rating of No. 94, Illinois is still near the top of a Big Ten Conference that has more offensive weapons than previous seasons.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 29, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Despite Brad Underwood knowing his team was likely to win, a perfectly completed action resulting in a three-point shot by Mike Mitchell Jr. resulted in the Illinois seventh year head coach screaming at the top of his lungs and slamming his right fist on the scorer's table next to his bench. 

During the post-game radio interview following the victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night, Illinois color commentator Deon Thomas attempted to explain the 97 points allowed by the Illini by complimenting the home team's defensive overall efficiency. 

Read
Sturdy's Minnesota Rewind - Defense Optional

Sturdy's Minnesota Rewind - Defense Optional

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

February 29, 2024

(Cover photo Joe Pickrell/IlliniGuys)

What we saw on Wednesday night was a legendary offensive performance from a pair of teams that just didn’t miss. The Illini won it 105-97 against Minnesota behind what was the best offensive performance in a Big Ten game for Illinois in at least 25 years. But on the other end, the defense was an issue. Minnesota shot 60% overall and 70% from 3, becoming the first high major team to lose while doing that in over 15 years, and perhaps longer. 

Terrence Shannon had 29 points and 6 rebounds while Marcus Domask had 22 points 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Coleman Hawkins had 20 points to lead Illinois to a 21-7 mark and a 12-5 record in Big Ten play. Minnesota got 29 from Dawson Garcia and 23 from Cam Christie as they fell to 17-11 and 8-9 in the B1G. 

These 3 Things

The Defense was Bad, but…..

Read
Illinois Extends Official Offer to 2026 Prospect Andrew Jensen

Illinois Extends Official Offer to 2026 Prospect Andrew Jensen

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 29, 2024

Champaign, IL - Illinois played host to 2026 prospect, Andrew Jensen, a 6-9, 205-pound Power Forward hailing from Kaukauna, WI. Jensen, on an unofficial visit to the university, received more than just a glimpse into the Illini basketball program – he left with an official offer in hand.

Read
#13 Illini Outscore Gophers In 105-97 Shootout

#13 Illini Outscore Gophers In 105-97 Shootout

By IlliniGuys Staff February 28, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Read
Jer’Zhan Newton Confirms He Played on Broken Foot for Back Half of Illini’s 2023 Season

Jer’Zhan Newton Confirms He Played on Broken Foot for Back Half of Illini’s 2023 Season

Former Illinois defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton, who is a projected first round pick in 2024 NFL Draft, confirmed Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine he played last season on a broken foot.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 28, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS — If you’re watching tape of the final six games of Illinois’ 2023 football season, you’re watching Consensus All-American Jer’Zhan Newton play on a broken bone in his foot.

Read
Sturdy's Illini Basketball Preview - Minnesota

Sturdy's Illini Basketball Preview - Minnesota

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

February 28, 2024

The Illini continue their Big Ten slate on Wednesday night when the upstart Minnesota Golden Gophers come to the State Farm Center. The Gophers are one of the surprise teams in the Big Ten and country this season and have positioned themselves for a postseason berth with a solid finish. The Illini are looking solidify NCAA seeding and double bye in the Big Ten tournament, with an outside chance at a Big Ten Championship

Tip-off is at 8PM CST and here is what we are looking for. 

Setting the Stage

#13 Illinois (20-7, 11-5 B1G) vs. Minnesota (17-10, 8-8 B1G) 

Feb. 28, 2024 // 8 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center 

TV: BTN – Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play), Stephen Bardo (Analyst), Andy Katz (Sideline) 

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

Notables

Read
Finding His Chee: Canadian OF Cameron Chee-Aloy Making Instant Freshman Impact

Finding His Chee: Canadian OF Cameron Chee-Aloy Making Instant Freshman Impact

Cameron Chee-Aloy has an eight-game hitting streak to start his collegiate baseball career after the Toronto native was one of the most coveted signees in Dan Hartleb’s Illini program in several years.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 28, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — The way anybody can tell the Illinois baseball coaching staff loves Cameron Chee-Aloy is where he was listed on the Illini lineup card. 

By Chee-Aloy’s third collegiate baseball game, the Toronto native was the first name that Illini head coach Dan Hartleb wrote at the top of the lineup and the 18-year veteran head coach doesn’t typically race out to put a true freshman in the leadoff spot.

Read
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Zion Gross Basketball Prospect from Joliet West HS

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Zion Gross Basketball Prospect from Joliet West HS

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 27, 2024

Zion Gross is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Joliet West High School in the Chicagoland area. Despite not being highly ranked in the state of Illinois for the class of 2025, Gross has proven himself as a formidable player with a possible bright future at the next level.

Read
Illini Legendary Wrestling Coach Mark Johnson Excited to See Cole Rusk in Orange & Blue

Illini Legendary Wrestling Coach Mark Johnson Excited to See Cole Rusk in Orange & Blue

Former Illini wrestling head coach Mark Johnson recruited Steve Rusk from his home area of the Quad Cities almost 30 years ago and is thrilled Steve’s son is a graduate transfer for Illini football. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 27, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — During his first week after moving into his residence at the University of Illinois, Cole Rusk was told there was a delivery for him on the front stoop at their family home in Rock Island.

Rusk immediately thought this was strange until he was told who the gift came from. 

“My dad told me that the next time I get home there was an Illini shirt waiting for me,” said Cole Rusk, the newest tight end signee for Illinois out of the transfer portal. “And then (my dad) said it was from his coach at Illinois and I was like ‘oh, that’s so awesome’.” 

Read
The Farrell Files Illinois - 2 Key 2025 Targets & 1 Emerging 2026 Star

The Farrell Files Illinois - 2 Key 2025 Targets & 1 Emerging 2026 Star

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

February 26, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll take a look at two key 2025 targets and a 2026 emerging quickly.

Read
Pursuit of Illinois Women's Basketball Recruit Divine Bourrage Intensifies with South Carolina Pursuing

Pursuit of Illinois Women's Basketball Recruit Divine Bourrage Intensifies with South Carolina Pursuing

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 26, 2024

Amidst the buzz surrounding Illinois women's basketball recruit, Divine Bourrage, the 6-foot–0 point guard from Davenport North has become a focal point of attention in the world of collegiate basketball. With an impressive journey that has led to 34 Division I scholarship offers. 

Read
Sturdy's Rewind - More Bite in this Defense

Sturdy's Rewind - More Bite in this Defense

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

February 26, 2024

Look, I’m not going to tell you that this Illinois defense is becoming elite like Houston or Tennessee, or even very good. But it was better on Saturday when they took on the high scoring Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa scored 85 points, but in a 74-possession game for a top 12 offense, that isn’t bad. But the second half was much better. The Hawkeyes scored 1.077 PPP in the second half, and after Brad Underwood subbed at the 18-minute mark, the Hawks were under 1 point per possession for the remainder of the second half. That’s very good defensively against that team.

And perhaps even more importantly, they forced Iowa into mostly difficult shots. Although the Hawks shot 62% in the first half from 2-point range, they shot just 34% in the second half on mostly the same shots. They also only allowed 12 3-point attempts, essentially playing the type of defense that Brad Underwood loves. Diving deeper, Iowa was 12-19 at the rim, the fewest shots at the rim that Illinois has allowed since the Rutgers game, back on December 2nd. That’s a big improvement. 

Read

"They make you look like that”: Shauna Green Applauds Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Offense She’d Like to Replicate in Champaign

All Illinois head coach Shauna Green could do after a game where they gave up 101 points was hope and believe one day her Illini offense can come close to looking like 2023-24 Iowa. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 25, 2024

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Imagine being an opposing head coach and coming out of the 40-minute assignment of Caitlin Clark’s Iowa onslaught with a smile on your face after giving up 101 points. 

Read
No. 4 Hawkeyes Nation’s Best Offense Flies Past Illini 101-85

No. 4 Hawkeyes Nation’s Best Offense Flies Past Illini 101-85

After giving up a 30-point opening quarter, Illinois couldn’t properly settle down in the final 30 minutes during a 101-85 loss at No. 4 Iowa on Sunday afternoon. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 25, 2024

IOWA CITY, Iowa — While the motto for this 2023-24 season has been for Illinois women’s basketball to ignore the start and focus on the finish, its 40 minutes at Carver-Hawkeye resembled its season progress. 

A bad start that saw No. 4 Iowa rack up 30 points in the opening quarter never allowed Illinois to maintain any momentum toward a viable comeback effort in a 101-85 loss for the upset-minded Illini on Sunday afternoon. 

Read
Heat Checks & Hail Marys - Pivotal Victory Over Iowa

Heat Checks & Hail Marys - Pivotal Victory Over Iowa

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

Read