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

November 25, 2024

The Illini had a quick 1-day turnaround as they get ready to face Arkansas-Little Rock, now known as just Little Rock, on Monday night. It’s a great preparation for NCAA turnarounds and travel, as the Illini will then head to Kansas City for a tough matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Little Rock will be the toughest home opponent that the Illini have seen this season from a talent standpoint and are picked to win the OVC.

Let's look at the particulars.

Setting the Stage

#25 Illinois (4-1) vs. Little Rock (3-3)
Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 // 8 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: Big Ten Network – Mike Hall (Play-by-Play), Bruce Weber (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notable

-No. 25 Illinois (4-1) continues a stretch of what will be four games in nine days across three different cities, hosting Little Rock Monday night at State Farm Center (8 p.m. CT/BTN). This is Illinois’ lone 1-day prep of the regular season, following Saturday afternoon’s 87-40 win over UMES.

-Illinois has won all four of its home games thus far by outscoring opponents by an average of 34 points. Overall, the Illini carry a nine-game non-conference home winning streak.

-Brad Underwood is one victory away from tying J. Craig Ruby (1923-36) for fifth place on the Illinois all-time coaching wins list. Calling Monday’s game for Big Ten Network is Bruce Weber, who ranks third on that list with 210 wins during his nine seasons in Champaign (2004-12).

-Up next, Illinois will head to Kansas City to face No. 20 Arkansas in the Thanksgiving Hoops Showcase. It will air nationally on CBS at 3 p.m., after the Chicago Bears-Detroit Lions NFL game.

-Newcomers to the Illini roster have accounted for 90.7% of the team’s scoring so far (401 of 442 total points), with UI freshmen accounting for 37.3% of those points (165). Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks among the top teams nationally in: 3-pointers per game (9th in NCAA, 11.6), 3-point attempts per game (1st, 35.0), total rebounds per game (2nd, 49.0), offensive rebounds per game (18th, 15.0) defensive rebounds per game (3rd, 34.0), and rebound margin (7th, +14.8).

-Monday’s contest is the fourth meeting in the series between Illinois and Little Rock. • The Fighting Illini are 3-0 all-time vs. Little Rock, with all three victories coming at State Farm Center. • Head coach Lou Henson’s No. 7-ranked Flyin’ Illini defeated Little Rock 107-88 in the first matchup in the series, Dec. 10, 1988. Henson and the Illini beat the Trojans again, 83-72, on Dec. 15, 1990. In the most recent meeting in the series, head coach Bruce Weber led the No. 11 Illini to a 75-49 win on Dec. 5, 2005. Last season, the Illini opened up their run to the Elite Eight with a victory over OVC champion Morehead State, who beat Little Rock to get their bid.

A Little About Little Rock…

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

looks at the game-winning touchdown pass from Luke Altmyer to Pat Bryant from the perspective of the confusing Rutgers defensive philosophy on this 4th-and-13 play.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 24, 2024

The prevent defense was given that particular name because yes, it does prevent something from happening and that thing almost always is a deep throw normally down the middle of the field. 

Here’s the problem: IlliniGuys.com, much like we expect many Illini fans, have watched the 40-yard game-winning touchdown from Luke Altmyer to Pat Bryant numerous time since Saturday afternoon and it’s simply always going to be unclear what the Rutgers defense is trying to prevent here. 

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

November 24, 2024

There have been some laughers at the State Farm Center, but few reached the level of the domination of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday afternoon as the Illini cruised to an 87-40. As Brad Underwood noted post game, the most exciting play of the game was the video board highlight of the Pat Bryant run to the endzone against Rutgers. Nevertheless, the Illini took care of business and continue on their collision course with Arkansas on Thursday.

These 3 Things:

Improving Defense -

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 24, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On signing day last week, Illinois basketball fans noticed one expected announcement didn't send in his letter. Brandon Lee, a committed 6-foot-4, 180-pound combo guard from Hillside, New Jersey, delayed sending in his Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement.

However, Lee, who attends The Patrick School, officially made his commitment on November 19, solidifying his plans to join the Fighting Illini next season.

By IlliniGuys Staff November 23, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant scored a 40-yard touchdown reception with four seconds left to lift No. 25 Illinois over Rutgers 38-31. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 23, 2024

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — A 40-yard touchdown pass from Luke Altmyer to Pat Bryant on a 4th-and-13 play with four seconds remaining allowed Illinois to escape with a 38-31 victory at Rutgers. 

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]

Both Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano have been shaped by a past experience working in the National Football League. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 23, 2024

No. 25 Illinois at Rutgers

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024: 11 a.m. CST, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey.

Surface: Field Turf

Capacity: 52,454

Records: Illinois 7-3, 4-3 in Big Ten; Rutgers 6-4, 3-4 in Big Ten

Betting Line: Rutgers by 1

Series notes: Illinois leads the all-time series 5-3 and has won three of four in Piscataway. Rutgers remains one of the few Big Ten programs that Illini head coach Bret Bielema has failed to get a win against since arriving in Champaign prior to the 2021 season as the Scarlet Knights defeated Illinois 20-14 on Oct. 30, 2021. Illinois has been underdogs in four of the eight one-score wins over the past two seasons, including three as road dogs.

TV: Peacock; Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Michael Robinson (analyst) and Caroline Pineda (sideline reporter)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), Michael Martin (sideline), and Steve Kelly (pre/half/post).  The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, SiriusXM, the SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com/live.

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One of the many reasons Illinois head coach Bret Bielema respects the way the Rutgers program is run by Greg Schiano is the two men actually worked together on the same staff for over a month.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 22, 2o24

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Contrasting styles do not make for a competitive fight on the basketball court when it comes to Shauna Green’s Illini women’s basketball squad.

Smaller teams have tried to run with the Illini and failed. Oregon State brought in a frontline of 6-foot-2, 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-7 and attempted a slow-down halfcourt affair. The only simularity between the two styles was the result for the Illinois opponent: Loss.

By IlliniGuys Staff November 22, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

November 22, 2024 The Illini stopped a 2-game losing […]

Illinois defensive tackle Gentle Hunt transferred as a All-SWAC player from Florida A&M but suddenly bought into a transition plan to the Big Ten that will likely include a redshirt season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 22, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Gentle Hunt came to Illinois as one of the better defensive lineman in the Southwest Athletic Conference after being an integral piece for a 2023 Celebration Bowl champion and HBCU national championship program.

Nothing about the transition from Florida A&M to Illinois suggested a reset of expectations was on the horizon but 305-pound nose tackle learned very quickly that progress isn’t exactly linear when making a change in the transfer portal.

Before the 38-16 victory over Michigan State on Saturday, Hunt had played a grand total of one snap of defense in a game and hadn’t contributed at all compared to his own internal expectations for the 2024 season. During the first bye week of the season, Hunt had a meeting with Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and according to the fourth-year leader of the Illini program, the meeting was anything other than contentious.

Illinois head coach Shauna Green says her team’s practice plan has changed but not the intensity of how they prepare early on in this 2024-25 season.

Game Notes:

#22 Illinois vs, Oregon State
State Farm Center, Champaign, Ill.
7 p.m. CST (BTN Plus)

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Less than a month into this 2024-25 regular season, the first question by Illinois head coach Shauna Green in the early morning staff meetings is the same: Who is available?

Not even before the Thanksgiving holiday, No. 22 Illinois has seen themselves down to as little as nine active players for practice and games. The Illini (4-0) have already seen All-Big Ten guard Makira Cook and Genesis Bryant miss extended time with minor injuries while already announcing the season-ending injury to 6-foot-7 transfer center Lety Vasconcelos from Baylor and continue to monitor the ongoing back issues of reserve forward Shay Bollin. Then, Illinois saw freshman wing/forward Berry Wallace, a former McDonald’s All-America honoree, be placed in a splint after suffering a fracture in her right hand.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 22, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — During last weekend’s Michigan State football game, Illinois hosted one of the top running backs in the 2026 class, Chase Enlow, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound prospect from Princeton, N.J.