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

January 27, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini host the Hoosiers on Saturday afternoon at the State Farm Center as they look to bounce back from a difficult overtime loss at Northwestern. It’s Stripe the State Farm Day as well as the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game of sneakers and suits. But most importantly, it’s a game the Illini need to win to stay in the Big Ten hunt and get the momentum back they had back in December. 

The key to that will be defense. Illinois is one of the best offensive teams in the country, but since the Missouri game they are barely in the top 100 defensively. That has to change on Saturday.

Setting the Stage

#10 Illinois (14-5, 5-3 B1G) vs. Indiana (12-7, 4-4 B1G) 

Jan. 27, 2024 // 2 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center 

TV: FOX – Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play), Robbie Hummel (Analyst) 

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

Notable

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 27, 2024

I know I'm going to be taking die hard Illini fans down a long and painful trip down memory lane with this list of names. What do these names have in common? Craig Wilson, Anthony Morris, Mark Jackson (all Class of 2007), Donsay Hardeman, Reggie Ellis, Hubie Graham, Cordale Scott (all 08), Earnest Thomas (10), Dondi Kirby, Clint Tucker (11), Joe Spencer, Dami Ayoola, Vontrell Williams (12), Caleb Day (13), Zarrian Holcombe (16), Dwayne Lawson, Mike Epstein (17), Reuben Unije, Verdis Brown (18), TreVon Riggins (20), Eian Pugh (22). 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 26, 2024

The Fighting Illini football team offered Florida prep Bryan Auguste, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound offensive tackle of Monarch High School. Auguste is a three-star recruit in the class of 2025.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 25, 2024

Sunday afternoon Illinois played Big Ten conference foe, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team. Typically, Illinois has not had many potential recruits on campus. On Sunday, it had 2026 prep Anthony Thompson.

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

January 26, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the first 2025 commitment and some more key names set to visit for Junior Day this weekend.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Jan. 24, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

Marcus Domask is living out his lifelong dream.

He burst onto the scene five years ago, when he was named Wisconsin's 2019 Mr. Basketball.

The 6-foot-6 wing from the town of Waupun, population 11,344, averaged 26.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.7 assists during his senior year in high school.   But the home state Wisconsin Badgers weren't that impressed and didn't offer a scholarship and Domask ended up spending four years at Southern Illinois University. 

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

January 25, 2024

Usually, if you score 91 points you should win basketball games. But usually, the opponent doesn’t score 96 while shooting 55% from the floor and 61% from 3. That’s a recipe for a loss. The Illini beat Northwestern by 30 just 3 weeks ago but the Cats turned the tables and got the overtime win 96-91 on Wednesday evening. 

Here’s what we saw. 

Northwestern guard Boo Buie and his friends manhandled Illinois’ defensive scheme on simple ball-screen switches in route to the Illini’s 96-91 overtime loss. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 25, 2024

EVANSTON — Three words was all Brad Underwood needed to describe Illinois’ inability to effectively guard Northwestern in the final 25 minutes of a crushing road for the Illini. 

By IlliniGuys Staff January 24, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio as well as the Illini Insider

January 24, 2024

After beating a team by 30 at home, it should mean an easy road win, especially considering the return of All-American Guard Terrence Shannon. But life on the road in the Big Ten isn’t that easy. 

Just 3 weeks ago, Illinois dominated Northwestern 96-66 at the State Farm Center without Shannon, but it’s going to be much more difficult in Evanston. The Wildcats are 3-0 at home in Big Ten play. Having already beaten Purdue, Michigan State and Maryland. Illinois is 2-1 on the road, losing only at Purdue and it should be a fairly evenly split crowd. 

Let’s look at the particulars. 

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

January 24, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll break down the new hire at defensive back.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

January 23, 2024

Illinois commit Berry Wallace was named to the 2024 McDonald's All-American game today. Wallace is only the third player in the school's history to play in the prestigious game, joining 6-foot-3 post Destiny Williams in 2009 and Chatrice White in 2014.

Illinois bringing in 30-year coaching veteran David Gibbs to […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

January 23, 2024

(Photo courtesy Morez Johnson)

In recent days the buzz around the Illinois program has been great. Illinois received news that its All-American wing Terrence Shannon Jr. was going to return, then handily beat Rutgers at home 86-63, and then on Monday receiving a commitment from the highest-rated recruit in well over 20 years when Jeremiah Fears committed to Illinois.

A player who will suit up for Illinois this fall is Morez Johnson from Thornton High School. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward is the leading candidate for Mr. Basketball in the state but found out Tuesday that he just missed out on making the final cut for the McDonald's All-American game.  According to a source,

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 23, 2024

A Michigan prep has a list of great offers for some of the big-name programs in college football. Gregory Patrick from Portage Northern High School in Michigan is a highly touted recruit in the class of 2026.

When Illinois joined the offer list last week, he insisted that Illinois will have a legitimate shot.