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A federal judge ruling in Tennessee issuing an injunction prohibiting the NCAA from enforcing its regulations on using name, image and likeness payment inducements in recruiting fully opens pay-for-play activities across the nation.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 24, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — During his end-of-season media conference on November 30, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said he believed the recent news surrounding name, image and likeness issues in college athletics and specifically his sport of college football would “lead to something breaking” involving legislation on the matter.

The third-year Illini football coach likely had no idea he would be this fundamentally correct and philosophically incorrect at the same time. What Bielema, and several other people inside college athletics, was hoping for was federal legislation leading to further restrictions on NIL inducements being used in player acquisition and, therefore, providing a more even platform across the nation. What happened was the opposite after a federal judge issued a ban on the NCAA being able to enforce any rules or regulations regarding NIL inducements in recruiting.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood put his team through a brutal and physical two-hour practice session following another disappointing defensive effort at Penn State. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 23, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Luke Goode has been on this roster long enough to know what it meant when he arrived at the Ubben Basketball Facility for practice Thursday without being sent a practice plan yet.

The junior forward understood this set of events meant he and his teammates were in for a mentally awakening and physical tasking two-hour session. 

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

February 23, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll take a quick look at where the Illini stand overall 2025 Big Ten recruiting, the PANIC factor at positions starting with QB and I’ll look at 2024 DE signee Joe Barna in four key categories.

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

February 22, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a huge unofficial visit coming soon and continue the 2024 breakdown with a look at DE Demetrius John in four key categories.

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

February 22, 2024

The Fighting Illini led by as many as 14 points in the second half, by 10 with 2:30 to play and by 7 in the final minute. And yet they came away from Happy Valley with a 90-89 loss to Penn State, their 4th consecutive loss to the Nittany Lions and dashed their Big Ten title hopes. It’s another collapse late in the game, following the Michigan State and Nebraska games. 

At some point this team needs to figure it out. 

Deep Thoughts

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood calls out players for defensive mental errors, blown assignments and fundamental lack of detail in a 90-89 loss at Penn State. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 22, 2024

The head men’s basketball coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is clearly at the blunt honesty stage with his veteran players following a monumental collapse at Penn State. 

In the post-game media conference after a devastating and confusing 90-89 loss inside Recreation Hall on the Pennsylvania State University campus where No. 12 Illinois gave up the game’s last eight points and was outscored 12-2 over the final minute and 50 seconds, Brad Underwood felt the need to call out players for what he called “blown assignment”, “a lack of attention to detail”, “silly mistakes” and a “wrong mentality” about disregarding the defensive end of the floor. 

By IlliniGuys Staff February 21, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

February 21, 2024

The Illini are in Happy Valley Wednesday night to take on their nemesis from a year ago, the Penn State Nittany Lions. PSU beat Illinois 3 times a year ago, although many of those players are gone and there is a new coach in town in Mike Rhoades, it’s definitely a game that should have some revenge motives for the Fighting Illini. 

The Nittany Lions return to their roots Wednesday night when Penn State hosts #12 Illinois in its Return to Rec game. Rec Hall was the longtime home of Nittany Lion basketball until a 1996 move to the Bryce Jordan Center. Rec Hall had a final listed capacity of 6,846 for basketball, but more than 8,000 fans jammed into the iconic building for a basketball game six times in the building’s history, including a record 8,600 fans for a contest vs. Virginia on Dec. 5, 1973.

Expect a packed and raucous crowd on Wednesday evening. 

Setting the Stage

#12AP/12 Illinois (19-6, 10-4 B1G) at Penn State (12-14, 6-9 B1G) 

February 21, 2024 // 5:30 p.m. CT (6:30 p.m. ET) // University Park, Pa. // Rec Hall 

TV: BTN – Jason Horowitz (Play-by-Play), Stephen Bardo (Analyst) 

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

Notables

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 21, 2024

The Fighting Illini football program is transforming, adapting to the evolving landscape of college football with the recent addition of West Coast schools to the Big Ten conference. This expansion means that the Illini will need to target higher-profile prospects to remain competitive in the star-studded world of college football recruiting.

Head Coach Bret Bielema has built a reputation for finding and developing talent, molding players into All-Big Ten performers. However, with the shift in the conference dynamics, the emphasis on recruiting top-tier prospects becomes even more critical for the Fighting Illini.

Tim Anderson's Crucial Role in Recruiting Could Help Women Land Recruit

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 20, 2024

In college basketball recruiting, the right connections and relationships can make all the difference. Destiny Jackson, a 5-foot-6, four-star recruit from Whitney Young High School in Chicago, holds the title of the number one high school recruit in the state of Illinois for the Class of 2025.

Recently visiting the Illinois women's basketball program could be a game-changer in her recruitment, and a familiar face might just be the key.

The 86-66 win over No. 14 Indiana is just one part of a regular season finale stretch for an Illinois women’s basketball team trying to salvage an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 20, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — While suddenly in the role of a late arriving guest to a party they weren’t ever invited to in the first place, the next three weeks for the Illinois women’s basketball could see them crashing the 2024 NCAA Tournament. 

Following the season-defining 86-66 victory over No. 14 Indiana where Shauna Green’s program led for the final 30 minutes and without a doubt showcased its best version of itself, Illinois now has an opportunity no other team in Division I currently outside of the postseason bubble has in its regular season finish.

IlliniGuys Staff February 19, 2024 Terrence Shannon Jr., hailing […]

In what is obviously Illinois’ most impressive win of the 2023-24 season, Illinois recorded a blowout victory over a Top 15 program in State Farm Center on President’s Day. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 19, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Maybe it’s a situation where the Illinois women’s basketball program enjoys playing highly ranked opponents in its own building on holidays. 

Last season it was taking down then-No. 10 Iowa by four points on New Year’s Day. This season, Illinois made No. 14 Indiana its upset victim and by doing so, the Illini’s postseason resume-validating victory of the 2023-24 season came on national television on President’s Day.

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

February 19, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a possible two sport athlete for the Illini and perhaps a new recruiting strategy?

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 18, 2024

Steven Reynolds III is making noise as the 6-foot-5, 170-pound guard from Washington High School continues to impress DI coaches. The latest development in his promising career came on February 4th, when Reynolds visited the Illinois campus to witness a game against Nebraska and finally received an offer from the Illini.