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Brad Sturdy, Uber Illini Insider and Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports […]

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

March 11, 2024

The Illini beat the Hawkeyes on Senior Day in Iowa City by a 73-61 score behind 25 points from Terrence Shannon to finish the regular season at 23-8 and 14-6 in Big Ten play. Quincy Guerrier had 14 points and 13 rebounds to show the spark from earlier in the season, while Marcus Domask added 11 and Dain Dainja scored 9 off the bench to make the difference as the Illini held the high-powered Hawkeyes in check, Iowa shooting just 36% overall and 33% from 3-point range in their lowest scoring output of the season. 

It was a season of "what ifs" regarding the Shannon suspension, the late leads blown and just ‘one more player’, but this was a successful regular season that continued down the path of setting yourself up for a positive tournament run. Now, they need to complete the run. 

These 3 Things

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

March 11, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the new hire at OLB and look at an impending commitment who could be under ranked.

No. 12 Illinois leads nearly from start to finish […]

Clint Sintim has been hired to be Illinois’ third […]

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

March 10, 2024

Over the past few years, the rivalry between Illinois and Iowa has grown even more, in large part because they have been two teams near the top of the Big Ten. On Sunday the game has massive implications for both teams, as the Illini are looking to solidify a top 4 seed in the NCAA tournament with another win, while the Hawkeyes are looking to play their way into the NCAA tourney during the last week. 

Although Iowa City isn’t the madhouse it normally is this season, expect a great crowd and hostile environment on the road. 

Setting the Stage

#12 Illinois (22-8, 13-6 B1G) at Iowa (18-12, 10-9 B1G) 

March 10, 2024 // 6 p.m. CT // Iowa City, Iowa // Carver-Hawkeye Arena 

TV: FS1 – Brandon Gaudin (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

March 9, 2024

The Fighting Illini have found a new spark with the arrival of new football coach Justin Stepp. Emerging talents like wide receiver Michael Thomas III are also making waves, particularly with the recent revelation of his top five college choices.

By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

March 9, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Associated Press)

We spend a lot of time these days talking about the massive shift in college football that's coming this summer as the Big 10, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 expand and the Pac-12 shrinks into near oblivion.  But change in college basketball has been in the making for a while.  

There are six blueblood schools that have ruled the game: UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and Indiana.  From the launch of the NCAA tournament in 1939 until 2012, they combined to dominate with 36 national championships and 86 Final Four appearances.  They won the most, they recruited the best, and they had the biggest names.  Allen, Knight, Krzyzewski, McCracken, Rupp, Smith, Williams, Wooden...Alcindor, Alford, Hansbrough, Jordan, Laettner, Thomas, Walton... just to name a few.

They were so dominant that, in the nearly half-century between 1963 and 2012, there were only four years in which none of them appeared in the Final Four.  If it was April, one of them was stealing the spotlight, whether they won it all or not.

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

March 8, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at something odd with one 2025 in state target and an out of state prospect who will be visiting Illinois and another Big Ten school.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 8, 2024

In the midst of the ongoing success of the Illinois men's basketball team, Illini basketball recruiting efforts continue to yield promising results.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting March 8, 2024 […]

The 2023-24 campaign for Illinois women’s basketball ends in […]

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

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

March 6, 2024

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

I’m this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at a few interesting prospects who have visits set up.

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

March 6, 2024

There are only a few games left in the season for the Fighting Illini, and yet they are still learning from these close losses. After falling to Purdue 77-71 in a game where Illinois once again held a lead late only to see the Boilers hit everything down the stretch and pull out the 6-point win. 

At some point, they need to learn how to win these games or when it happens in the NCAA tourney it will mean the end of the road for these Seniors. 

The question becomes, what can they learn, and can they learn in time? 

These 3 Things