Can Tim Beckman keep Illini Defensive Dominance going?

May 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

illini-rose-bowl

The Illini started to get defensive, real defensive in the 2010 Texas Bowl. In that 38-14 trouncing of Robert Griffin III and Baylor, they held RG3 and the Bears in check.

The man who would win the Heisman trophy and become the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft the very next season was out of rhythm, out of sync versus the Illini in Houston. And that D carried over into 2011, when they Illini had a top 10 national defense.

A lot of that was the personnel, a lot of it was coordinator Vic Koenning, who unfortunately had to move on when Ron Zook was replaced by Tim Beckman.

Can they keep it going this fall, despite the coaching changes?

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Illini get Georgia Tech in Big Ten ACC Challenge

May 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

chief-illiniwek

Matchups for the 14thannual ACC/Big Ten Challenge have been determined. Illinois will host Georgia Tech at the AssemblyHall on Wednesday, Nov. 28.

The Fighting Illini and Yellow Jackets will meet for the eighth time overall and first in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Illinois holds a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series, including four straight wins. The teams last played on Nov. 23, 2001 in Las Vegas, a 105-66 Illini victory. This will mark the first meeting between the programs in Champaign since Jan. 22, 1989, when the Flyin’ Illini earned the nation’s No. 1-ranking after defeating Georgia Tech in double overtime by the score of 103-92.

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North Carolina at Indiana, Ohio St. at Duke headlines Big 10/ACC Challenge

May 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

indiana-assembly-hall

The 14th annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 27-28 2012 will be headlined by North Carolina at Indiana, with a solid undercard of Ohio State at Duke. and North Carolina State at Michigan stands out as the third biggest match-up.

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise all 12 games of the two-day event.

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Brooklyn Nets #1 off-season priority; re-sign Deron Williams

May 14, 2012 By 1 Comment

deron williams nets

The New Jersey Nets… err… Brooklyn Nets will have a new home next season, moving across the Hudson River to their new home at the Barclays Center.  As the franchise enters a new era, they have plenty of question marks regarding their roster.  Priority number one this off-season for the Nets will be re-signing their star point guard, Deron Williams.
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Illini QB Nathan Scheelhaase: should he keep his job?

May 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

scheelhaase

In the 2012 Illini spring game, they seemed to have the same exact issue that they have during the final seven games of 2011- throwing the ball forward.

Perhaps part of the spring scrimmage m.o. was to hold back that part of the offense, but then again it’s a preseason exhibition why wouldn’t you let it fly?
Unless it’s simply because you can’t?

And the statistics for starting quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase were extremely putrid that rainy Saturday, continuing the regression that she showed the final seven games of 2011.

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New 2012 Illini Football slogan unveiled

May 8, 2012 By 1 Comment

illini-t-shirt

Illinois football coach Tim Beckman revealed the 2012 Illinois “Loyal-Tee” shirt design Tuesday in front of Foellinger Auditorium in Champaign. 

The winning design, featured on the front of the shirt, was voted on by thousands of Illini fans out of four designs based on the winning fan-submitted slogan, “A New Era BECKons.”

Get it? Cuz of Tim Beckman, beckons…”STEAKS AND CAKES!”

“LASAGNA PANS!”

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Illini add big man in transfer Sam McLaurin

May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

sam-mclaurin

New University of Illinois head coach John Groce got his second recruit today. The Illini announced today Coastal Carolina’s Sam McLaurin has signed a tender of financial aid and will transfer to Illinois for his final season of eligibility upon earning his bachelor’s degree in May.

Because he will be enrolled as a graduate student at Illinois majoring in a major that Coastal Carolina does not have, he will be eligible to compete immediately during the 2012-13 season under the NCAA one-time transfer exception. He fills a huge need in frontcourt that lacked depth lat season. And now with the departure of Meyers Leonard to the NBA, it truly is in need of another big.

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2013 NBA Mock Draft (5/2/12)

May 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

nba draft logo

I am well aware that the 2012 NBA Draft has not even occurred yet.  Still, we are looking ahead to the 2013 NBA Draft with insanely early projections on how it may unfold.  Team needs and outstanding trades have NOT been taken into consideration with this 2013 NBA mock draft.  Click on the players’ name for a complete, in-depth scouting report.

(By the way, The Sports Bank was graded as the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)

CLICK HERE FOR THE SPORTS BANK’S 2012 NBA MOCK DRAFT

Check out The Sports Bank’s 2013 NFL Mock Draft.

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2012 NBA Draft early entries list

April 30, 2012 By 1 Comment

nba draft logo

The deadline for underclassmen college basketball players to declare for the 2012 NBA Draft has passed.  Here is the latest list of early entries with Maryland’s Terrell Stoglin entering the draft at the last minute.  Check out our 2012 NBA Mock Draft and click on the player’s name for an in-depth scouting report.

UPDATED: 4/30/12 12:40 PM
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2012 NBA Mock Draft-First Round (5/1/12)

April 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

nba draft logo

The 2012 NBA Draft figures to consist of a deeper, more talented group of prospects that the 2011 class.  Team needs  HAVE been taken into consideration with this 2012 NBA mock draft and the order is based off the end of the season NBA standings.  Click on the players’ name for a complete, in-depth scouting report.

(By the way, The Sports Bank was graded as the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)

Check out our ridiculously early 2013 NBA Mock Draft.  Click here for The Sports Bank’s 2013 NFL Mock Draft.

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Link Bank 4-29-12: Kaley Cuoco, Britney Spears meltdown house, hot sideline reporters, NFL Draft

April 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

kaley-cuoco

-(E Online) Kaley Cuoco tweeted pictures of herself (along with hair-stylist pal Jen Atkin) on a boat trip covered in neon body paint that highlighted every curve of her banging bikini bod.

The 26-year-old Big Bang Theory star has been sharing her Caribbean holiday adventures in Anguilla with fans via Twitter,

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Illini land top 10 QB Recruit in Aaron Bailey

April 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

aaron bailey

On a night, when a couple Illinois football players were moving on to the next level, a new high profile playmaker was coming to them. On NFL Draft night (round one) Whitney Mercilus was selected by the Houston Texans and AJ Jenkins by the San Francisco 49ers. So you might have missed this story.

According to Rivals, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Wisconsin were among the schools to offer new Illini QB Aaron Bailey. He’s ranked as the No. 4 QB in the nation by Rivals, No. 6 by Scout in the “dual threat” category. Among ALL QBs in the Class of 2013, new Illini Aaron Bailey is ranked No. 9 by Rivals and No. 6 by Scout. Bailey verbally committed Thursday night.

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