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The Illini had some serious issues at quarterback last year. To quote Spandau Ballett: “I know this much is true.” They also had some issues on the O Line, and in the receiving corps and the running backs and the…Let’s move on. Ex Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt, a Rochester Illinois native, is coming home, according to multiple reports.
Welcome to the 2013 college football preseason! It officially starts today. Whatever keeps me from having to write about baseball; as that actually subtracts page views from my website- for whatever reason.
Sadly, the 2013 college football 77 in 77 does not include the Illinois Fighting Illini. We’ll rank and preview one team a day for the next 77 days, ending with #1 Alabama Crimson Tide on the Thursday before the 2013 college football season begins.
This is the first year I’ve done the 77 in 77 in which my alma mater, the Illini, are not included.
Former WWE Diva and Greek Goddess Maria Kanellis is both a Cubs and Illini fan. Maybe the Illinois fan will be at Illini at the Cubs? Probably not. I’m sure she has better things to do.
The Chicago I FUND is set to hosting Illini Day at Wrigley Field on Sunday, July 7, when the Cubs host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 1:20 p.m. Whoah Cubs vs Pirates!! Get your tickets now for an extremely relevant game with huge postseason implications now.
Here is the second round of our updated 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 AND 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)
Here is our updated 2013 NBA Mock Draft. Click on the players’ name for a complete, in-depth scouting report and the team for a complete guide to the NBA off-season team needs page.
(By the way, The Sports Bank was graded as the most accurate 2011 AND 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the web.)
Illinois Fighting Illini signee Michael Hermosillo has picked to professional baseball career over college football after being selected by the LA Angels on Saturday in the MLB Draft.
Hermosillo signed a letter of intent to play Fighting Illini football in February and was going to enroll in Champaign this summer, but he changed his mind after the Angels selected him in the 28th round (847th selection) of the MLB Draft. So he’ll give up playing the more exciting and interesting sport to instead pursue the more dull, boring sport.
Erika Harold, an Urbana native, Illini and winner of 2003 Miss America, announced Tuesday she’s making a Republican primary challenge to Rep. Rodney Davis in Illinois. The University of Illinois and Harvard Law graduate is the second former Miss America crown to run for political office. In May, the 2000 winner Heather French Henry considered the U.S. Senate race in Kentucky, where she could be matched up versus Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. This is the same slot Ashley Judd was close to running for.
Erika Harold made her announcement in a video Tuesday.
The Illini got one up on the Beavers tonight. Another point guard defects from the Pac 12 to the Big Ten. Oregon State transfer Ahmad Starks committed to the Illini and John Groce on Tuesday night. Starks is a native Chicagoan (Whitney Young H.S.) coming home to the state school. He could become eligible next season with a waiver.
Yes, Groce has the Illini program on a recruiting roll. At least certainly from a transfer perspective.
Yet again Illini nation must say “hey, thanks for coming!” to a college basketball player. Myke Henry is the fourth Illini baller to leave the Big Ten program this offseason. No biggee, the Illini have a tremendous recruiting class coming in, and a couple transfers. Illinois basketball is seeing a lot of influx of players; just as they’re seeing an exodus too.
Henry attended Chicago’s Orr High, and he did contribute some quality minutes this past season under first year coach John Groce.
Time to focus on the NBA Draft. It seems pretty certain the Illinois Fighting Illini will once again have representation on draft night. Guard Brandon Paul was at the draft combine last week and he’s had contact with the L.A. Clippers, Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls.
Two years ago was a disaster when both Demetri McCamey and Jereme Richmond went undrafted, despite all the pre-draft hype (both attended the combine). Last year brought more pride to Champaign as the Illini Nation saw Meyers Leonard go in the top ten to the Portland Trail Blazers. Brandon Paul should likely hear his name called this June; just nowhere near as high.
The NBA Draft Combine hit Chicago this week. Everyone who’s likely going to get picked in the NBA Draft comes to the Second City for workouts with NBA scouts and interviews with the media.
Here’s the list of all the former college basketball players who were invited to the NBA Draft combine. And here’s our latest 2013 NBA Mock Draft.
The NBA Draft combine is pretty much a beauty pageant for boys.
The 2013 NBA Draft is scheduled to be held on June 27, 2013 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Partially due to a blown call, Illinois basketball has beaten a higher seeded NCAA Tournament team just twice in school history. Trailing 57-55 with 40 seconds remaining, replays clearly showed the Illini should have maintained offensive possession on an out-of-bounds call. Instead, the ball was wrongly awarded to the Miami Hurricanes. And even a Miami player admitted it.
Now the NCAA is going to going to make sure this type of thing doesn’t happen again.
