The 2023-24 Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team has done a tremendous job of putting the 2022-23 Illini basketball season far far out of memories. Good riddance, as that campaign brought us the strange experience of strongly disliking our own favorite team. While it is common to sometimes be happy your favorite team's season is over, and to look forward to that ending … [Read more...] about Illini Basketball Team Way More Likable than Last Year
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Illini Basketball: ’23 Big Ten Tournament Preview
Your Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team will be the #7 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which begins on Wednesday night. They'll take on the #10 seed Penn State Nittany Lions on Thursday night at 5:30pm. There are two ways to look at this. First, you can believe the old cliche "it's very hard to beat the same team thrice in the same season," and remind yourself that, on … [Read more...] about Illini Basketball: ’23 Big Ten Tournament Preview
Big Ten football power rankings: lipstick on a pig edition
During Big Ten football Saturdays like this, how do you spin what happened? How do you put lipstick on these pigs? And even though Northwestern out-gained an AWFUL Western Michigan team by just 126 yards, they've still earned the second slot. You can argue that a different Big Ten football team deserves to be there. But my argument is pretty solid for NU. Also, Illinois gave … [Read more...] about Big Ten football power rankings: lipstick on a pig edition
#13 Illini are for real; win at #10 Gonzaga verifies
Last year's Illinois Fighting Illini started 10-0, just like this year's team. They finished an awful 17-15. But those were the Illini of Bruce Weber, not John Groce. With the 85-74 win at #10 Gonzaga last night, the first year coach has now produced the fastest start for a rookie coach in school history. 11 point underdogs, no one gave the Illini a chance. CBS' Doug … [Read more...] about #13 Illini are for real; win at #10 Gonzaga verifies
Illini hoops get commit from top 15 center Maverick Morgan
Filling the void left by Meyers Leonard will be tough, but the Illinois Fighting Illini may have an answer...in 2013-14 with the commitment of preps star Maverick Morgan from Ohio. If he does have NBA potential later wouldn't it be cool if he were drafted by Dallas? Morgan chose the Illini over the Dayton Flyers, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin Badgers and … [Read more...] about Illini hoops get commit from top 15 center Maverick Morgan
Illini big man Meyers Leonard states case at ’12 NBA Draft Combine (video)
Former Illinois Fighting Illini Center Meyers Leonard greeted the media yesterday at the 2012 NBA Draft combine. Here's some of what he had to say about the process. … [Read more...] about Illini big man Meyers Leonard states case at ’12 NBA Draft Combine (video)
Illini grab shooting guard transfer Rayvonte Rice from Drake
Coach John Groce landed his first recruiting victory as coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini today, as Rayvonte Rice is leaving Drake and coming home. The 6-4, 250-pound guard grew up in Champaign, Illinois and was the 2010 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year while playing for Champaign Centennial High School. Hopefully, this will help bring in this year's Gatorade player of … [Read more...] about Illini grab shooting guard transfer Rayvonte Rice from Drake
Illini basketball introduces John Groce: I hope reality is inverse of press conference
You've heard the expression "win the news conference." Well, for the University of Illinois and the Illini basketball coaching hire of John Groce, that ship sailed weeks ago. Any time you get your sixth (possibly seventh) choice in a men's basketball coach at a basketball school, your news conference is...well, you just hope there's no pitchforks and flaming torches. Most … [Read more...] about Illini basketball introduces John Groce: I hope reality is inverse of press conference