The Sports Bank

Football. Soccer. Basketball. Gaming and Much More

College Basketball

Illini Basketball Game Preview: vs #1 Tennessee Volunteers

By

Kasparas Jakucionis- you may not know how to correctly spell or pronounce his name, but he is the real deal. An Illini basketball player dominating at point guard and wearing #32? It's a bit reminiscent of Demetri McCamey, who was also among the top players in not only the Big Ten, but also the nation. Jakucionis was dominant in the 86-80 win over #20 Wisconsin last night, … [Read more...] about Illini Basketball Game Preview: vs #1 Tennessee Volunteers

#19 Illini Basketball at Northwestern Wildcats Game Preview

By

Friday night brings the men's basketball version of the LOL Hat game (1 of 2 every season) with the football version just having completed this past Saturday at Wrigley Field. Illini basketball will look to make it a sweep for the orange and blue. One of the main story lines here is the environment. How will the Welsh-Ryan Arena crowd be split, percentage wise, between … [Read more...] about #19 Illini Basketball at Northwestern Wildcats Game Preview

How Technology is Influencing the Rules and Strategies of Professional Football

By

Technology is transforming football in fantastic ways. From VAR to wearable devices, technology has enhanced the game, making it intelligent and less prone to bias. It assists referees in making better decisions and provides players and coaches with new angles to consider in their approach. Now, let’s look at how technology is changing the governing and tactical dynamics of … [Read more...] about How Technology is Influencing the Rules and Strategies of Professional Football

Rutgers Basketball Having a Moment, and Maybe a Movement?

By

As Lin-Manuel Miranda rapped in "My Shot," from his masterpiece Hamilton, "this is not a moment, it's the movement." Only time will tell if Steve Pikiell takes the Rutgers basketball program to that level or not, but this upcoming season will be momentous. Pikiell, in 2016, inherited a program from Eddie Jordan that had won just three Big Ten games during their first two … [Read more...] about Rutgers Basketball Having a Moment, and Maybe a Movement?

Tony Bennett Rejected a Visit to the Trump White House in 2019

By

As the 2024 Election is upon us, we re-publish some of our more relevant posts on Donald J. Trump. This one, from April of 2019,  covers Tony Bennett, who retired from coaching a couple weeks ago, so it is especially relevant on another level.  Just a pre-emptive warning to the 45th POTUS and his cultish acolytes- "leave Virginia alone" as Rod Stewart once sang. Virginia is … [Read more...] about Tony Bennett Rejected a Visit to the Trump White House in 2019

Iowa Hawkeyes Begin Life After Caitlin Clark in a Strong Position

By

Caitlin Clark, who might some day become the Michael Jordan of women's basketball has left the building. Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen has stepped in to try and replace her at point guard. Legendary Iowa Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder has retired. Long-time assistant Jan Jensen now takes the reins. Yes, it's a major season of change in Iowa City, on several levels, but strong … [Read more...] about Iowa Hawkeyes Begin Life After Caitlin Clark in a Strong Position

“Student-Athletes” is a Phrase With a Dark History

By

Editor's Note: the original publication where this article was posted has since been eradicated, so we brought this post over to The Sports Bank before it got deleted. It originally ran in August 2013.  I can’t remember the last time I used the phrase student-athletes in my writing. I never consciously used it; and if it was said in a press conference, I simply used a … [Read more...] about “Student-Athletes” is a Phrase With a Dark History

Kendall Gill Makes a Unique Choice for Hoops G.O.A.T. (Exclusive)

By

Current NBC Sports Chicago Analyst Kendall Gill really know his hoops- both college and pro. The Olympia Fields, Illinois native led the NBA in steals during the 1999 season, and he still holds the record for most single game steals in NBA history. A legend at the University of Illinois, where he helped lead the Illini to the 1989 Final Four, Gill was the fifth overall pick in … [Read more...] about Kendall Gill Makes a Unique Choice for Hoops G.O.A.T. (Exclusive)

Top 15 NFL and NBA Stars From the South Chicago Suburbs

By

The Chicago south suburbs, or as we call it, "SICA Country" has produced a ton of talented professional athletes. We named this term after the now defunct high school sports conference SICA (South Inter Conference Association). This area stretches from Summit to Kankakee, Bolingbrook to Chicago Heights. Obviously, SICA country is more than a geographic area, it's a state of … [Read more...] about Top 15 NFL and NBA Stars From the South Chicago Suburbs