Shooting guard Aaron Jordan has chosen Illinois. The class of 2015 blue-chip prospect from Plainfield, Illinois picked the Illini over Northwestern, Creighton, Indiana, Wisconsin and Purdue. Currently, Aaron Jordan is ranked as the 60th best prospect in the country, according to Rivals.com, and No. 77 by Scout.com. Aaron Jordan is considered a top prospect in the state of … [Read more...] about Top 60 national recruit Aaron Jordan commits to Illini basketball
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illini basketball comfortably avoids disaster at the United Center
For the first 27 minutes, it looked like Illini basketball would repeat a horrid day in their history as the lowly UIC Flames (5-8) led the Illini until Rayvonte Rice tied the game at 53, with 13:18 left. The Flames, and their estimated crowd of 150-250 fans were looking for a repeat victory against the Illini (10-2) at the United Center. The Flames defeated Illini basketball … [Read more...] about Illini basketball comfortably avoids disaster at the United Center
Rayvonte Rice: best option for ’13-’14 Illini Basketball
I asked IPFW forward Steve Forbes what he thought of the game Rayvonte Rice just had, and what he thought of Rayvonte Rice as a player. "Who?" The Mastodons big man responded. Now Rayvonte Rice is not as high profile a college basketball player as Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins, but he is certainly not obscure either. Rice is the leading scorer on this Illini basketball … [Read more...] about Rayvonte Rice: best option for ’13-’14 Illini Basketball
Illini basketball gets signature win over Mizzou, Braggin’ Rights all around
The Illini basketball team earned their coffee today because "coffee is for closers." They beat #23 Mizzou in the 33rd annual Braggin' Rights, with the Illini now owning a 21-12 advantage over Missouri in the annual rivalry game played in downtown St. Louis. Illini basketball is now up 28-16 overall for the series. Illinois won eight consecutive Braggin' Rights from 1983-90 and … [Read more...] about Illini basketball gets signature win over Mizzou, Braggin’ Rights all around
Jim Tressel won’t be the answer for replacing Tim Beckman at Illinois
Former Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel is a long way from being a college football coach again. Yes, Illini Nation wants to see Tim Beckman go. And I'm on board with that, but Bobby Petrino is much more the answer than Jim Tressel. (I explore the Petrino scenario here) I'm not saying Petrino is that much better of a coach, I'm saying Jim Tressel is not realistic. Illini fans beg … [Read more...] about Jim Tressel won’t be the answer for replacing Tim Beckman at Illinois
Illini football alum will talk to current team from space!
NASA Astronaut, and former Illinois Fighting Illini football captain, Col. Mike Hopkins will conduct a live discussion from the International Space Station with the current Fighting Illini football team Dec. 16 from 2:15-2:45 pm CST. Hopkins was deployed on Expedition 37/38 in September, and is scheduled to return to Earth in March, 2014. The live discussion was arranged in … [Read more...] about Illini football alum will talk to current team from space!
2013 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Preview and Predictions
The two-day Big Ten/ACC Challenge tips off Tuesday evening. With Syracuse, Pitt, and Notre Dame joining the ACC, that conference is trying to stake its claim as the best in the country. Last year, the challenge finished in a 6-6 tie but here are my predictions for the 2013 Big Ten/ACC Challenge. … [Read more...] about 2013 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Preview and Predictions
Illini football showed improvement in year two of Beckman regime
This is going to sound a little bit nuts, but this Illini football team is very close to being genuinely mediocre. Not train wreck awful like they've looked in the Big Ten, but actual mediocrity. We know Northwestern could "Northwestern this away" quite easily in the second half. Even though they're a field goal favorite, some Northwesterning might happen today. If we get an … [Read more...] about Illini football showed improvement in year two of Beckman regime
Tim Beckman likely stays, so who loses their Illini football job?
Illini football is in a really sad state right now. When you're double digit underdogs to the lowly Indiana Hoosiers, and you can't even cover that...ouch! Will Tim Beckman get fired? That's pretty much the only Illini football topic people want to discuss right now. How hot is Beckman's seat they ask. Well, it's complicated. Someone's head will roll for this, but who? … [Read more...] about Tim Beckman likely stays, so who loses their Illini football job?
Five reasons for Illinois to fire Coach Tim Beckman
As it stands right now Illini football coach Tim Beckman is on the hot seat; like Three Mile Island at meltdown level hot. However, there's plenty of time for him to fix that. I will present the case for terminating Tim Beckman today, and the case for retaining him tomorrow. I will present five points for dismissal and five points for retention. And then you can make up your … [Read more...] about Five reasons for Illinois to fire Coach Tim Beckman