For the 2024-25 Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team, the March Madness destination is Milwaukee and the Fiserv Forum, home of the 2021 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks. Their opponent will be the winner of the Texas-Xavier play-in game tomorrow evening. Fun fact- this is the first time the Illini will face a play-in game winner in their opening NCAA Tournament game. … [Read more...] about Illini Basketball: 2025 NCAA Tournament Weekend 1 Preview
illini hoops
Illinois Basketball Season Declining Due to Overreliance on Three Point Shooting
This 2024-25 Illinois basketball season is getting rapidly redefined downward, unfortunately, and it's largely due to the team's overreliance on three point shooting. They are embodying the cliche of "live and die by the three" to the utmost. Tonight at home versus #11 Michigan State, they came out of the gates guns blazing, knocking down several three point attempts. Early … [Read more...] about Illinois Basketball Season Declining Due to Overreliance on Three Point Shooting
Illini Basketball Wins Big Ten Media Day With Bingo Card
Ah Media Day, the art of talking without actually really saying anything. Everyone is "excited to be here," "can't wait to get started" because "we have the potential to be the best (insert position group here) in the Big Ten, if not the nation." And amidst this backdrop, the Illini basketball program won 2024 Big Ten Media Days with their Bingo card. So many buzz-phrases … [Read more...] about Illini Basketball Wins Big Ten Media Day With Bingo Card
Exclusive: Illini AHC Orlando Antigua on His Mentor John Calipari
With the official announcement yesterday of Assistant Coach Orlando Antigua returning to Illini Basketball, as the new Associate Head Coach, we now re-publish our two part exclusive with him, from 2017 Media Day. Part one can be found here If you have not seen the John Calipari ESPN 30 for 30 film ”One and Not Done." I strongly suggest you check it out. “I thought they did a … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Illini AHC Orlando Antigua on His Mentor John Calipari
Exclusive: Illini Asst Orlando Antigua on Being a Harlem Globetrotter
With the official announcement yesterday of Assistant Coach Orlando Antigua returning to Illini Basketball, we now re-publish our two part exclusive with him, from 2017 Media Day. In the world of Illini basketball recruiting, Illinois Assistant Coach Orlando Antigua has as much juice as just about anyone. We asked Antigua his thoughts about the recent explosion in recruiting … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Illini Asst Orlando Antigua on Being a Harlem Globetrotter
#3 Illini vs #2 Iowa State: Sweet 16 Game Preview, Prediction
This Illini team is absolutely rolling right now! Led by Terrence Shannon Jr. who is playing as well as any individual baller in the country, you got to like their chances against the Iowa State Cyclones on Thursday night. Shannon already has the program's single season scoring record, after having just missed out on the Big Ten Tournament scoring record. His 30 points … [Read more...] about #3 Illini vs #2 Iowa State: Sweet 16 Game Preview, Prediction
Illini Basketball Team Way More Likable than Last Year
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
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
