Champaign
SPORTS
Our not-quite-as-early top 25: Illini at No. 12
Jul. 20—College basketball writer Scott Richey dropped his way-too-early top 10 the night Connecticut won its second straight national championship. Three months later, things have changed across the sport. Dramatically. But with rosters mostly settled, our AP Top 25 voter updates what could be his preseason ballot in three more months: Bill Self apparently learned his lesson in 2023-24. Not ...
Green Street: The case for Brynn Shoup-Hill
Jul. 22—The starting five for Illinois looks mostly set in stone. The return of the Illini's top-four scorers from last season means and Co. could mostly run it back with the same lineup with , and starting in the backcourt and as the starting power forward. But that doesn't mean Illinois lacks for flexibility with its rotations. What could be the most interesting thing to watch this fall and ...
‘They can turn anybody into a freak’: Transfer TE talks leveling up at Illinois
(WCIA) — Transfer tight end Carson Goda will make his Division I debut under the lights at Memorial Stadium. Goda played three seasons at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire before entering the portal and landing at Illinois. “Coach Tank and this strength conditioning group is unbelieveable and they’re doing great things every day and […]
Guests of honor: Bryant, Coleman, Jacas
Jul. 22—"I was pretty excited. Coach B. called me into his office. He said, 'I have some good news,' but I really wasn't expecting that one. It put a big smile on my face." "Oregon, just going out and experiencing that part of the world. I've never been that far. Growing up, that's a team I always looked at because of the uniforms. They have great players." "We miss him a lot. I try to be the ...
Illinois basketball getting in early on electric in-state recruit
It is never too early to start targeting a recruit, and the Illinois basketball team took that to heart over the weekend. Since Brad Underwood took over the Illini, this program has recruited on a level we hadn’t seen since the Bill Self days. Underwood continues to pull in elite recruits, and I trust his decision-making when it comes to targeting talented players.
Altmyer calls 2024 offense ‘explosive’ in preseason
(WCIA) — Luke Altmyer is gearing up to play his second season at Illinois, excited for another year under Barry Lunney’s offense. “I think we got a really good chance to put up some really cool numbers and be really explosive to win a lot of games because of the pieces that Coach Bielema has […]
Big Ten Basketball: 2024 offseason grades for each team
It's been a "big" offseason for the Big Ten these past few months, for multiple reasons. One if the many somewhat surprising results from the transfer portal/NBA Draft process, along with the addition of four notable programs from the Pac-12. With 99% of the rosters confirmed for the 2024-25 campaign,...
Midkiff Charges to Champaign County MARA Win
Urbana, Illinois (July 19, 2024) – Alex Midkiff scored his second MARA victory of the 2024 season, on Friday, at the Champaign County Speedway Fair race in Urbana, IL. Midkiff charged from his sixth-place starting position to win. Fair races have been a staple of motorsports since auto racing...
Shauna Green added exactly what she needed this offseason
Illinois will, without a doubt, be one of the most experienced teams in the Big Ten next season. With fifth-year players Makira Cook, Genesis Bryant, Kendall Bostic and senior forward Adalia McKenzie returning, Illinois returns its four leading scorers — all of whom have at least three years of college hoops experience.
Return home a '180 degree culture change' for Boswell
Jul. 20—CHAMPAIGN — Kylan Boswell could have had his pick of college basketball destinations when he opted to enter the transfer portal in early April. There was a lot to like about his résumé. Five-star pedigree as a recruit. USA Basketball experience, including a gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. Two seasons at Arizona, including one as a starter during the 2023-24 ...
Illini picked to finish 13th Big Ten preseason poll by cleveland.com
Illinois football was picked to finish 13h of 18 Big Ten teams, according to an unofficial poll conducted by cleveland.com. Illini Inquirer was one of 27 participants in the poll. The Big Ten has not helped an official conference preseason poll since 2011. The Illini were pick to finish 14th...
Good Morning, Illini Nation: Will to win
Jul. 21—Tre White didn't do much winning last season at Louisville. The Cardinals finished the year 8-24 overall and just 3-17 in the ACC. Eight straight losses closed out their 2023-24 campaign. So, it stands to reason, White arrived at Illinois this spring with winning on his mind. "I feel like I'm a goofy guy off the court, a fun guy, but the main thing I want to bring to Champaign is ...
Illinois just offered 2028 prospect — before he plays a high school game
I’m trying to do a lot of research here on his birthday, because I want to know if he’s potentially the first prospect born in the 2010s to receive an offer from Illinois. Anywho, Illinois reportedly offered 6-foot-6 prospect Cole Kelly on Saturday — before he even plays a high school game.
Crim: Early-season matchups could determine if Fighting Illini can muster elusive winning season
QUINCY — Random thoughts with the opening night of high school football season just 40 days away:. • Illinois has had just four winning football seasons since the 10-2 Sugar Bowl team under Ron Turner in 2001. The program has been mired in mediocrity, managing just 15 campaigns of eight or more wins in 134 years of football. There have been only nine bowl appearances in the last 31 years.
Karley Yergler joining Illini Softball
(WCIA) — Karley Yergler was convinced she wanted to move away for her final two years of college softball. Then she became an aunt, giving her a better idea of what she values most. “I realized I didn’t want to be away from my family,” said Yergler. “After spending so much time with them and […]
Illinois Football: Legendary Moments and Historic Successes Revealed
Illinois' football history highlights its greatest moments, including controversial game selections and past successes under legendary coaches. Illinois went 8-0 in its most recent perfect season in 1923. The team also had unbeaten and untied seasons in 1914 and 1910. In 1951, Illinois went 9-0-1, narrowly missing another perfect season...
‘A critical piece’: Shauna Green hopeful for transfers’ big impact
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Much of the story heading into Shauna Green’s third season at Illinois surrounds continuity — in the form of a plethora of returners and experience. Four of five starters from Green’s first two Illini teams — Makira Cook, Genesis Bryant, Kendall Bostic and Adalia McKenzie — are set to begin their fifth year or true senior seasons, hoping to build on the momentum gained from an NCAA Tournament appearance and WBIT championship.
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