A Fighting Illini community since 2012
Coming into this season, there was a belief that Illinois has a very talented team but with lots of new players and new roles, there were a lot of question marks. There was the potential for a special season, but if things didn’t gel right, it could look a lot like last year or the […]
about 9 hours ago | 0 reads
Brandt Dolce of The Champaign Room rejoins me to recap Illinois’ men’s basketball win over Tennessee in Nashville (3:42), discuss Brad Underwood’s offensive template (23:02) and the challenging schedule ahead (34:21), and preview this week’s Big Ten matchups versus Ohio State (41:11) and Nebraska (48:39). We also break women’s basketball’s dominant win against Indiana (61:09), […]
about 16 hours ago | 0 reads
Brandt Dolce of The Champaign Room rejoins me to recap Illinois’ men’s basketball win over Tennessee in Nashville (3:42), discuss Brad Underwood’s offensive template (23:02) and the challenging schedule ahead (34:21), and preview this week’s Big Ten matchups versus Ohio State (41:11) and Nebraska (48:39). We also break women’s basketball’s dominant win against Indiana (61:09), […]
about 16 hours ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN — Ben Humrichous had a quiet, relatively unremarkable stat line in Saturday night’s win over Tennessee, ending the night with a meager two points, five rebounds and an assist. But at least one of his rebounds came in the middle of the second half and was instrumental in kick-starting a run for Illinois as […]
about 17 hours ago | 0 reads
It’s a slow stretch of the schedule for Illinois, but it certainly picks up this week with two Big Ten games. But last week, the Illini played only one game, a 13-point win over No. 13 Tennessee in Nashville. With that win, Illinois made a leap in the AP poll, back up to No. 13 […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
If you told Brad Underwood before the Tennessee game that his team would be out-rebounded by 15 and still win, he probably wouldn’t have believed you. For a program that prides itself on dominating the glass, Illinois’ rebounding effort in Nashville was shocking. It was actually the second straight game that Illinois lost the battle […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
For the third time in four years, Illinois is bowling. And for the second time in as many years, Illinois is hoping to win a bowl (and claim back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time… ever). But not so fast, my friend: The oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook think the Illini have some work to do […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the second consecutive year the Illinois Fighting Illini are going bowling, as the team was selected to play in the Music City Bowl against Tennessee. The (8-4, 4-4 B1G) Illini are heading to Nashville, for their third bowl game in five years under head coach Bret Bielema. It’s Illinois’ first-ever appearance […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
How to Watch Illinois at Ohio State Game Time: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday TV Channel: N/A Online Streaming: Peacock Odds: N/A (Illinois 46.9% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (7-2, 0-0 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Illinois 75, Tennessee 62 Gameday Reading: Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten) […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Saturday night in the Music City featured two teams in desperate need of a high-profile win to add to their March resume. But for as much as these teams desperately needed that elusive quad one win, neither could get out of its own way. Until Illinois decided enough was enough, and a […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
Nashville, Tenn. — Saturday night in the Music City featured two teams in desperate need of a high-profile win to add to their March resume. But for as much as these teams desperately needed that elusive quad one win, neither could get out of its own way. Until Illinois decided enough was enough, and a […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Shauna Green might have something special brewing in Champaign. Despite welcoming a host of new players this offseason, Illinois rolled Indiana in its Big Ten opener on Saturday, 78-57, at State Farm Center. The Hoosiers entered the game 8-1 overall only with a loss to No. 10 Iowa State, but the Illini […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Dec. 3 marked a special day in the college football world, as the next generation of football stars signed their letters of intent on National Signing Day. In high school gyms and special gatherings across the country, players were declaring which college program they’d be bringing their talents to, much to the […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After a draining stretch of ranked matchups, head coach Brad Underwood had the Illini spend this week rediscovering their legs. Following back-to-back ranked losses against Alabama and UCONN, the No. 14 Illini traded rest for intensity this week to prepare for Saturday’s 7 p.m. tip at Bridgestone Arena against the No. 13 […]
4 days ago | 0 reads
Illinois travels to Nashville on Saturday night for a matchup against Tennessee. Both teams are ranked inside the top 20-ranked teams, both in the AP poll (ILL: 14, TENN: 13) and KenPom (ILL:17, TENN:16). Each enters coming off frustrating offensive performances, both barely cracking 60 points. If you watched last year’s heart-wrenching, last-second finish against […]
4 days ago | 0 reads
On this bonus edition of “Oskee Talk” I’m joined by Evan & Ruston Pierce from TheVolBros.com to preview Saturday’s Top-25 matchup with Tennessee. The guys provide early-season observations of the Volunteers and explain why they don’t like the timing of this game. We also discuss each team’s overhauled rosters and how they’ve meshed, the Illini’s […]
4 days ago | 0 reads
It’s no question that when Illinois plays a team it should beat, the Illini lay down the hammer. But when it’s a difficult game…. well, we know how it usually ends. The stats back that up: But the Illini are 0-2 this season away from Champaign, which includes losses to No. 11 Alabama (United Center) […]
4 days ago | 0 reads
After Illinois’ third eight-win regular season in four years, the Illini received plenty of accolades from the Big Ten. LT JC Davis was named All-Big Ten First Team, while wide receiver Hank Beatty made the conference’s Third Team after his do-it-all season on offense and special teams. On defense, no surprise here: Gabe Jacas, the […]
4 days ago | 0 reads
After a somewhat no-thrills win vs. Northwestern in a rare Thanksgiving weekend blizzard. the Illini ended the regular season with an 8-4 record and will play in a late December bowl game. The Illini handled both the weather and the Wildcats relatively well, but it was more about getting a lead and holding on to […]
4 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — 2026 offensive tackle Micah Smith has announced that he will be flipping his commitment from UCLA to Illinois. The No. 81 recruit in the 2026 class, according to ESPN, will be the highest-rated recruit in Bret Bielema’s tenure as the Illini head coach, and high-rated recruit since Martez Wilson in 2007. It […]
6 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — 2026 offensive tackle Micah Smith has announced that he will be flipping his commitment from UCLA to Illinois. The No. 81 recruit in the 2026 class, according to ESPN, will be the highest-rated recruit in Bret Bielema’s tenure as the Illini head coach, and high-rated recruit since Martez Wilson in 2007. It […]
6 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illini have added another player to their Class of 2026 Signing Class, as they flipped running back Javari Barnett on Dec. 3, National Signing Day. A three-star RB out of Tampa, Florida, Barnett has been tied to Illinois for some time now, even before making his official commitment today. In June […]
6 days ago | 0 reads
How to Watch No. 14 Illinois at No. 13 Tennessee (Nashville) Game Time: 7 p.m. Saturday TV Channel: ESPN Online Streaming: ESPN+ Odds: N/A (Illinois 45% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season, 171-103) Last Game: UCONN 74, Illinois 61 Gameday Reading: Tennessee Volunteers […]
6 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Pure domination. Coming off an absolute beatdown over LIU, where the game finished with a score difference of 72 points, the Illini were looking to ride the hot hand and keep firing on all cylinders. And boy, oh boy, did they do just that. The orange and blue of Shauna Green trampled […]
7 days ago | 1 read
Again, no shock here, but Illinois didn’t find its name in the CFP top 25 on Tuesday night when the final rankings came out before the 12-team playoff is unveiled this weekend. The Illini, who finished the regular season at 8-4 after a snowy win over Northwestern, appeared in the CFP rankings once this season. […]
7 days ago | 0 reads