Illinois lands four-star defensive tackle

Michael Gasick, Staff writer
August 4, 2017
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Top Stories

Four-star defensive tackle Calvin Avery announced his commitment to Illinois on Friday. The 6-foot-2, 310 pound Avery selected Illinois out of a final five that included TCU, Oklahoma, USC and Colorado. Avery also had offers from Texas Tech, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Notre Dame, Florida State, Neb...

Big Ten Media Days: Day Two Roundup

Jacob Diaz, Staff writer
July 26, 2017
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Showcase, Sports, Top Stories

To nobody's surprise, Jim Harbaugh wore khakis. The Michigan head coach was the big draw on day two of Big Ten Media Days, as evidenced by the massive crowd that followed him out of the room as he left the podium. However, while he gave some interesting quotes, talking about his team's trip to Rome...

Big Ten Media Days: Day One Roundup

Jacob Diaz, Staff Writer
July 24, 2017
Filed under Big Ten media days, Football, Men's Sports, Sports

The addition of more Friday night games to the Big Ten schedule dominated day one of Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, as many in attendance asked coaches and players alike about their thoughts on Friday night games during the Big Ten season. Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany was the second person to take the ...

New-look Illini offensive line preparing for action in 2017

Gavin Good, Assistant sports editor
July 24, 2017
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports

When Illinois kicks off against Ball State at Memorial Stadium on September 2, the offensive line tasked with protecting Chayce Crouch and running backs Kendrick Foster and Reggie Corbin from opposing defenses will bear little resemblance to last season’s group. Gone are stalwart center Joe Spencer and rel...

Smith brings atypical coaching style to team

Mike Gasick, Staff writer
July 24, 2017
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports

Illinois head football coach Lovie Smith does not enjoy yelling. He doesn’t see much use for it. And he could have done plenty of it last year with a 3-9 football team. “Do you need to yell to be a good coach?” Smith asked a reporter after the subject came up. Smith said he doesn’...

Whitman and Smith enthusiastic about new football facility

Jacob Diaz, Staff Writer
July 24, 2017
Filed under Big Ten media days, Football, Men's Sports, Sports

When the Illinois Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced a change in plans for upgrading Illinois' football facilities June 20, the media and fans alike had many questions. A month after announcing delays to the original proposal of renovating Memorial Stadium and the unveiling of a 10...

Smith names Crouch starting quarterback

Mike Gasick, Staff writer
July 24, 2017
Filed under Big Ten media days, Football, Men's Sports, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Illinois head football coach Lovie Smith said Monday at Big Ten Media Days that Chayce Crouch will start the season at quarterback for the Illini. Smith said that he enjoys the energy Crouch brings to the team, but he needs to be smart about the ways he uses it. “Well, first off, he needs t...

Former Illinois basketball guard Jalen Coleman-Lands transfers to DePaul

Stephen Cohn, Staff writer
July 2, 2017
Filed under Basketball, Men's Sports, Sports, Top Stories

Former Illinois basketball guard Jalen Coleman-Lands is transferring to DePaul. https://twitter.com/EvanDaniels/status/881642329614032896 The rising junior was granted a release from the Illinois program on May 25. The Indianapolis native was the highest-rated player brought in by former head...

“It’s coming soon.” Players confident Varsity Hockey is in University’s future.

Stephen Cohn, Staff writer
June 26, 2017
Filed under Hockey, Men's Sports, Sports, Top Stories

Built in 1931, the Illinois Ice Arena sits at the corner of 5th and Armory on-campus at the University. It hosts hockey games nearly every Friday and Saturday night from September through February for Illinois’ Division I club team. On a weekly basis, the country’s top teams, like Lindenwood...

Illinois to take part in NHL Feasibility Study

Cole Henke, Sports Editor
June 23, 2017
Filed under Hockey, Men's Sports, Top Stories

The University of Illinois will be taking part in a feasibility study to determine if it could support a varsity hockey program in the future. The study will be led by both the NHL and the NHLPA as part of an initiative taken to increase interest in the sport nationwide. Illinois will be one of five...

Former Illinois basketball player D.J. Williams transfers to GWU

Eli Schuster, Assistant Sports Editor for Video
June 21, 2017
Filed under Basketball, Men's Sports, Sports, Top Stories

Former Illinois basketball player D.J. Williams transferred to George Washington University on Wednesday afternoon. Let's get it !!😈 pic.twitter.com/ajOmBraRTP — Agent Zero (@DWill_0) June 21, 2017 The 6-foot-7 guard appeared in 17 games and averaged a total of 2.3 point...

Slovenian player Vesel signs with Illinois basketball

Gavin Good, Assistant sports editor
June 13, 2017
Filed under Basketball, Men's Sports, Sports, Top Stories

Within a week of signing three-star forward Greg Eboigbodin, Brad Underwood has bolstered the 2017 recruiting class with another big man, 6-foot-9 Slovenian Matic Vesel. Vesel, who plays for the U20 Slovenian national team and has played with Slovenian club Helios Suns, is coming into a situation...