Illini basketball: Breaking down the guards
By Thomas Polcyn, Illini hoops columnist
October 26, 2017
It has been no secret that new head coach Brad Underwood likes to use his guards a lot. His fast-paced system revolves around using multiple lead guards pushing the ball up and down the court from the moment they get the outlet pass from their big men. Knowing how important they will be to the tea...
Injury-depleted Illini finish 15-19, fall in third round of Big Ten tournament
May 8, 2016
Illinois basketball (15-19, 12th in Big Ten) experienced many injuries and off-the-court issues this season. The first blow occurred when point guard Tracy Abrams tore his achilles tendon in July, forcing him to sit out the entire season for the second-straight year. Two other would-be starters ha...
Inter-Agency Athletic Association returns to Illinois
By James Boyd
March 27, 2016
It’s March and it’s madness.This year’s NCAA tournament has already had its fair share of cold-blooded game winners and improbable comebacks, which have busted millions of brackets. But for the Illinois Inter-Agency Athletic Association, this past weekend was simply another opportunity to reward se...
Free throws, rebounding haunt Illini in overtime loss to Buckeyes
By Alex Roux
January 29, 2016
Check out the radio recap by Basketball Reporter Joey Gelman hereIncredibly, the game was right there for Illinois to win Thursday.After trailing Ohio State for 22 consecutive — and mostly sloppy — minutes of basketball, the Illini capped a 13-point second half comeback by the slimme...
Exposing Providence’s supporting cast will be key
By Alex Roux
November 17, 2015
You’re going to hear Kris Dunn's name a lot in the hours leading up to Illinois’ game at Providence Wednesday night.You're going to hear Kris Dunn's name in between the squeak of sneakers as the Illini take on the Friars.If you’re even a somewhat attentive basketball fan, you’re going to hear...
Quality of opening weekend opponents means Illini men's basketball can’t sleepwalk.
By Alex Roux
November 11, 2015
Last season, Illinois basketball opened its schedule with two games in three days during the first weekend of the season. The Illini’s opponents? Georgia Southern and Coppin State.The 2015-16 Illini schedule sets up similarly: They open their season with games Friday and Sunday bracketing the upcoming...
Chancellor Wilson introduces new Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk
November 9, 2015
Illinois’ typical Monday football routine started a bit earlier and with a few different faces. The University released the results of the independent reports of the Illinois sports medicine and football programs investigations and in turn announced the dismissal of Athletic Director Mike Thomas. Int...
As Illini hoops season nears, some preseason takeaways can prove valuable
By Alex Roux
November 3, 2015
State Farm Center is coming along.One month away from its almost-but-not-totally-finished grand opening for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge between Illinois and Notre Dame, shiny new facades and a retreat of construction equipment has the home of Illini hoops looking like an actual arena again.At least fo...
Groce hosts recruit after Illini hoops scrimmage
By Alex Roux
October 27, 2015
Just when you thought you could shift your attention to this year’s Illini basketball team, head coach John Groce arranged an 11th-hour recruiting visit.My man Derek Piper over at Scout.com dropped a Twitter bomb Sunday evening, reporting that former Tulane commit Kipper Nichols was on the Illinoi...
Two Illini targets transfer as season draws closer
By Alex Roux
October 19, 2015
As the leaves turn and the sun sets earlier with each passing day, college hoops fans’ mindsets shift from recruiting watch to game mode.Especially at Illinois, especially this year. The fall early signing period begins just three weeks from Wednesday, and the Illini’s first game is two days aft...
As injuries mount, Illini basketball’s prospects grows murkier
By Alex Roux
October 13, 2015
Tweet: With the season a month away, Leron Black’s injury casts further uncertainty on upcoming #Illini seasonHead coach John Groce was about six minutes into his eight-minute opening statement at Illinois Media Day last Thursday when he dropped the latest injury bomb to hit Illini basketball.Sophomo...
Illini hoops recruiting settles into a lull
By Alex Roux
October 6, 2015
For the first time since classes started, a weekend devoid of any basketball recruiting visits came and went on the Illinois campus.Sometimes recruits take official visits, other times they’re unofficial. We’ve seen them scheduled far in advance, and others have materialized at what seems like the...
