Even in down years, Braggin’ Rights remain sacred
By Alex Roux
December 23, 2015
Tweet: Even in a down year for both teams, Braggin’ Rights remain sacred for Illini/MizzouWhen a season goes as it has so far for Illinois basketball, it can become harder to find games on the schedule with true importance and meaning.At 7-5, the Illini have suffered from some self-inflicted pain t...
Rice turns frustration to elation for Illini fans
December 21, 2014
ST. LOUIS — As Saturday’s Braggin’ Rights game in St. Louis between Missouri and Illinois ticked down to its final minutes, Illinois fans were frustrated. Frustrated that the Illini were letting an inferior Mizzou team hang around. Frustrated that the Tigers seemed to hit every tough shot they ...
Rice’s buzzer-beater lifts Illinois over Missouri
By Sean Neumann
December 20, 2014
ST. LOUIS – There was little doubt the ball was going to be in Rayvonte Rice's hands. As the seconds faded off the clock, Rice fell back from beyond the arc to put up a long three. The senior guard buried a shot over two Missouri defenders as the clock ran out, igniting an eruption on, and off, the...
Illini, Mizzou feed off Braggin’ Rights crowd
December 20, 2014
ST. LOUIS — Rayvonte Rice was quiet for most of the first half. The Scottrade Center crowd was not. After finishing the first half with eight points, Rice carried the Illini offensively for stretches in the second half and finished the Braggin’ Rights game off on a high note with a fade away buz...
Braggin’ Rights game will be special, as always
December 20, 2014
As Illinois head coach John Groce has said, when it comes to the Braggin’ Rights game, you can throw the teams’ records out the window. Illinois enters the annual contest at 8-3, while Missouri sits at a mediocre 5-5. But everyone knows both squads will bring it when they meet in St. Louis for...
Illini basketball fans might as well be patient — for now
December 17, 2014
We’re 10 games into the season, and Illini fans have more questions than answers in regards to what John Groce’s Illinois basketball team is capable of this year. Following Saturday’s loss to Oregon at United Center, many Illini fans were left disappointed. The primary sources of that disap...
10 days that defined the Illinois men’s basketball season
May 14, 2014
Oct. 1 — Transfer Ahmad Starks denied waiver by the NCAA to play the 2013-14 season. The guard from Oregon State who transferred to Illinois to be closer to his grandmother was told by the NCAA that he could not play this season, leaving Illinois with a hole at point guard behind starter Tracy Abr...
Illini start strong but falter at end of break games
January 16, 2014
Illinois basketball was on top of the world on Dec. 21. After the Illini snapped a four-game losing streak in the 33rd annual Braggin’ Rights game against No. 23 Missouri, how could they not be? They not only knocked off one of their fiercest rivals, but also garnered their best win of the season. Ill...
Abrams’ clutch performance propels Illinois over Missouri
December 22, 2013
After a couple stellar performances against UNLV and IPFW over Thanksgiving break I called Rayvonte Rice the “go-to player” of the Illinois men’s basketball team. Maybe I spoke too soon. Tracy Abrams took the role as the primary scorer of the Illini down the stretch in a 65-64 win over No. 23 M...
Abrams’ free throws clinch Braggin’ Rights
December 22, 2013
ST. LOUIS — John Groce preaches toughness and his junior point guard exemplified it on Saturday. Tracy Abrams sank two free throws with 4.6 seconds on the clock to beat Missouri 65-64 in the Bud Light Braggin’ Rights game in St. Louis. The 33rd annual edition of the nonconference rivalry game wa...
Illinois honors former players with Braggin’ Rights win
By Johnathan Hettinger
December 22, 2013
ST. LOUIS — After Joseph Bertrand carried the Braggin’ Rights trophy off the court for the first time in his five-year Illini career, he couldn’t help but do a bit of bragging. “U mad?” Bertrand, who redshirted his freshman year, tweeted at former classmates Tyler Griffey, D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul, who went 0-4 in Braggin’ Rights games ...
1993 Braggin’ Rights game was a classic
By Dave Matter and Stu Durando
December 21, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. — When the latest installment of the Missouri-Illinois Braggin' Rights game tipped off Dec. 22, 1993, at The Arena on Oakland Avenue, Norm Stewart's Tigers were still smarting from a 120-68 loss at Arkansas. Three days earlier, Mizzou had survived a scare from Coppin State and won by...
