Illinois, Rutgers to rematch after "classic" triple overtime game
February 15, 2016
Filed under Sports
Tweet: #Illini and @RutgersMBB to rematch Tuesday night in Champaign after "classic" triple overtime game on Feb. 3.Illinois-Rutgers on Feb. 3 was a toddler on Red Bull in the form of a basketball game. At times, the disorganized, fast-paced affair seemed more like a Campus Recreation intramural...
Illinois escapes bonkers affair in triple overtime at Rutgers
By Alex Roux
February 4, 2016
Filed under Sports
Someone had to win Wednesday evening between Illinois and Rutgers, even if it looked for most of the game like neither team wanted to. After coming within a free throw of defeat at the end of regulation and hemorrhaging away a seven-point lead with under a minute left in the first of three overtimes,...
Illini implode at Indiana, lose 103-69
By Alex Roux
January 20, 2016
Filed under Sports
Illinois did Tuesday what you absolutely can’t afford to do if you want to win at Indiana.It let the Hoosiers play downhill.The Illini were backpedaling on defense all night in their 103-69 loss to Indiana as the Hoosiers (16-3, 6-0) effortlessly picked apart the Illinois defense at Asse...
Looking to avoid an Illini hoops disaster in a difficult season
By Alex Roux
January 19, 2016
Filed under Sports
At Illinois, it’s reasonable to expect the men’s basketball team to make the NCAA tournament.Barring extreme circumstances and an occasional rebuilding season, that expectation was solidified and instilled into multiple generations of Illini hoops fans over the course of nearly three decades. From ...
?A win over Michigan would put a tumultuous nonconference further behind the Illini
By Alex Roux
December 30, 2015
Filed under Sports
The story of the 2015 nonconference season has been written, and it's one Illini basketball fans would like to leave in the past.They know all about the injuries that threatened to derail the season before it barely had a chance to take shape. They remember the Springfield series that everyone beside...
Nunn, Finke establish career highs against Western Carolina
December 7, 2015
Filed under Sports
Kendrick Nunn inbounded the ball to Michael Finke with six minutes left in the first half against Western Carolina Saturday. Finke caught the ball between the top of the key and the right wing, a few feet from the red State Farm logo. The redshirt freshman immediately handed the rock back to Nunn, who...
As hype around Illini hoops fades, Illinois must use softer December slate to improve
By Alex Roux
December 5, 2015
Filed under Sports
A lot of eyes were on Illinois basketball Wednesday night.State Farm Center’s makeover was revealed, Lou Henson was honored and the ACC/Big Ten Challenge showcased the Illini against Notre Dame in primetime. A win would have injected some life into the beleaguered Illini fan base and given John Gr...
A win over Notre Dame would cap off State Farm Center spectacle
By Alex Roux
December 1, 2015
Filed under Sports
Hardly anything has gone according to plan for Illinois basketball this season.The Illini got off to their worst start to a season in 50 years, and now sit at 3-4 entering December. The only projected starter to avoid injury so far is Malcolm Hill. And their five-game stint in Springfield will be rem...
Illini Mike Thorne Jr. has knee surgery
December 1, 2015
Filed under Sports
Center Mike Thorne Jr. had surgery on his knee for a torn meniscus Monday and is out indefinitelySO. The graduate transfer from UNC-Charlotte left the game in pain during the first half of Saturday’s matchup with Iowa State after posting 10 points and seven boards in 13 minutes.SOThorne Jr. has been a for...
Coleman-Lands leads Illini men's basketball past UIS in lone exhibition
By Alex Roux
November 9, 2015
Filed under Sports
Illinois was struggling early in Springfield.Tied 23-23 with Division II Illinois-Springfield in the first half of their lone exhibition game of the season, the Illini needed somebody to get it going offensively. Freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands — in his first public action since recovering from a...
As Illini hoops season nears, some preseason takeaways can prove valuable
By Alex Roux
November 3, 2015
Filed under Sports
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...
