The Champaign Room
A Fighting Illini community since 2012
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Kylan Boswell stuns with dunk of the year
Uhhhhhh, that will wake you up. At the end of the first half Wednesday night at USC, Illinois guard Kylan Boswell stunned everyone with an incredible putback dunk. Initially ruled basket interference on the floor, Illinois challenged the call and it was overturned. Because, duh. I think the hand is alright. We knew Kylan’s athletic, […]
Why Illinois’ top duo is ready for the postseason
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It’s almost that time of the year for basketball fans. And this Illini core has proved it’s more than ready for it. As March quickly approaches, teams around the country are starting to finish their resumes to make their case for the big dance. Teams will look to get streaky at just […]
‘Back to work’: Illinois takes down Rutgers as March nears
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After two heartbreaking losses to Oregon and USC, the Illini have fired back with statement wins in their last two games. Tuesday night’s win over Rutgers marks back-to-back games in which the Illini have beaten their opponent by more than 20 points. The orange and blue dominated the Scarlet Knights for all […]
Historical data points to Illinois making deep March run
Illinois is having its best regular season since 2021, when the Illini finished 16-4 in conference play and earned a No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday. That team ended the regular season at 20-6 (fewer games due to the COVID season) while the 2023-24 Elite Eight team finished 23–8 and with a three seed. The […]
Rocky start to season for Illinois Baseball
It was hardly a vacation for the Fighting Illini after their three-game series down in Florida. Illinois came home with a 1-2 record against USF, finishing with a high-scoring 11-10 defeat. With the excitement of opening night, Illinois was able to score its first home run from junior transfer Michael Farina. Two runs later, the […]
TCR Bracketology 8.0: Illinois’ outlook four weeks from Selection Sunday
After a frustrating loss at Michigan State last week put some distance between Illinois and the 1-seeds last week, a truly deflating loss at home to Wisconsin threatened to drop the Illini down to a 3-seed. Fortunately for the Illini, Kylan Boswell came back and a stifling defensive performance against Indiana righted the ship. Also, […]
Long-time NFL running back joins Illinois coaching staff
Bret Bielema has clearly made experience an emphasis in his coaching staff hires this offseason. The latest addition: Tyrone Wheatley. The long-time NFL running back will join Illinois’ staff as its running backs coach. A star college RB at Michigan (4,187 rushing yards, 53 touchdowns), Wheatley has been around the block in the NFL and […]
No, Brad Underwood won’t be going to Kansas State
In case we even have to say it: Brad Underwood will not be leaving Illinois for — checks notes — Kansas State. The Wildcats fired Jerome Tang on Sunday night in a strange turn of events, claiming the fire is “for cause.” Now, of course, some parts of the internet are calling for BU to […]
Keaton Wagler’s “balanced diet” is keeping Illinois’ B1G title hopes afloat
On this episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ I’m joined by TCR’s Pleas Honeywood to recap men’s basketball’s blowout win over the hated Hoosiers (4:16) and discuss why Sunday was more about “process” than “results” (9:39). We also analyze the Illini’s Big Ten outlook (27:18), Keaton Wagler’s offensive balance (34:09), and his impact on the Illini’s future […]
Illinois falls to No. 10 in latest AP poll after 1-1 week
A so-so week for the Illini, and they now find themselves at No. 10 in the latest AP poll on Monday. Illinois checked in last week at No. 8, and proceeded to lose to Wisconsin at State Farm Center. But the Illini — with Kylan Boswell back on the court — turned things around with […]
How to Watch Illinois at USC: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds
How to Watch Illinois at USC Game Time: 9 p.m. Wednesday TV Channel: BTN Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 75.5% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Illinois 71, Indiana 51 Gameday Reading: USC Trojans (18-7, 7-7 Big Ten) Last […]
Orange Krush responds to online criticism; Underwood: ‘They’re great’
If you’ve been on the hellhole that is X in recent days, you’ve probably seen some of the conversation about Orange Krush. And the dialogue hasn’t been great toward the Illini’s basketball fan section. After the crowd appeared to be quite quiet toward the end of Illinois’ upset loss to Wisconsin on Tuesday night, Orange […]
Bashing defensive performance sparks Illini win as Boswell returns
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It had been 11 days since Illinois felt the exhilarating rush of a win. Something that, before, seemed unfathomable, given how the team had just come off a 12-game winning streak that spanned a month-and-a-half. And though Indiana isn’t exactly the cream of the crop of the Big Ten, after losing two […]
Former Illini stars attend game vs. Indiana
Look who’s back in town! NBA rookies Kasparas Jackucionis and Will Riley took in the Illini’s Sunday matinee against Indiana at State Farm Center. KJ and Will are both on All-Star break with the Heat and Wizards, respectively. Also in town this weekend: Terrence Shannon Jr., who the CBS broadcast said practiced with Illinois on […]
Illinois’ Boswell not on injury report vs. Indiana
Kylan Boswell may be back on the court on Sunday. The Illini’s senior guard was not listed on the injury report ahead of the game against Indiana. It’s the first time in a month that Boswell will be cleared for action. He had been a game-time decision in recent days after breaking his hand in […]
Add any Illinois player from the past to 2026 team: Who’s your pick?
I saw this question on X (Twitter), and was inspired to bring it to the bigger group here at TCR. If you could add any Illinois player from a past year’s roster — let’s keep it to the Brad Underwood era — who would you choose? Of course, in picking this, they need to be […]
Bobby Hauck represents Illinois football’s aggressive new future
The Illini introduced Bobby Hauck as their new defensive coordinator on Thursday. The former Montana head coach is bringing a fresh set of eyes and a new defensive philosophy to a program that struggled on third downs under third-year coordinator Aaron Henry in 2025. The hire was justifiably met with a healthy mix of curiosity […]
Jake Davis and Ben Humrichous: Illinois’ unsung dynamic duo
All throughout this basketball season, much has been made of Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell, and the “Baltic Five.” But there are two players who often get overlooked on the stat sheet, but continuously provide much-needed support and stability for the Illini, especially after Boswell’s injury last month. Ben Humrichous and Jake Davis both had question […]
What to expect from Illinois baseball in 2026
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois baseball is officially on the road for its season-opener. After wrapping up their 2025 season with a loss against UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament, the Illini are ready to start their 2026 season against USF. With the successes of Illinois’ athletics as of late, baseball has a chance to make […]
Don’t drink the poison: Why Illinois must trade fatigue for focus
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Following Illinois’ first back-to-back losses of the season, the outside noise surrounding the program has shifted from praise to concern. The message inside the locker room remains clear: Don’t drink the poison. It’s no secret that Illinois head coach Brad Underwood’s program is built on grit, but even the grittiest teams eventually […]
Illinois adds two assistants to football staff
Bret Bielema added two assistants to his 2026 staff on Friday. Former NFL linebacker Roger Cooper was named the team’s inside linebackers coach. Cooper comes from new defensive coordinator’s Bobby Hauck’s staff at Montana, where he worked since 2022. He played in the NFL from 2005-07 with the Cowboys, 49ers and Chargers. Also joining the […]
‘I want to help Coach Bielema win’: Illinois introduces new DC Bobby Hauck
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the first time since his hiring was announced to the masses, Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck met with the media in Champaign. It’s been a wild ride over the past few days for Hauck, who announced that he was retiring from coaching on Feb. 4, effectively stepping down as the head […]
Illinois’ Kaden Feagin to change positions, become tight end
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — At a Thursday press conference, it was announced that Illinois running back Kaden Feagin will be switching positions and will be a tight end in 2026. Feagin has been with the Illini for the past three seasons, spending all of his time in the backfield as an RB. In 2025, he finished […]
Terrence Shannon Jr. lights it up in G League tune-up
Terrence Shannon Jr. is about to return to the Timberwolves and team up with another Illini. A foot injury has sidelined TSJ since Christmas, but he finally returned this week for the Iowa Wolves in the G League to ramp back up before rejoining the T-Wolves in the NBA. In his first game on Tuesday, […]
How to Watch Illinois vs. Indiana: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds
How to Watch Illinois vs. Indiana Game Time: 12 p.m. Sunday TV Channel: CBS Online Streaming: Paramount+ Odds: N/A (Illinois 80.1% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (20-5, 11-3 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Wisconsin 92, Illinois 90 (OT) Gameday Reading: Indiana Hoosiers (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) […]
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