The Champaign Room
A Fighting Illini community since 2012
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Our biggest questions for Underwood and Illinois in 2027
On paper, Illinois projects as one of the most talented and intriguing teams in college basketball. Returning roughly 60% of its total minutes from last year’s Final Four run, the Illini have most certainly turned heads across the country. Yet, beneath the off-season hype and a loaded roster, no team is bulletproof. As Brad Underwood […]
Why a No. 1 seed needs to be goal for Illinois Basketball
Illinois basketball is expected to be one of the best teams in the nation following its Final Four run last season. The Illini reached the Final Four for the first time since 2005 and could be preseason ranked inside the top five for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign. Illinois will return five of […]
Most Painful Losses of Brad Underwood’s Illini Career Draft
Illini Isaac and Robby Nardini of The Champaign Room battle against one another to draft the most painful losses of Brad Underwood’s career as the coach of Illinois Basketball. *Loyola Chicago not included* Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://gtlk.link/5zlx5Emx
All the buzz on Keaton Wagler’s NBA Draft stock
With the NBA Draft now under a week away, that means that information is starting to leak and teams are starting to hone in on who they want to select on June 23. One of the names that’s been garnering a lot of attention is one that’s near and dear to Illini fans’s hearts, Keaton […]
Keaton Wagler Legit NBA Concerns or Just Smoke?
Keaton Wagler finished one of the best freshman seasons that a Fighting Illini has ever had and will hear his name called in the NBA Draft coming up. There has been recent speculation about his game, but is it just smoke? Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life […]
Former Illini Ty Rodgers undergoes surgery after lower-body injury
Ty Rodgers just can’t catch a break, man. After transferring to Boise State this offseason, the former Illini forward sustained a lower-body injury in team workouts. BSU said he underwent surgery and will be sidelined for an “indefinite” period of time. Rodgers was a key piece for the Illini’s Elite Eight squad in 2024, but […]
Report: Illinois adds two non-conference home games
Illinois will get another meeting with Fran McCaffery — less will be at stake this time around. After a matchup with Fran and the Penn Quakers in the NCAA Tournament, Illinois is inviting the Ivy League squad to Champaign. According to Rocco Miller and TCR’s Robby Nardini, Illinois will host Penn on Nov. 5. That […]
Former Illinois recruiting target wins NBA Finals MVP
A once-top target for John Groce’s Illinois staff has now won NBA Finals MVP. Jalen Brunson was the one of the top players in the 2015 class out of Stevenson (Lincolnshire) after winning the IHSA 4A state title. Brunson’s decision came down to the Illini and Villanova in late 2014. He went with the Wildcats. […]
Jersey numbers revealed for Illinois newcomers
It’s one of the biggest groups of newcomers in the Brad Underwood era at Illinois. And on Friday, the Illini revealed the jersey numbers for the seven offseason additions, which includes six high school products. Take a look there. Any specific numbers you like? Don’t like? Obviously there’s a great history with 11, so that […]
Bielema on CFP expansion: ‘I think 24’
From childhood stories, Chili’s triple dipper orders, to the crazy world of college football, Bret Bielema truly covered it all during his interview on the Pardon My Take podcast. Illinois’ head coach joined the Barstool podcast for the fourth time earlier this month. Although some of the interview may have been on the fun side, […]
Bret Bielema Interviewed on Barstool’s Pardon My Take
Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema was invited to Barstool’s office and interviewed on Pardon My Take after appearing on the show last summer with former Illini Luke Altmyer. Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://gtlk.link/5zlx5Emx
Mike Carpenter Back on the Mic! Talking Illinois Hoops; Retiring the 200 Level and more! TCR LIVE
Illini Isaac catches up with Mike Carpenter, formerly of The 200 Level, and recaps the 2026 Final Four run. The guys also discuss Carpenter’s retirement of his podcast and preview the 2026 Illinois Football team. Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://linkly.link/2k0Ei
Illinois adds in-state QB to 2026 class
The season is fast approaching, and Bret Bielema is beefing up his QB room. Illinois flipped Unity quarterback Dane Eisenmenger, the program announced on Wednesday. Eisenmenger had plans to play at Central Missouri this fall, but Illinois said he signed with the Illini. Eisenmenger’s Rockets lost in the 3A state title game to Byron in […]
31-0 LIVE Battle – Illinois Edition of the Viral Game! TCR Live
Robby, Greg, and Isaac of TCR will battled to draft the best 31-0 team possible! Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://linkly.link/2k0Ei
Illinois adds Lincoln Williams to 2026 class
Brad Underwood made a last-minute addition to his 2026 class. Illinois announced Monday that it signed Lincoln Williams, a 6-foot-5 guard from Kankakee. Williams averaged 26 points and six rebounds as a senior last year at Kankakee High School. He finished his high school career with 1,853 points. Williams is the sixth member of Illinois’ […]
Luke Altmyer receives praise from Lions head coach Dan Campbell
Detroit Lions head coach, Dan Campbell, gave a shout out to former Illini, Luke Altmyer, at OTAs this week. The Detroit Free Press posted an article that features Dan Campbell’s comments about Luke Altmyer: “He doesn’t lack confidence, for sure,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “What we thought he would be at this point, I […]
Play 31-0: Illinois version of viral lineup game
I’m sure by now you’ve come across “82-0”, the viral online game where you get a decade and a NBA team, and you need to pick a player to fill each position. Your goal? To build a lineup that would go 82-0. Well, now there’s a chance to play the game with your favorite players […]
Who is the GOAT Illinois Basketball coach?
Is Brad Underwood already the greatest Illini Basketball coach of all-time? Or does someone else have a case? Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://linkly.link/2k0Ei
Illinois makes appearance in NCAA Football 27 trailer
EA Sports College Football 27 comes out in a month, but the first trailer is released this week. And Illinois made a brief appearance toward the end of the trailer. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti narrated the video (he’s a cover “athlete” this year). And at 1:41 in the trailer, you see an Illini player — […]
Former All-American Jenna Hall named Illinois softball head coach
Josh Whitman has made another hire — and they usually turn out pretty good. Jenna Hall is his pick to lead Illini softball into the future. Hall, a former All-American for Illinois, will be the third head coach in program history after Illinois fired Tyra Perry last month. Illinois said Hall agreed to a five-year […]
Does Illinois basketball enter summer as 2027’s best team?
The Illini are coming off their best NCAA Tournament finish since 2005, reaching the Final Four as a No. 3 seed. Expectations for the 2026-27 season are even higher with five of the team’s top eight scorers returning for another year. Illinois was unable to capture either the Big Ten regular-season title or the conference […]
Pope Leo gifted Illinois football jersey
Just like Knicks star Jalen Brunson, Pope Leo left the state of Illinois for college and attended Villanova. But in a visit to the Vatican on Wednesday, Illinois State Rep. Kim Buckner gifted the first American pope a Fighting Illini football jersey. The blue jersey said Leo on the back and had the No. 14. […]
Illinois signee Quentin Coleman notches double-double for Team USA
Quentin Coleman looks like the real deal. Coleman is competing this month with Team USA at the FIBA U-18 AmeriCup before he arrives on campus for his freshman season with the Illini. In his team’s first game on Monday, Coleman notched a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds (7 offensive). Not too bad for […]
Illini legends on College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Two Illini legends are hoping to join 18 former Illinois players in the College Football Hall of Fame this year. The 2027 ballot was released on Monday, and this year’s ballot includes Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice. Overall, the ballot has 80 players and nine coaches from the FBS ranks. Hardy was the 1995 Butkus […]
Drafting Brad Underwood’s Best Wins at Illinois
Illini Isaac and Robby Nardini of The Champaign Room break down recent Illini news and then face off in a draft of Brad Underwood’s best wins at Illinois! Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://linkly.link/2k0Ei
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