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Who should be Bret Bielema’s next defensive coordinator?
For the third time in six seasons, the Fighting Illini football team will have a new defensive coordinator. Aaron Henry accepted the Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary coach position at the University of Notre Dame. Henry was promoted to the Defensive Coordinator position when Ryan Walters left to become the Head Coach of Purdue in 2023. Henry’s tenure […]
Editorial: Jeremy Fears’ dirty play is a symptom of a bigger problem
Editor’s Note: The views in this piece are those of TCR staff columnist Pleas Honeywood. Let’s get this out of the way early: Tom Izzo earned his Hall of Fame ring. He has been a model of both excellence and consistency in the Big Ten. His track record of making runs into the second weekend […]
There is no such thing as a ceiling for this year’s Illini
This group’s offensive firepower and chemistry have been off the charts thus far. This has arguably been one of the most exciting seasons in the program’s rich history. This year’s team has loads of talent, versatility, unselfishness, and no shortage of fun personalities. Their impressive play on the court has been extremely fun to watch, […]
Illinois legends Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. team up in Minnesota
Ayo Dosunmu’s time as a basketball star in the state of Illinois has come to an end. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported this morning that the Chicago Bulls traded Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips were traded in exchange for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks, per Charania. Dosunmu […]
Bielema teases new scheme, Illinois’ next defensive coordinator
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — At a press conference on Wednesday night, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema addressed his defensive coordinator opening, dropping hints to some major changes coming to the defensive side of the ball in 2026 along the way. Just last week, Aaron Henry left the Illini for an opportunity on Marcus Freeman’s staff at […]
Down big at half, Illinois women fall to Oregon in thriller
EUGENE, Ore. – Illinois found itself in uncharted waters on Wednesday night. After beating Washington over the weekend, it was time to conclude the West Coast road trip, this time facing off against the Oregon Ducks. However, the Illini found themselves down 21 points at halftime to the Ducks. Shauna Green, though, rerouted the course […]
Dissecting Illinois’ complete performance in total drubbing of Northwestern
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois dominated Northwestern at the State Farm Center in round two of what should always be a closely contested “rivalry” game. Instead, Wednesday night’s 84-44 Illini win was a forgettable chapter in a storied duel between both programs. Illinois put together its most complete performance in conference play of the 2025-26 season. […]
How to Watch Illinois at Michigan State: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds
How to Watch Illinois at Michigan State Game Time: 7 p.m. Saturday TV Channel: Fox Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 44.4% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (20-3, 11-1 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Illinois 84, Northwestern 44 Gameday Reading: Michigan State Spartans (19-4, 9-3 Big Ten) […]
Will Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears start against Illinois?
Illinois will search for another top-10 road win Saturday night in East Lansing, and one of Michigan State’s best players may not be on the court (at least to start). Tom Izzo had some choice words for Jeremy Fears’ performance in the Spartans’ Wednesday night to Minnesota. “Jeremy’s gotta grow up a little bit,” Izzo […]
Illinois joins elite company with another 20-win season
As if the 84-44 win over Northwestern on Wednesday night didn’t signal elite to the fans, how about this? With the victory, Illinois secured its seventh consecutive 20-win regular season under Brad Underwood — it’s a streak that dates back to the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season. The Illini are just one of three teams in that […]
Illinois torches Northwestern, extends win streak to 12
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois caught fire early from beyond the arc and did not hesitate to slow down. Coming off consecutive top-5 road wins for the first time in program history after taking down No. 4 Purdue and No. 5 Nebraska, Illinois reminded its fans of the depth it has to offer with five Illini […]
Illinois controls its own destiny in Big Ten race
Illinois, for the second time in three games, faced a top-5 opponent away from State Farm Center and walked out a winner, The Illini worked the inside-out game and hit the boards hard in the first half on Sunday in Lincoln. Nebraska, to its credit, started out hitting three-pointers like it was throwing paper into […]
This Illinois basketball season feels different than most
In this episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ I highlight the standouts from the opening of track & field season (4:25), recap men’s basketball’s wins over Washington (7:17) and Nebraska (10:47), examine Keaton Wagler’s epic three-game stretch (20:46) and break down Illinois’ best start in 20 years (25:04). I also review the Big Ten race and discuss […]
TCR Bracketology 6.0: Illinois closing in on No. 1 seed
Another week, another top-five road win, another chapter in the lore of the kid from Shawnee, Kansas. After handling Washington at home without too much fanfare, Illinois went to Nebraska and “Robbed the Bank”. Personally, if I were Brad Underwood, I would have used “Assassinate Lincoln” as my punny motivational catch phrase, but to each […]
Numbers Don’t Lie: Illinois’ offense is historically elite
Brad Underwood has had very good offensive teams throughout his time as a Division I basketball coach, but the 2025–26 Illini are his best yet. Illinois is currently averaging 84.6 points per game and is ranked No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom and Bart Torvik. This year’s Illini team is not just the […]
Wagler earns another Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor
Keaton Wagler is going to set some records this season. The superstar freshman earned his fifth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award on Monday as the Illini rose to No. 5 in the AP poll after topping Nebraska one day earlier. Wagler averaged 25 points, 6.5 assists and 5 boards in two wins last […]
Illinois moves up again in AP poll after topping No. 5 Nebraska
Can’t stop, won’t stop. Illinois — on an 11-game winning streak — keeps moving up the AP Top 25, checking in on Monday at No. 5. The Illini were No. 9 last week when they topped Washington and No. 5 Nebraska. Brad Underwood’s bunch is now the second-highest Big Ten team in the polls behind […]
How to Watch Illinois vs. Northwestern: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds
How to Watch Illinois vs. Northwestern Game Time: 8 p.m. Wednesday TV Channel: BTN Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 90.9% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Illinois 78, Nebraska 69 Gameday Reading: Northwestern Wildcats (10-12, 2-9 Big Ten) Head Coach: […]
Illinois earns statement win at No. 25 Washington
SEATTLE — Illinois finally breaks through on the road. After weeks of narrow misses and ranked heartbreaks on the road, Illinois delivered its most complete performance of the season Sunday evening, knocking off No. 25 Washington 75-66 at Alaska Airlines Arena. The Illini controlled the paint, won the rebounding battle and leaned on a freshman […]
Illinois knocks off No. 5 Nebraska, earns second top-5 road win in nine days
LINCOLN, Neb. — Revenge! In a crucial conference matchup with potential Big Ten title implications, it was the visiting Illini that came out on top over the gritty Huskers. With the win, Illinois moves into a tie for first place in the Big Ten. For the first time in program history Illinois has beaten top-5 […]
The best reactions to Illinois’ win over No. 5 Nebraska
Another top-5 road win for the Illini. I can get used to this. Here’s some of the best reactions to Illinois’ big win Sunday afternoon in Lincoln. Next up: Northwestern on Wednesday.
Report: Aaron Henry leaving Illinois for Notre Dame
Significant developments this weekend on Illinois’ coaching staff. First, special teams coordinator Robby Discher was reported to be heading to Ohio State. And then on Sunday, CBS Sports reported that defensive coordinator Aaron Henry is expected to head to South Bend and join Marcus Freeman’s staff at Notre Dame. Matt Zenitz reports Henry will be […]
Report: Illinois special teams coordinator heading to Ohio State
Illinois special teams coordinator Robby Discher is reportedly heading to Columbus. CBS Sports reported Saturday that Discher will take over the same position for Ryan Day’s staff at Ohio State. Discher’s career has taken him to Tulane, Georgia and Louisiana before Illinois, where he arrived in 2023. Over the last two seasons, Illinois’ special teams […]
At 18-3, there’s no question Illinois is a contender
With roughly two-thirds of the season in the books, Illinois basketball finds itself in rare air. At 18=3, this is the program’s best start since the 2005-06 team, and that record alone demands instant respect from the field and the designation of a title-contender. More importantly, this roster looks like the finished product Brad Underwood […]
‘This is a group that loves to play with one another’: Illini growing closer as winning streak reaches 10
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After a disappointing home loss to Nebraska in mid-December, Illinois needed to switch some things up. The Illini had lost three of their last seven games and it felt as if things could go off the rails if not for a sudden mentality switch. “The Nebraska loss started it all,” said Illinois […]
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