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The Champaign Room

A Fighting Illini community since 2012

Latest Entries

How four of Illinois’ best coaches ever share a similar past

In terms of top basketball coaches at the University of Illinois, a lot of names come to mind. Names like Harry Combes, the first coach to win over 150 games in the Big Ten (174) and over 300 games at Illinois (316). He led the Illini to three Final Fours. There have only been five […]

Illinois football’s five most intriguing 2026 matchups

It seems like it was only a short matter of time ago that the Fighting Illini took down Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. Despite that feeling, much has changed since then, and with roughly three months before the first kickoff against UAB, it’s already time to start looking at who the Illini will face […]

Could Quentin Coleman be the next great Illinois guard?

Illini fans have been spoiled with excellent guard play since the arrival of Ayo Dosunmu in 2018. Several have followed in Dosunmu’s footsteps, cementing Brad Underwood as a coach that can develop guards. Ayo Dosunmu, Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley and Keaton Wagler were all home-grown stars recruited by Underwood. If Underwood’s staff isn’t developing guards, […]

How good is Illinois’ 2026 freshman class?

We all know Brad and Tyler can put on a recruiting masterclass, but how will the five newbies stack up? Guards Starting with the most recent, but probably most essential piece in the recruiting class is Missouri 247Sports five- star recruit Quentin Coleman. Not only does it always feel good to grab a “Braggin’ Rights” […]

Brad Underwood’s extension sends a clear message about Illinois’ future

This episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ is a collaboration with TCR’s “Illini Isaac” Ambrose! We chat about Andrej Stojakovic’s looming NBA draft decision (3:54), Keaton Wagler’s potential new team (9:49), men’s basketball’s non-conference clash with Duke (15:46), and the benefit of playing so many top-tier opponents (24:42). We also break down Brad Underwood’s contract extension (27:19) […]

Illinois falls to Purdue, ending Big Ten Tournament run

Illinois won’t be dancing this spring. Illinois Baseball’s season came to a disappointing end in the Big Ten Tournament when the Illini lost 3-1 to the Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday in Omaha. The game featured an absolute pitching duel with both starters determined to keep their teams’ seasons alive in the elimination game. It was […]

Brad Underwood agrees to extension with Illinois

He’s sticking around into the 2030s. Illinois announced last week that Brad Underwood agreed to new terms on his current contract keeping him in Champaign through June 30, 2032. That contract could extend as far as June 30, 2036, based on performance, according to a news release. The agreement is pending approval by the Board […]

Column: Grateful for everything they gave me

As I started my treacherous walk from the CNN Techwood Studios to my apartment on the Georgia Tech campus, sweat droplets began to permeate through the outer layer of my blue dress shirt. The Atlanta summer heat made a 15-minute walk feel like an exhausting hour-long journey across a hellish desert. Perhaps akin to my […]

Illinois Basketball 2026-27 Schedule Tracker

The NCAA added a 32nd game to the schedule for the 2026-27 season, including a 20-game Big Ten schedule. There will be 12 non-conference games and 20 conference games before the conference tournament starts March 9, 2027. We will not know the specific date and times for conference games until September, but this tracker will […]

Illinois basketball announces home-and-home with Duke

The Illini are headed to North Carolina this season. Illinois basketball announced Wednesday that it will play Duke on Nov. 17 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils will come to Champaign in December 2027. Duke and Illinois have matched up just twice this decade, most recently during the 2024-25 season. It was a game […]

Andrej Stojakovic put on a show to start NBA Draft Combine

Uhhhhhh. Andrej might not be coming back. The Illini wing put on a show Monday night at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. A good week for Stojakovic in the Windy City could push him to stay in the NBA Draft rather than return for his second year at Illinois (and his fourth overall in […]

NBA

Andrej Stojakovic should learn his fate this week

In this episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ I recap last week’s results from Illini tennis, track & field, and men’s & women’s golf (2:58) as well as the dismissal of Illinois softball coach Tyra Perry (15:39). I also discuss fresh starts for a pair of former Illini hoopers (21:36), Illinois’ next rematch with UConn (31:09), the […]

What to expect from Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. for the remainder of the playoffs

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves’ postseason hasn’t gone exactly to plan. Between Donte DiVincenzo’s season-ending Achilles tear, Anthony Edwards’ knee hyperextension and Ayo Dosunmu’s heel soreness, the Wolves had to move pieces around to close out the first-round series against the Nuggets.  Luckily, for the Timberwolves, their depth came out to play–and stepped up big […]

Two Illinois football games moved to Friday nights

It wouldn’t be an Illinois Football season without a few games under the lights on Friday night. The program announced Friday that two games will be moved to Friday nights on FOX. The first is Friday, Nov. 6 against Nebraska in Champaign. Does everyone remember what happened the last time the Illini and Huskers met […]

Former Illini Ty Rodgers commits to Boise St.

After entering the transfer portal on April 16, Ty Rodgers has found a new home, as he committed to Boise State this morning. The former Illini guard is heading to the Broncos with two seasons of eligibility remaining, as a redshirt junior. Rodgers spent the last four seasons in Champaign, but hasn’t played since 2023, […]