A Fighting Illini community since 2012
CHAMPAIGN — AJ Redd never really expected to be waxing poetic about his circuitous route to Senior Night at the State Farm Center. Who can blame him? Just a couple of years ago, his role on the team involved doing laundry for the likes of Terrance Shannon Jr. Redd played high school basketball for St. […]
about 1 hour ago | 0 reads
The Illini were sitting at 20-3 following their blowout win at home against Northwestern but have since lost four of their last six games. They looked like one of the best teams in the country and a team that could compete with Michigan for a Big Ten regular season championship. Concerns have grown following their […]
about 1 hour ago | 0 reads
On Friday, the Illini got a look at what an Elite Eight matchup would look like and came up depressingly short. Michigan played with an intensity and toughness that the Illini did not come close to matching and did not shoot well enough to overcome it. After being competitive in every other loss this year, […]
about 16 hours ago | 0 reads
How to Watch Big Ten Tournament First Round Game Time: ~5 p.m. Wednesday TV Channel: N/A Online Streaming: Peacock Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (19-10, 9-9 Big Ten) Head Coach: Shauna Green (4th season) Last Game: Minnesota 78, Illinois 73 Gameday Reading: Wisconsin Badgers (13-16, 5-13 Big Ten) Head Coach: Robin Pingeton Last Game: Iowa 81, Wisconsin […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Welcome to March, Illini fans. It’s that time of the year again! As we conclude the regular season in college basketball, all eyes will be on tournament play this upcoming week as teams around the country will look to strengthen their resume in order to get to the big dance. One of […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois had its chances late. After trailing by as many as 15 points, the Illini battled back to tie the game in the final minute Sunday at State Farm Center. Minnesota responded at the free-throw line and held on for a 78-73 win in Illinois’ regular-season finale. The loss means the Illini […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
On this episode of ’Oskee Talk’ I recap women’s basketball’s near upset of #9 Iowa (3:15) and break down potential B1G Tournament positioning ahead of the regular season finale (10:46). I also examine the aftermath of Friday’s loss to Michigan (14:48) and the biggest weakness of the men’s basketball roster being exposed (16:07). I also […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
How to Watch Illinois vs. Oregon Game Time: 8 p.m. Tuesday TV Channel: N/A Online Streaming: Peacock Odds: N/A (Illinois 95% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Michigan 84, Illinois 70 Gameday Reading: Oregon Ducks (11-18, 4-14 Big Ten) Head […]
1 day ago | 0 reads
INDIANAPOLIS — Rearing and ready to go. When former Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer met with the media at the NFL Combine, he was teeming with anticipation, just waiting to get to Saturday morning’s drills. “I’m ready to go cut it loose, man,” Altmyer said. “I’m confident, I’m prepared and I’m ready to go do it.” […]
2 days ago | 0 reads
It was a disappointing night at State Farm Center on Friday as Illinois couldn’t top No. 3 Michigan. The Wolverines left the arena with an outright Big Ten title. Here’s the best photos from a big day from TCR photographer Jack Jungmann.
3 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN — Kylan Boswell sat at the podium while emerging from a flashbang. As the mist subsided, the irritation in his eyes grew. It was like he had seen a ghost. “I feel like I let us down tonight. I can’t afford this type of stuff for the team,” Boswell said after No. 10 Illinois’ […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — With all the hope in the world, Illini fans were let down Friday night. Despite a sold out State Farm Center crowd and a sense of hunger to take home a victory, No. 10 Illinois couldn’t hold off the most athletic team in the nation, falling 84-70 to No. 3 Michigan. The […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
Ahead of the biggest game of the season, Orange Krush isn’t messing around. The Illini’s student section showed up bright and early outside State Farm Center on Friday, with some arriving overnight to secure their spot. Illinois shared a drone shot of the lines outside the arena Friday afternoon. TCR’s Jack Jungmann snapped some photos […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
Yeah, so this caused a firestorm of controversy. The concept of rivalry in college athletics can be a headscratcher. In college football, Michigan State fans view Michigan as their rivals. Michigan fans view Michigan State as their intramural sparring partner because of their far greater concern with the team down south. Meanwhile, in basketball, Ohio […]
3 days ago | 0 reads
INDIANAPOLIS — To whichever NFL team drafts Gabe Jacas, they’re getting someone who’s physical and disciplined, who doesn’t take plays off and is a natural leader. That is, of course, in the words of Jacas himself, as he met with the media from the NFL Combine on Wednesday morning. While describing himself to reporters, one […]
4 days ago | 0 reads
IOWA CITY, Ia. — Almost had it. In the 51st consecutive sellout at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Fighting Illini nearly pulled off the program’s most historic upset in recent memory, falling short to the No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes 82-78. It was a game of two halves for the orange and blue. Early on, it was all […]
4 days ago | 0 reads
A couple of months after Mike Poeta was placed on leave, Illinois officially has a new wrestling coach. Illinois removed the “acting” tag off Jeremy Hunter’s job on Thursday and made him the 16th head coach in Illini wrestling history. Hunter has been with the Illini for a quarter-century since arriving in 2001. He has […]
4 days ago | 1 read
The Illini men’s basketball team has had many big games this season. Friday is yet another one vs. the league-leading Michigan Wolverines. The Illini literally have two shots at winning the regular-season Big Ten championship: slim and none. Broken down, that means Illinois has to win out, and Michigan will have to drop three straight […]
4 days ago | 1 read
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Shauna Green’s team is peaking at the right time. Illinois (19-8, 9-7 Big Ten) is coming off of three straight dominant wins against Wisconsin, Rutgers and Northwestern, but will have some tougher competition to end the regular season. “We’ve grown a lot from these games,” said sophomore Berry Wallace. “[It will] just […]
5 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illini have been on a tear as of late, winning each of their last three games and doing so by an average margin of 23 points. They have done this without the help of one of their stars, redshirt sophomore Gretchen Dolan. Head coach Shauna Green had been hoping to get […]
5 days ago | 0 reads
After the loss Saturday at UCLA, some fans are in panic mode. Some are suggesting that Coach Underwood will never win in the Big Ten and certainly not claim an NCAA title. That’s crazy talk. The Fighting Illini basketball program is enjoying arguably its best season in almost 20 years. For the seventh consecutive season, […]
6 days ago | 0 reads
You read that right — it has been since January 10, 2019, since Michigan has beaten Illinois on the hardwood. The Illini have rattled off nine straight wins against the Wolverines, including last year’s 20-point blowout in Dusty May’s first meeting against Illinois. Michigan went on to win the Big Ten Tournament and reach the […]
6 days ago | 0 reads
On this week’s episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ I break down Illinois’ blowout win at USC (3:27) and last-second loss to UCLA (10:24). I also discuss Keaton Wagler’s history-making freshman season (13:13), the Illini’s data-driven gameplan (24:27), and their recent late-game woes (26:56). Next, I glance at the B1G outlook (33:15) and preview Friday’s clash with […]
6 days ago | 0 reads
It’s been fun, hasn’t it? Illinois hasn’t lost to Michigan in more than seven years – Jan. 10, 2019. It’s been so long, that I was still a student the last time it happened! Unfortunately, if I played in the band that day, I didn’t take a photo to document it. Well, ever since then, […]
6 days ago | 0 reads
How to Watch Illinois vs. Michigan Game Time: 7 p.m. Friday TV Channel: Fox Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 50.5% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (22-6, 13-4 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: UCLA 95, Illinois 94 Gameday Reading: Michigan Wolverines (25-2, 15-1 Big Ten) Last […]
7 days ago | 0 reads