The Champaign Room
A Fighting Illini community since 2012
Total reads
2,576
This week
19
Rank
#89 of 369
Published
694 posts
Most read posts
Featured on Sportsblogs
Run this blog? Add the badge to your site to show readers you're featured — it links back to this page.
Latest Entries
Illinois Football is nearly ready for the next step. Is everyone else?
A good life coach would advise you to worry less about what other people think of you. They might say a person’s self-worth should not be defined by the opinions of others. After all, true confidence comes from within. And in most scenarios life might present you, I think we could agree that’s good counsel. But […]
Morez Johnson, Schadenfreude, and the pervasive pall of America’s original sin
Merriam-Webster defines Schadenfreude as the enjoyment obtained from seeing or hearing about the troubles of others. As sports fans, you probably experience it all the time. If you root for the Bears, perhaps you experience it when the Packers lose. If you root for the Cardinals, you may giggle when a Lincoln Park yuppie slips […]
What the Hornets are getting from Kylan Boswell
Kylan Boswell heads to the league coming off of his best season yet. The senior averaged 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while helping lead Illinois to its first Final Four appearance since 2005. He shot 44.4% from the field while providing veteran leadership on both ends of the floor. Boswell was […]
Cearah Parchment earns first Senior National Team call-up with Team Canada
After one of the most dominant freshman seasons in program history, Cearah Parchment is turning her basketball career up a notch. Canada Basketball announced Friday that the Illinois forward has been selected to the Senior Women’s National Team training camp roster as the program begins preparations for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. At […]
Former Illinois forward Ben Humrichous signs contract with Nets
Ben Humrichous went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, as expected, but quickly signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Humrichous was overlooked coming out of high school but worked his way into earning an opportunity with an NBA organization. Humrichous is originally from Tipton, Indiana, and graduated from Tipton High School as […]
Illinois Sets Matchup with North Carolina
The Illini have added another blue blood to an already stacked non-conference schedule by adding the Tar Heels to the mix. Illinois and North Carolina will face off January 30, 2027 in Nashville. Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://gtlk.link/5zlx5Emx
Stefan Vaaks Breakdown with The Providence Crier!
Illini Isaac of The Champaign Room is joined by Mike Surette of The Providence Crier to break down what Illinois is getting in Stefan Vaaks, the Big East outlook for 2026-2027, and expectations for Providence this upcoming college basketball season. Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance […]
Kylan Boswell signs with Charlotte Hornets as an undrafted free agent
Champaign’s hometown hero is set to take his talents to the biggest stage in basketball. Kylan Boswell, a 2025-26 Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection, fell just short of being selected in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, he caught the eye of the Charlotte Hornets front office and was signed to a two-way contract as an […]
Keaton Wagler to the Clippers! Other Big Ten NBA Draft News!
Illini Isaac and Robby Nardini of The Champaign Room are joined by Alex Kyi of Armchair Illini to react to Keaton Wagler being drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers, Dusty May leaving the Big Ten, and other Big Ten news! Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance […]
Keaton Wagler drafted by Los Angeles Clippers at pick No. 5
Former Illinois guard Keaton Wagler’s NBA dreams have become a reality, as he was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. The 19-year-old heard his name get called at the Barclays Center in New York, before making an emotional trip across the stage to shake the hand of NBA commissioner Adam Silver. A […]
What the Clippers are getting from new draft pick Keaton Wagler
He’s not Cameron Boozer… or AJ Dybantsa… or Darryn Peterson… or Caleb Wilson. But if your team just picked up Keaton Wagler, congratulations. You have a star. The third one-and-done at Illinois in two seasons, Wagler rose from unheralded prospect with few high-major offers, to arguably the nation’s best player at some points in the […]
ESPN: Ayo Dosunmu signing $112 million deal with Timberwolves
Not too bad for a second-round pick. I think we always knew what Ayo Dosunmu was capable of. Clearly, the Minnesota Timberwolves do, too. ESPN reported Monday night that Ayo will stick around the Twin Cities for the foreseeable future after inking a five-year, $112 million contract. It includes a player option on the fifth […]
ESPN: Kasparas Jakucionis traded to Milwaukee Bucks
KJ, you need a bedroom? As a Milwaukee-area resident, I’m very excited about the prospect of Kasparas Jakucionis joining the Bucks. Also as a Milwaukee-area resident, I’m pretty bummed the Giannis era is officially coming to an end. But the writing had been on the wall, so here we are. ESPN reported late Monday. night […]
Dusty May’s departure opens door for Illinois to seize Big Ten championship
Just two months after leading Michigan to its first national championship since 1989, Dusty May is headed to the NBA, agreeing to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN. The move comes on the heels of one of the most remarkable coaching rises in recent memory and could have significant implications […]
What Lincoln Williams can add to this Illini roster
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There’s a good reason Illinois’ brand-new versatile guard Lincoln Williams owns the No. 1 spot in the state’s class of 2026 rankings across both PrepHoops and 247Sports Composite. Williams is the sixth class of 2026 recruit that the Illini have landed this offseason, with the class as a whole ranked No. 6 […]
Illinois vs Texas Tech; DGL Revenge Game?
Illini Isaac interviewed Daniel Vermillion of Texas Tech Everything about Brendan Sorsby from Texas Tech’s Viewpoint, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn Revenge Game vs Illinois, and more! Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://gtlk.link/5zlx5Emx
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 […]
Displaying items 1-25 of 694 in total