The Champaign Room
A Fighting Illini community since 2012
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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
With Stojakovic secured, Illinois can stake its claim as a title contender
On this episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ I discuss how Andrej Stojakovic’s return impacts the Fighting Illini’s bid for another Final Four (3:51) as well as incoming freshman Quentin Coleman earning a spot on Team USA (17:02). I also introduce Illinois’ newest women’s basketball recruits (23:15) and criticize the NCAA’s new international eligibility rules (30:20). Finally, […]
Why Illinois can beat Texas Tech in back-to-back years
Last season was the beginning of a home-and-home series Illinois agreed to with Texas Tech. The inaugural game was Illinois’ first big assignment of the season, where No. 11 Texas Tech was outworked by No. 14 Illinois. The ranked matchup was nail biting to the end, when junior Andrej Stojakovic had a clutch block in […]
Can Brad Underwood bring a national title to Illinois in 2027?
Conversations about a national championship don’t happen often in Champaign, but the Orange and Blue crowd has every reason to dream big this season. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place on May 27 when Andrej Stojakovic announced his return, locking in an Illinois roster that will enter the season with a target […]
Can Stojakovic Make Year 2 Leap Under Coach Underwood?
Andrej Stojakovic will join a star-filled list of transfers to play two years under Brad Underwood. Illini Isaac reacts to Stojakovic going through the NBA Draft process and deciding to return to Champaign.
Illini Hoops Storylines & Football Preview with Kyle Tausk!
Illini Isaac is joined by Kyle Tausk, former TCR writer, to break down some of the recent Illinois Basketball headlines and preview the upcoming football season.
Kickoff times announced for Illinois’ first three 2026 games
Football season is almost here — and now we can mark more games on the calendar. Illinois announced its kickoff times for its first three games of the 2026 season on Wednesday. The season will start at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 3 against UAB. The game will start at 8 p.m. on Big Ten […]
What NCAA’s new international guidelines mean for Underwood and Illinois
On May 8, the NCAA released new eligibility guidelines that target international prospects who have spent time playing in pro leagues overseas. The guidelines are aiming to classify players from the EuroLeague, Spanish ACB and more as pro athletes rather than student athletes. It’s implied that the rule will be put in place to preserve […]
Andrej Stojakovic pulls name from NBA Draft, will return to Illinois
After watching Andrej Stojakovic enter his name in the NBA Draft, compete in and test well at the Draft Combine and even say that he’s “both feet in” the draft process, Illinois fans can officially rest easy. Stojakovic announced Wednesday that he will be removing his name from the NBA Draft and come back to […]
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” […]
Will Hurley defeat Underwood for a fourth time in three years?
Can Illinois win the rematch with UConn set for December 4th, 2026? Isaac Ambrose sat down with Aman Kidwai of The UConn Blog to break down the Illinois/UConn matchup set for December 4th at the United Center and discuss why Dan Hurley has had Brad Underwood’s number in previous matchups.
Illinois and Duke Matchups Preview with Duke Basketball Report!
Isaac Ambrose sat down with Scott Rich of Duke Basketball Report to break down the home-and-home basketball series between the two schools and the upcoming football matchup this fall. The Illini agreed to a home-and-home series with the Blue Devils and will travel to Cameron Indoor this fall. The last time the two squads met […]
Illinois Hoops Updates: Week of May 18th
Illini Isaac is joined by Drew Pastorek of Oskee Talk to discuss the latest news from Illinois Basketball. Andrej Stojakovic returning to Illinois? Duke on the schedule? and more!
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) […]
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