11+ mon, 2+ week ago (245+ words) Illinois (7-2) is gearing up for a marquee showdown on Saturday as they host top-ranked Tennessee (9-0). The Fighting Illini will have a golden opportunity to topple the No. 1 team in college basketball for the fourth time in program history. Tennessee has clawed its way to the top of the national rankings, currently sitting second in both KenPom and the NET rankings. Renowned for their suffocating defense, the Volunteers are a testament to the powerhouse program Rick Barnes has meticulously built over the past decade. On the flip side, Illinois may not have been flawless, but their revamped roster has shown grit and determination following last season's impressive Elite Eight run. Head coach Brad Underwood has worked his magic, both on the court and behind the scenes, elevating the Fighting Illini to new heights LISTEN:Illinois vs. Tennessee LIVE on SiriusXM Here…...

11+ mon, 2+ week ago (249+ words) Illinois and Wisconsin will continue Big Ten play when they go head-to-head on Tuesday night. Illinois is sitting at 6-2 after falling to Northwestern, 70-66, in overtime on Friday. Freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis'had 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Fighting Illini, and sophomore center Tomislav Ivisic finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the loss. WATCH: Illinois vs. Wisconsin LIVE on Peacock The Badgers were undefeated through their first eight games, but they dropped back-to-back contests against Michigan and Marquette last week. In the loss to the Golden Eagles, senior guard Max Klesmit scored a team-high 22 points, sinking six 3-pointers in 34 minutes of action. Which team will register its first Big Ten win of the season? Here is what you need to know about Illinois vs. Wisconsin, including TV and streaming options for Tuesday's game. Illinois vs. Wisconsin will not…...

11+ mon, 2+ week ago (332+ words) The Illinois Fighting Illini are gearing up for an exciting clash against the No. 1-ranked Tennessee Volunteers at State Farm Center on Saturday. Illinois enters this game on the back of an 86-80 win over Wisconsin on Tuesday. They will have a chance to secure their fourth win over a top-ranked team. However, it will not be a task against Tennessee who are boasting a perfect 9-0 record. Their defense ranks second in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing just 62.3 points per game. Chaz Lanier and Igor Milicic, have led the charge for the Volunteers and they will be key to restricting Illinois' offense. Illinois, on the other hand, has shown resilience despite a few tough losses. Freshman sensation Kasparas Jakucionis has been their top player, averaging 15.4 points and 6.0 assists per game. His shooting'will be crucial in unlocking Tennessee's formidable defense....

10+ mon, 3+ week ago (329+ words) When national media comes after Illinois' Bret Bielema, be prepared to hear about it publicly, as ESPN's Adam Rittenberg recently did. Bret Bielema exposes ESPN's Adam Rittenberg for critical Illinois tweet, creates viral social media firestorm Illinois coach Bret Bielema isn't done responding to any tweets from national media a week after the Fighting Illini's 21-17 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl New Year's Eve win against South Carolina. The latest example came from ESPN's Adam Rittenberg after he tweeted about outside linebacker Gabe Jacas returning to Champaign. He slightly criticized where Illinois could be ranked in the preseason polls despite its production expected to play next fall. This got Bielema, soon to be 55, fired up. After all, he led Illinois to its first 10-win season in a decade-plus, which included key regular season wins against then-ranked Michigan and Kansas to go alongside several fourth-quarter…...

1+ day, 7+ hour ago (190+ words) The Illinois high school football season was supposed to end on Saturday. But due to an expected snowstorm, that won't happen. The IHSA has postponed four state title games. The Class 8A, 7A, 6A and 5A championships were scheduled to be played Saturday at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium. The four smallest classes had their finals played already. A postponement like this has never happened before in Illinois. MORE:A wild Texas HS football game ended at 1:43 a.m. Illinois State has shut its campus down on Saturday due to expected inclement weather, though, so teams and fans weren't allowed to come to town. MORE:Byron wins one of the craziest state finals in Illinois history The IHSA has announced that the Class 5A and 6A games will take place Tuesday at Illinois State. The 5A game between Providence and St. Francis will kick at 3 p.m., with Fenwick and East…...

7+ mon, 4+ week ago (282+ words) It has been a tumultuous last few days for Illinois basketball. With freshman center Morez Johnson Jr. opting to leave Champaign via the transfer portal last Friday, the Fighting Illini may tab ... Morez Johnson Jr. linked to Big Ten team Illinois beat by 20 points on road in transfer portal It has been a tumultuous last few days for Illinois basketball. With freshman center Morez Johnson Jr. opting to leave Champaign via the transfer portal last Friday, the Fighting Illini may tab Johnson Jr. as public enemy No. 1 next season, depending on where he plays. According to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, Johnson Jr. winding up at a Big Ten rival of Illinois next season is more likely than not. Rothstein reported Monday morning Johnson Jr. had gotten intel from 17 different schools. These include seven Big Ten teams, six of which Illinois…...

11+ mon, 3+ week ago (369+ words) Every year, the Citrus Bowl gets first dibs on any college football team that didn't make the playoffs. This year, it chose the South Carolina Gamecocks to face the Illinois Fighting Illini on New Year's Eve. And, big surprise: tickets have already been flying for this high-profile bowl game." While South Carolina fans are likely a bit salty their squad didn't make the CFP, at least they got Disney World as a parting gift. Shane Beamer's Gamecocks went 9-3 this season, with wins over Texas A&M, Missouri and Clemson. They won each of their final six games of the season, and finished the final batch of rankings at No. 15 in the nation." Illinois, meanwhile, finished at No. 20, also finishing the season strong with a 9-3 record. Coach Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini won their last three games of the regular-season…...

7+ mon, 1+ week ago (372+ words) There's still one big name that Underwood and his staff are pushing hard to land: Andrej Stojakovic. He is set to visit Illinois on Tuesday, and with recent developments out of Lexington, he may be on ... The season for the Illinois basketball team may have been forgettable in some ways, but there's still plenty to be proud of. The Fighting Illini faced adversity throughout the year'dealing with injuries, illness, and other setbacks. Despite it all, they never gave up, catching fire at the end of the regular season. Illinois was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by a well-rounded Kentucky team. Since then, the Fighting Illini have lost four players to the transfer portal, but they also landed big man Zvonimir Ivisic, who will now play alongside his brother. Head coach Brad Underwood has worked to assure…...

11+ mon, 3+ week ago (396+ words) Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and Illinois coach Bret Bielema feel strongly that both teams are deserving of consideration into the College Football Playoff at 9-3. Both coaches shared remarks on social media this past Sunday and again on Wednesday during a busy National Signing Day across the college football landscape. Kiffin had tweeted a USA Today article'off his initial message to the College Football Playoff Committee in support of writer Blake Toppmeyer's thoughts regarding the situation. This allowed Bielema to chime in with his thoughts in a quote-tweet that has since garnered attention. Bielema was supporting Kiffin, but the Fighting Illini head football coach showed stats favoring Illinois over Ole Miss; somewhat upstaging Kiffin's complaints in the process. "I couldn't agree more @Lane_Kiffin you are spot on," Bielema wrote. "Appreciate all you are doing to keep this information going" here are…...

10+ mon, 1+ week ago (312+ words) It's not every week in the NFL that a throwback-style pick-6 occurs, but that's exactly what happened Saturday night during the NFL Divisional Round playoff game between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions. Just before halftime, former Illinois safety Jartavius "Quan" Martin had his shining moment at Ford Field with a highlight-reel touchdown to extend the Commanders then-lead to 24-14." The Commanders maintain a 17-point lead, 45-28, late in the fourth quarter. If Washington were to win, it would play the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams game in next weekend's NFC Championship. The spectacular sequence also perked up Martin's old coach, Bret Bielema. Bielema, the head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini, coached Martin for his final two seasons before declaring for the NFL Draft. "I-L-L," Bielema tweeted in reaction to the play. The Commanders advanced to the…...