1:44 AM EDT, Fri March 29, 2024
Mar 24, 2024
Illinois reportedly reached out to transfer portal big man

Illinois reportedly reached out to transfer portal big man

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports BU is working the trail during this March run. We’re all focused on Illinois’ March run — reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time in 19 years — but Brad Underwood and his staff is reportedly also focused on the future. On3 Sports is reporting Sunday night that Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi has heard from several high-major schools since entering the transfer portal after the Scarlet Knights’ run ended in the Big Ten Tournament. The latest schools to reach out to Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi, he tells @On3sports:...
Mar 24, 2024
Illinois’ March run does not have to end here

Illinois’ March run does not have to end here

Jack Jungmann // TCR The work is far from complete for this Illini squad. Finally. Illinois basketball is headed back to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 19 years. The monkey is off the back of one of college basketball’s premiere programs and it’s back where it belongs. The Illini dominated Duquesne from wire to wire in one of the more stress-free performances of the NCAA Tournament to date, 89-63. It was a complete team effort and another example of a group that seems to be peaking at the perfect time. Brad Underwood has waited a long time for this. Despite...
Mar 24, 2024
The Illini are shipping up to Boston — with expectations

The Illini are shipping up to Boston — with expectations

Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via The hype train is rolling into the station. Can Illinois handle it? It’s one thing to be a good program that everybody’s heard of. That’s where Illinois traditionally sits on the national college hoops landscape. People bring up the Flyin’ Illini. People bring up the 2005 squad. And then, like a cannonball to the gut, they inevitably bring up 2021. And that’s where the national conversation ends. Illinois is that school that got pistol whipped by Sister Jean. Photo by Roy Rochlin/ Since then, Illinois...
Mar 23, 2024
Illinois heading to first Sweet 16 since 2005

Illinois heading to first Sweet 16 since 2005

TCR // Jack Jungmann The Illini are returning to the tournament’s second weekend. OMAHA, Neb. — For the first time in 6,944 days, the Fighting Illini are heading to the Sweet 16. No. 3 Illinois punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend with a dominant 89-63 win over No. 11 Duquesne on Saturday night in Omaha, Nebraska. The Illini hadn’t won a game in the Round of 32 since March 19, 2005 (vs. Nevada), a season that ended with a loss to North Carolina in the national championship game. Now standing between the Illini and a trip to the Elite 8...
Mar 22, 2024
Illinois and Underwood critics need some new material

Illinois and Underwood critics need some new material

Cue: Kenny Loggins. | Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports Lazy talking heads gonna lazy. Happy Friday, Illinois Land! Happy Friday this week follows Really Happy Thursday. Your Fighting Illini disposed of a talented and well-coached Morehead State team that played well, and started fast. The Morehead State Eagles were not a ceremonial first pitch, fed to wolves for slaughter. Until they were. Despite MSU and coach Preston Spradlin coming out of the gates on fire and shooting well throughout most of the first 30 minutes of the game, the game was not really in any serious...
Mar 22, 2024
Illinois vs. Duquesne: Betting odds, spread, moneyline and more for 2024 NCAA Tournament

Illinois vs. Duquesne: Betting odds, spread, moneyline and more for 2024 NCAA Tournament

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports Big favorites. Illinois, the 2024 Big Ten Tournament champions and winners in the Round of 64, are one win away from a Sweet 16 berth — and the Illini are big favorites for their Round of 32 game on Saturday. The Illini are staying in Omaha this weekend, where they will face No. 11 Duquesne (of the Atlantic 10). According to DraftKings’ opening line on Thursday night, the Illini are 8.5-point favorites. (Odds/lines are subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.) Other betting info: DraftKings’...
Mar 22, 2024
Everything you need to know about the team standing between Illinois and a Sweet 16

Everything you need to know about the team standing between Illinois and a Sweet 16

TCR // Jack Jungmann Du-cane. It’d be harsh to blame you if you knew little to nothing about Morehead State before Illinois’ 16-point victory on Thursday. With the TSJ and Dain Dainja-inspired Illini escaping the Ohio Valley Conference champs, it’s time to look into another mid-major conference champ that you, in all likeliness, know little about. The Illini will take on the Duquesne Dukes in the NCAA tournament's round of 32. TCR spoke with Tristan Freeman, a self-proclaimed basketball junkie from Pittsburgh (where Duquesne is located) to get the know-how on...
Mar 22, 2024
If you don’t believe in ghosts, they can’t haunt you

If you don’t believe in ghosts, they can’t haunt you

Photo by Jamie Squire/ The Illini continued their second half dominance in Omaha. The Fighting Illini shook off a slow start to score a victory. Stop me if you’ve heard that one before. The win was a convincing 85-69 win over Morehead State on Thursday. It sets up a 3-11 matchup on Saturday against upstart Duquesne. Coming off the heels of media luminary (and my personal media hero) Michael Wilbon predicting a Natty for the Beloved on Pardon the Interruption, the Illini sit five victories away from doing just that. Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via ...
Mar 21, 2024
Illinois overcomes double digit deficit to advance past first round of WBIT

Illinois overcomes double digit deficit to advance past first round of WBIT

TCR // David Pollak Makira Cook COOKED on Senior Night Pt. 2 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois’ season stays alive. Just a couple weeks removed from their Senior Night, Illinois earned a WBIT bid and with it an opportunity to snatch another victory in what could have been the last stand for its seniors at State Farm Center. Led by one of their best seniors, the Illini battled back from a double-digit deficit to take down Missouri State in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament, 74-69. On Senior Night part two, the Illini earned a...
Mar 21, 2024
Illinois’ Marcus Domask just joined ELITE company

Illinois’ Marcus Domask just joined ELITE company

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports Unbelievable. It needed its own article — that’s how impressive it is. Marcus Domask became just the 10th player EVER to have a triple-double in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The 10th EVER triple-double in @MarchMadnessMBB tourney history belongs to @IlliniMBB’s Marcus Domask. pic.twitter.com/r3O1Q6pMU0— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) March 21, 2024 Domask wasn’t overly flashy in the Illini’s 85-69 win over No. 14 Morehead State; hell, he didn’t even have a good first half (1-of-5 shooting at the...
Mar 21, 2024
Big second half leads Illinois to Round of 64 victory over Morehead State

Big second half leads Illinois to Round of 64 victory over Morehead State

Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports The Illini will face Duquesne on Saturday in the second round. OMAHA, Neb. — Survive and advance. That’s the motto of March. And Illinois was in upset trouble for about the first 25 minutes of the game. But, a huge second half guided the East Region’s No. 3 seed past 14th-seed Morehead State Thursday at CHI Health Center 85-69. That being said, it was expected that Illinois — who came in as 11.5-point favorites — shouldn't have too much of a problem in this one. That was certainly not the case for a while. The game was tied...
Mar 20, 2024
The Illini are due for a second weekend appearance

The Illini are due for a second weekend appearance

TCR // David Pollak It’s time to make a run. We’re due. Yes, WE are due for a tournament run. This almost two-decade long Sweet Sixteen drought has been more painful for the fans than anyone else. Players and coaches come and go, but the loyal fans have been around through it all. I was four months old the last time Illinois played in a Sweet Sixteen game. If Illinois can make the second weekend this year, I’ll be watching the game from my dorm room in Champaign. Actually, I might fly to Boston to witness history in person. I’ve been spending a lot of time on...
Mar 20, 2024
Illinois has the ingredients for a deep tournament run

Illinois has the ingredients for a deep tournament run

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports The Illini can go deep in this tournament. Here’s why. It’s time. An NCAA Tournament bracket sits in front of us. For the fourth straight year, Illinois sits on one of the lines. With our hearts, we want to take the Illini all the way, but our brains begin to question just how far the orange and blue can truly advance. This year’s Illini squad is particularly hard to pinpoint. On one hand, Illinois is fresh off a Big Ten Tournament championship that featured some of its best basketball of the season. The Illini have a bonafide...
Mar 20, 2024
How To Watch No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Morehead State: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds

How To Watch No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Morehead State: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds

TCR // David Pollak Six wins to go. How to Watch No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Morehead State (NCAA Tournament Round of 64) Game Time: 2:10 p.m. TV Channel: truTV Online Streaming: March Madness Live Location: CHI Health Center (Omaha, NE) Radio: All Illinois basketball games air live on radio in the Champaign (WDWS-AM 1400) and Chicago (WLS-AM 890) markets. The game will also be broadcasted on other networks throughout the state; check the Fighting Illini Radio Network for more information. Odds: ILL -11.5, O/U 148 (according to DraftKings - Odds/lines are subject to...
Mar 19, 2024
Illinois’ odds to make the 2024 Final Four

Illinois’ odds to make the 2024 Final Four

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports The Illini have the fourth-highest odds in the region. We’ve had a lot of coverage this week on Illinois’ Big Ten Tournament championship — but let’s start looking ahead. Like wayyyyyyy ahead. We all know Illinois has to make the Sweet 16, because it’s been two decades and Brad Underwood has the get the monkey off his back. But let’s focus on the Final Four — and the odds for everyone in the Illini’s Region of Death. Illinois’ path starts against Morehead State on Thursday, where the Illini are double-digit favorites...