I watched Thomas today. He's one of the most versatile scorers in the nation. Long, athletic, skilled.

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Illinois clinched a share of the 2024 Big Ten Baseball Championship with a 9-4 victory over Purdue Friday eveningin West Lafayette, Ind. The title is the first for the Illini since 2015 and their 31st overall, which ranks second all-time in the Big Ten. The title is the third for Head Coach DanHartleb, who is in his 19th season with the Illini.

Illinois (32-17, 17-6 Big Ten), picked to finish outside the top six in the Big Ten preseason poll, can capture the regular season title outright tomorrow in its regular season finale against the Boilermakers at Alexander Field. First pitch is 2 p.m. CT on BTN.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Due to the weather forecast today, the schedule for Illinois baseball's series at Purdue has been adjusted.

The Illini will now just play a single game tonight, with first pitch at Alexander Field set for 6:15 p.m. CT. Coverage for tonight's ballgame is pending.

The remainder of series will revert back to the originally set schedule, subject to change. Friday's contest is set to start at 7 p.m. CT and Saturday's game is set for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch. Both of those games will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.

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Orange and Blue News goes on the road this weekend to the Indianapolis suburbs for Session 3 of the Nike EYBL.

The event kicks off on Friday evening, with 17U teams playing at the Pacers Athletic Center in Westfield and 16U and below games held at the Farmer's Bank Fieldhouse in Lebanon.

This weekend is the only spring live recruiting period, so expect college coaches to out in force. Orange and Blue News breaks down some of the prospects on the Illini radar in the EYBL.


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CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman is the new chair of the NCAA Division I Council.

Whitman, who became the Big Ten's representative on the Council in July 2023, was elected to the chair position during the Council's April meeting. With outgoing chair Lynda Tealer recently accepting a position with the NCAA, Whitman has already stepped into his new responsibilities, which he will hold until June 30, 2026.

The Division I Council is a representative group of 40 athletics directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletics representatives, conference commissioners, and student-athletes charged with providing day-to-day decision-making and leadership for Division I athletics.

As Council chair, Whitman also becomes a voting member of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, comprised primarily of presidents and chancellors from Division I institutions, and an ex officio member of the NCAA Board of Governors, the highest governing body of the NCAA.

"I am honored to represent the University of Illinois and the Big Ten Conference in this important role during such a transformative period in college athletics," Whitman said. "I feel fortunate to be working alongside such talented colleagues at the campus, conference, and national levels while we work collaboratively to reshape elements of Division I. I look forward to embracing the challenges and changes ahead for the betterment of our student-athletes, institutions, and all those connected to college sports."

"Josh Whitman is a careful, thoughtful leader who also fully understands the need to move quickly and boldly forward when once-in-a-generation opportunities present themselves," University of Illinois Chancellor Robert Jones said. "This is exactly who we need leading the DI Council at this critical moment in college athletics."

"Josh Whitman is highly regarded across the country for the valuable industry leadership he has provided throughout his career," Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said. "I am happy to learn he will serve as the new chair of the NCAA Division I Council and know he will do a great job on behalf of all Division I student-athletes."

I'm starting this early. Names will start to pop up soon.

Illinois will likely sign as many as 3 transfers, depending on who stays and who goes.

A big wing who can shoot it is probably the #1 priority. They want a spot up 4 as well.

I don't have any in 2024, BUT ...

In 2025, I think we are likely to have a new and much improved DC after Aaron Henry is relieved of his duties (quite possibly before the 2024 season ends). And this is an EXTREMELY gettable schedule, especially if the Duke program regresses under Manny Diaz (a pretty good bet). I do think Indiana will be getting better tho, liked their hire a lot.

STANFORD, Calif. – The No. 18-ranked and third-seeded Fighting Illini men's golf team jumped out to a strong start Monday at the NCAA Stanford Regional at Stanford Golf Course, closing the day with a four-stroke advantage behind a sensational NCAA postseason debut by 18-hole leader Max Herendeen.

All five members of the Fighting Illini lineup notched birdies on Hole 1, setting the tone for a strong round up and down the lineup. The Orange and Blue's four scorers combined for a 17-under 263 – with 25 birdies and just eight bogeys – to sit four shots in front of top-seeded Florida State and six shots ahead of host and fifth-seeded Stanford. No. 2 seed Ole Miss and fourth-seeded Texas A&M are tied for fourth at 271 (-9). The Illini's performance has helped the Orange and Blue build a 14-stroke edge over the sixth-place team, UCLA (-3), with an NCAA Championship berth on the line for the top five teams after 54 holes.

Herendeen, the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year, was nearly blemish free en route to a career-low score of 63 (-7). The Bellevue, Wash., native shot a 6-under 29 on the front nine, including three straight birdies on Nos. 7, 8 and 9. After the turn he moved to 8-under with back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 before his lone bogey of the day on No. 17.

Herendeen's 63 is tied for the second-lowest individual round in program history, and it marks the lowest ever by an Illini in an NCAA Regional tournament, while matching Dylan Meyer (2017 Big Ten Championship) and Brian Campbell (2014 NCAA Championship) for the lowest by an Illini in any postseason event. Likewise, the Orange and Blue's team score of 263 is the second-lowest single round in Illini history - behind the 261 carded in last year's record-setting second round in the win at the Tiger Collegiate Invitational hosted by Missouri at The Club at Old Hawthorne. It also marks the best single round by the team in any postseason event in program history, moving past the 264 carded in Round 3 of the 2016 Big Ten Championship win at Victoria National in Newburgh, Ind.

Herendeen enters Round 2 two shots ahead of a group of four challengers – including teammates Jackson Buchanan and Tyler Goecke – hot on his heels in the individual race at 65 (-5).

Buchanan, the reigning Big Ten Golfer of the Year, and Goecke, a fifth-year senior transfer making his Illinois postseason debut, each carded seven birdies to offset a pair of bogeys. Buchanan's 65 matched his season-low round set in October at the Flyer Invitational, while Goecke's total eclipsed his previous best as an Illini and was one shot off his career-low score set as a senior in 2022-23 at Wright State.

Sophomore Ryan Voois, also seeing his first action in the NCAA postseason, rounded out the scoring for the Illini with an even-par 70 to sit in a tie for 31st. Senior Piercen Hunt finished his day with a 73 (+3) in a tie for 53rd in the 75-player field with 36 holes remaining.

Round 2 is set to tee off Tuesday beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT/8:30 a.m. PT. The Illini, paired with Florida State and Stanford, will be among the first to tee off of No. 1. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.com.

FOLLOW THE #ILLINI
For more Fighting Illini men's golf news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniMGolf on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.

STANFORD, Calif. – The No. 18-ranked and third-seeded Fighting Illini men's golf team followed up Monday's sensational start at the NCAA Stanford Regional with another round of solid team golf on Tuesday at Stanford Golf Course. The Orange and Blue fought through some challenging stretches to card a 10-under 270, and the team heads into Wednesday's finale with a one-shot lead.

More importantly, the Fighting Illini at 533 (-27) have built a 20-shot edge over host and fifth-seeded Stanford (553, -7) which sits in sixth place. The top five teams, at the conclusion of Round 3 will advance to the 2024 NCAA Championship, May 24-29, at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

Freshman Max Herendeen maintains his individual lead after showing off his ability to battle back from early adversity in Round 2. After shooting a 7-under 63 with just one bogey and eight birdies on Monday, Herendeen birdied No. 1 for the second consecutive day and appeared to be poised for a similar result. However, following bogeys on Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 6, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year found himself at 3-over and slipping down the individual leaderboard.

Herendeen answered the call from that point forward, shooting 6-under over the next 11 holes – with four birdies and an eagle – to retake his position at the top of the standings. A bogey on 18 moved back into a three-way tie for first with Florida State's Luke Clanton and Texas A&M's Phichaksn Maichon with a 36-hole score of 131 (-9).

The experience of senior Piercen Hunt and fifth-year senior Tyler Goecke also shined through in Round 2 for the Illini.

Hunt, who is playing in his third straight NCAA Regional for the Orange and Blue, bounced back in a big way from his opening 73 (+3). He posted a 5-under on the front nine and offset a pair of bogeys on the back with two more birdies after the turn to finish with a season-low-tying 65 (-5). Hunt's performance moved him 29 spots up the leaderboard where he sits in 24th with a 36-hole total of 138 (-2).

Goecke, also making his third straight NCAA Regional start but his first as an Illini, entered the day two shots behind Herendeen in a tie for second following his opening 65 (-5) on Monday. The Xenia, Ohio, native was nearly blemish-free in Round 2, carding a 67 (-3) with four birdies and just one bogey, to climb one stroke closer to Herendeen's medalist pace where he is tied for fourth at 132 (-8).

Sophomore Ryan Voois, playing in his first NCAA Regional, factored into the scoring for the Illini for the second straight round with an even-par 70. He also overcame early struggles to match his Round 1 tally. After opening at 3-over through just three holes, Voois posted back-to-back birdies on Holes 4 and 5 and was 1-over at the turn. A birdie on 11 and an eagle on 16 helped him offset a pair of bogeys on the back nine. He is tied for 33rd at 140 (E) just one shot outside the top 25.

Big Ten Golfer of the Year Jackson Buchanan was unable to find his footing on Day 2 and did not factor into the team's score. Following an opening 65 (-5), he posted a 74 (+4) in Round 2 and is tied for 25th at 139 (-1) with one round remaining.

Illinois is one shot ahead of top-seeded Florida State (534, -26), and holds a six-stroke edge over fourth-seeded Texas A&M (539, -21). No. 2 seed Ole Miss (547, -13) and No.7 seed SMU (553, -7) round out the top five just ahead of host Stanford.

Round 3 is set to tee off Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT. The Illini, paired with Florida State and Texas A&M, will be among the first to tee off No. 1. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.

FOLLOW THE #ILLINI
For more Fighting Illini men's golf news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniMGolf on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.

Considering both immediate impact and long term upside, rank the Illini newcomers 1-8.

I will have my ranking in a front page story.

Carey Booth
Kylan Boswell
Jake Davis
Ben Humrichous
Tomislav Ivisic
Jason Jakstys
Morez Johnson
Tre White

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Redshirt senior catcher Jacob Schroeder has been named Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference announced today.

Schroeder went 8-for-15 (.533) with nine runs scored, three doubles, three home runs, nine RBI and four walks over four games, posting a .632 on-base percentage while slugging an incredible 1.333.

The Chicago native started the week by doubling, scoring twice and walking twice vs. Missouri on March 26 before going 7-for-12 (.583) with seven runs, two doubles, three home runs, nine RBI and two walks during the Illini's three-game sweep of Penn State. In Saturday's series finale, Schroeder homered twice, including a two-out go-ahead grand slam in the fifth, and drove in six runs.

Schroeder's big week extended his hitting streak to a career-high eight games, in which he has gone 13-for-30 (.433) with four doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI. He has raised his batting average from .192 to .321 during that span.

This marks the first time in his Illini career that Schroeder has earned conference weekly honors. He becomes the second Illinois player this season to earn weekly honors, joining Drake Westcott.

STANFORD, Calif. -- The Fighting Illini men's golf team - rated No. 18 in the latest NCAA Division I team rankings - tees off Monday at Stanford Golf Course to begin three days of competition at the 2024 NCAA Stanford Regional hosted by Stanford University. The Orange and Blue are making their 16th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and are also looking to advance to the NCAA Championship round for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons.

THE SETTING
The 2024 NCAA Stanford Regional is hosted by the Stanford Cardinal at their own Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, Calif. Located in the foothills above the Stanford University Campus, the Stanford Golf Course is consistently rated one of the finest courses in the world. Throughout the years, it has hosted many intercollegiate and non-collegiate events, including U.S. Open Qualifying, Women's NCAA Championships, NCAA Regionals, Pac-12 Championships and the USGA Junior Amateur Qualifying. The course was ranked No. 88 in the world in 1993 by Golf Magazine. In a poll of college golf coaches in 2009, the course was ranked No. 3 in the nation.

Stanford Golf Course opened in 1930 and was designed by famed architects George C. Thomas and Billy Bell Jr. It underwent a renovation by John Harbottle in 2008 and in 2018, all bunkers were rebuilt, and several holes were modified. The sprawling, championship layout (Par 70 / 6,727 yards) is flanked by majestic oak trees and meandering San Francisquito Creek, the latter coming into play on nearly half the course. Each hole offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and San Francisco, about 30 miles north, can be seen from the elevated 18th tee.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The 54-hole tournament will be played over three days, Monday-Wednesday, with 18 holes slated for each day. The low four scores will count towards the team score in each round, with the top five teams, and the low individual not on one of those teams, advancing to the NCAA Championship.

THE FIELD
The Fighting Illini enter the postseason as the No. 3 seed at the Stanford Regional in a strong field that includes 10 of 14 programs ranked inside the top-60 of the latest NCAA Division I team rankings. In addition to the No. 18-ranked and third-seeded Illini, the field will feature No. 6 Florida State, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 19 Texas A&M and host and No. 27 Stanford to round out the top-five seeds. UCLA (31), SMU (42), Missouri (43), Fresno State (55) and UNLV (56) are seeded sixth through 10th, respectively, followed by Augusta (75), Liberty (84), Sacramento State (167) and Siena (224) to round out the 15-team field vying for five bids to the NCAA Championship, May 24-29 in Carlsbad, Calif., at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.

The 10 Individual qualifiers are: Enrique Dimayuga (63), Nevada; Ben Warian (148), Minnesota; Jakob Melin (155), San Francisco; Cole Rueck (445), Boise State; and Joe Sykes (975), Idaho.

FIGHTING ILLINI LINEUP
No. 1: Jackson Buchanan
No. 2: Max Herendeen
No. 3: Ryan Voois
No. 4: Tyler Goecke
No. 5: Piercen Hunt
Alt: Ethan Wilson