CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's basketball head coach Shauna Green has announced the addition of Ténin Magassa to the program. Magassa – a graduate transfer from Rhode Island – has signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid with the University of Illinois and is set to join the program beginning with the 2024-25 season.

Magassa is a 6-foot-6-inch center from Morsang-Sur-Orge, France. Prior to spending her junior and season seasons at Rhode Island, Magassa played two seasons under Coach Green at Dayton from 2020-22. She has appeared in 93 career games while averaging 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in just under 18 minutes per game. Magassa has recorded 638 points and 514 rebounds along with 190 blocks and 53 steals across her career. She has also tallied six career double-doubles.

Across the last four seasons, Magassa's teams have amassed an 87-32 overall record. In conference play, her squads own a collective 50-12 record. Her experience includes an NCAA Second Round appearance as well as two seasons in the WNIT.

Magassa was tabbed to the Preseason Atlantic 10 All-Conference Third Team prior to both of her seasons in Kingston. She was named the 2020-21 A-10 Sixth Woman of the Year while also earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team after her freshman campaign.

In her time at Rhode Island, Magassa appeared in 43 games while starting 12. She connected on 51.9% of her field-goal attempts (111-of-214) and scored 274 points. Magassa grabbed 183 rebounds – including 85 offensive boards – for an average of 4.3 per game during her time with the Rams. She added 77 blocks – including 59 last season – to go along with 38 assists and 21 steals. Her 77 career blocks rank seventh on Rhody's all-time list.

Through 50 games played and 20 started as a Flyer, the Morsang-Sur-Orge, France, native finished fifth all-time in Dayton history in blocks with 113. Magassa shot 51.9% from the field (152-of-293) during her time at Dayton as well. She grabbed 331 total rebounds, including 123 on the offensive glass, to average 6.6 rebounds per game as a Flyer. Magassa averaged 7.3 points per game at Dayton to go along with 43 assists and 32 steals.

Magassa graduated from Jean Moulin High School in France, where she was a four-year varsity letterwinner. She was third-leading scorer for U18 French national team that won the bronze medal at the 2019 European Championships. Magassa also competed at the 2017 U16 European Championships, at which France earned the bronze as well.

Ténin is the daughter of Siga and Dielike Magassa. She has five siblings: Ayisse, Aboubacar, Tahara, Mangala, and Dipa.

HEAD COACH SHAUNA GREEN ON THE ADDITION OF TÉNIN MAGASSA:​

"I am so happy that Ténin is back in our family. Having coached her for two years, I know she can help us right away. T is a big that can run in our pace, protect the rim defensively, and has the ability to score with her back to the basket. She knows our system and our standards. T is a winner, having won championships with us at Dayton and one at URI. She brings a wealth of experience with her for her final year of college. I can not wait to have T back with us and get to work!"

TÉNIN MAGASSA ON WHY SHE CHOSE ILLINOIS:​

"I feel overjoyed rejoining people that feel like home. I am excited to win and this is a full circle moment for me. I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to play in front of Illini Nation!"

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 18 Fighting Illini men's golf team finished second at the 2024 Big Ten Championship on Sunday at Scioto Country Club, snapping the program's Big Ten-record streak of eight consecutive league titles.

The Illini carded a team total of 878 (+38), including Sunday's second-lowest final round of 292 (+12). But the Orange and Blue were unable cut into Northwestern's lead as the Wildcats closed out the 15-stroke victory in wire-to-wire fashion with a 54-hole total of 863 (+23), led by medalist Daniel Svard.

"Today was representative of the whole week," head coach Mike Small said. "Hats off to Northwestern. They controlled the narrative and the energy from Day 1. Nobody else played to that level. They had four guys finish in the top 10, that's just bringing it, and that's what winners do at this tournament - it has to be a total team effort. They were better from tee to green, better around the greens, and it was just a pretty decisive win. We didn't have much answer for that. Today was the same as the other two days. We had some good stretches, some good spots - maybe more good spots today - but we still played some loose golf that you shouldn't have this time of year."

Junior Jackson Buchanan earned All-Big Ten Championship Team honors for the second straight season, pacing Illinois with a score of 212 (+2) for a runner-up finish. Buchanan made a hard charge for medalist late in Round 3, and following back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, he moved into a tie atop the leaderboard. However, a bogey on 16 proved to be the difference as Buchanan carded par on 17 and 18 to finish his round with a 70 (E) and come up one stroke short of Svard's pace.

"Jackson competed," Small added. "He didn't have his best stuff from tee to green this week either - I think all of us struggled striking the ball for whatever reason - but he hit eight greens today and had a chance to win, so he competed well. He made a bogey on 16, which was unfortunate, but he hit two really good shots on the last two holes, just couldn't make a birdie. Again, you can't play defense, and the player ahead of him didn't make any mistakes. Jackson tried to chase him down, but couldn't quite catch him."

The Illini's trio of underclassmen – true freshmen Max Herendeen and Ethan Wilson and sophomore Ryan Voois – rounded out scoring in Round 3 behind Buchanan.

Herendeen carded a Round 3 total of 75 (+5) and finished second among the Illini competitors in a tie for 16th overall at 223 (+13). His finish marked the best for an Illini freshman at the Big Ten Championship since Adrien Dumont de Chassart's win in 2019.

Wilson posted Sunday's second-lowest score for the Illini with a 3-over 73 and was day's biggest mover as he ascended 19 spots up the leaderboard to finish tied for 30th at 227 (+17).

Voois finished one shot ahead of Wilson in a tie for 26th, closing out his weekend with a 74 (+4) to cap with a three-round total of 226 (+16).

Senior Piercen Hunt carded a final round of 79 (+9) and ranked third in the Illini lineup, overall, with a 54-hole tally of 225 (+15) to finish tied for 19th. It marked Hunt's third-career top-20 finish at the Big Ten Championships.

UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini now turn their attention to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, with regional selections set to be announced as part of Golf Channel's College Central coverage on Wednesday, May 1 at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. Illinois will compete at a regional for the 16th consecutive season and the 19th time under Small's guidance.

The 2024 NCAA Regionals are slated for May 13-15 at six sites: Birck Boilermaker Golf Course (West Lafayette, Ind.; host: Purdue), The Farms Golf Club (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; host: San Diego), Stanford Golf Course (Stanford, Calif.; host: Stanford), UNC Finley Golf Course (Chapel Hill, N.C.; host: North Carolina), University Club (Baton Rouge, La.; host: LSU), and The University of Texas Golf Club (Austin, Texas; host: Texas).

Spring football is in the books. What are your questions?

In retrospect the trade the Bears made last year is paying off handsomely. Sure, with perfect hindsight they could have had CJ Stroud, but would he have been as good as he was playing on the Bears without Darnell Wright and DJ Moore on the field with him?

Caleb Williams looks like the first pick. Of all the other QBs, the one who intrigues me the most is Penix. Seen lots of drafts having him going to the Raiders, which fits perfectly. Hard to say what the best thing for the Bears to do with the 9th pick is assuming one of the top three WRs is still on the board. Keenan Allen is fantastic to have, but he too has an injury history and he is 31. Having WRs to match Miami's, Cincinnati's or Philadelphia's combos is a very good thing. On the other hand they can get one of the best OTs (either Alt or Latham) or a defensive line impact player. This is where the scouts and evaluators earn their money. With only two picks remaining after that dropping down 6-10 spots doesn't seem like a bad idea, although how far and how much more they will get is incredibly hard to guess. Just saying I won't be disappointed if they do drop as long as they are still able to get one of the premier OL or DL players with their first pick.

Enjoy the draft tonight.

Illinois offers top 10 wing Meleek Thomas. Antigua recruit.

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Here’s how I see it:

1) Let guys leave that you know are career bench guys.
2) Try to upgrade those spots with guys with higher ceilings and multiple years of eligibility.
3) Swap out Frazier for Antigua in support of objectives 1&2
4) Save your really big NIL $ for later in the process to chase guys flirting with the NBA 2nd round to fill starring roles
5) Continue recruiting high school players but only guys who you think are instant impact or will be content riding the bench as developmental lottery tickets.

I see the upside as chasing a Final Four. With increasing NIL and success to sell the hit rate should improve.

Downsides are that you lose continuity on the roster and some of your gritty Everyday Guys culture. Also you risk whiffing on a key position if you get burned by a last-minute deal going south.

Overall I think the strategy is well-aligned with Underwood’s personality and coaching talents. It’s also more realistic than trying to hold on to guys for 4 years in this era. Upside is the 2023-2024 team. Downside is the 2022-2023 team. I’m hoping the general trend is pointing up even if it’s not a straight line path to a title.

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Fighting Illini sophomore Ryan Voois has been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week following his medalist performance that led Illinois to the team title at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate at Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Ill. The Big Ten Conference announced the honor Wednesday afternoon.

• Led No. 18 Illinois to the team title at the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate, the team's fourth victory of the season.
• Earned first win of his collegiate career.
• Led from start to finish after opening his weekend with a career-low and tournament-record score of 64 (-7) in Round 1.
• Finished as the only competitor in the 69-player field to shoot under par with a 54-hole total of 212 (-1).
• Picked up the win ahead of 10 challengers from the Big Ten Conference - including Illinois teammates and competitors from Michigan, Michigan State, and Northwestern that finished second through T10th.
• Played 44 of 54 holes at par or better with a tournament-leading 12 birdies.
• Led the tournament field in Par-5 scoring at 5-under with an average of 4.44.

It marks the first-career Big Ten Golfer of the Week honor for Voois, and the fifth for the Fighting Illini in 2023-24.

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STL wide receiver DJ Miller tells me he will take an official visit to Illinois on June 14th weekend.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how they get the ball to their receivers. Coach Stepp was able to develop lot of receivers and get them on the next level at South Caroline, so I’m lookin forward to see how he interacts with them!”

Miller hopes to make his commitment midseason.

Visited for their spring game this weekend.

Marcus Domask had petitioned the NCAA for another year of eligibility. That request has apparently been denied.

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Soldier Field to be demolished.

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I saw Internet posting with allegation that Illinois reached NIL agreement with A.J. Starr before the season ended.

https://www.outkick.com/sports/aj-storr-wisconsin-transfer-illinois-tampering-allegation

Hopefully it’s nothing to be concerned about.

Was talking to an Arkansas (Calipari) fan yesterday. I said we were down to (3) returning scholarship players on the roster. He said Arkansas is at 0!
What a game!

Hawkins is all in on the NBA Draft.

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Illinois probably loses one more player to the portal. That could happen relatively soon.

I think they will look to add three more. Still want to add a wing and a big for sure. A couple new names that I might add to the transfer tracker. Still need more info.

Wesley Cardet committed to Providence.

If things work out as they are trending, the new assistant could be announced as early as Monday. I haven’t heard buzz about anyone other than Orlando Antigua, so…

If Antigua does come to Illinois, the Illini have a legitimate shot at five-star guard Boogie Fland. Louisville and Arkansas also in the mix, along with many others.

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Illinois will also likely kick the tires on Ohio State big man transfer Felix Okpara and see if it leads anywhere. He's the kind of rim protector they are looking for. Tennessee very much involved here.

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Penny Hardaway at Memphis has bags of cash to offer David Jones if he withdraws from the Draft. Illinois may be able to match it, though. We'll see. He's not in the portal.

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Going back home.

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He will be a target for Orlando Antigua. Onyenso is also going through the draft process.

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He was 3rd string NB exiting the spring.

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