I’m heading over to the Illini basketball tailgate.

Wisconsin losing 17-6 to Washington State in the 2Q.

Nebraska smoked by Colorado.

Iowa wins in typical fashion over Iowa State 20-13.

Minnesota in a dogfight with Eastern Michigan. 10-6 at halftime.

Maryland losing to Charlotte 14-6 late in 2Q.

Texas 13 Alabama 6 at halftime.

Miami 48 A&M 33

Based on the first three games, what positions do you think Illinois needs to look at in the Transfer Portal?

Should Bret Bielema embrace the Portal more?

I'll have my thoughts this week in a front page story.

Jase Butler visits this weekend. He previously said he plans to decide on October 4.

Illinois now plays the juggling act with Butler and Mikey Lewis.

They would take both, but would they take Butler first? Lewis visits Ole Miss the weekend of Sept. 29.

Jeremiah Fears re-set his Illinois visit for October 21. I'd expect him to reclassify to 2024.

Upcoming visits.

These lists are available on the top line menu. Click on Basketball then Visit dates.

2024



2025


2026

SAF Matthew Bailey dislocated his shoulder and will have surgery.

SAF Demetrius Hill tore his ACL in practice last week.

Was the OC / WR coach at Illinois from 1997-98.

He needs to be getting at least twenty carry’s a game going forward. He’s a very crafty back. Pass off of his run but get him established and far less tick for McCray.

I also like what I saw from Kenari Wilcher at WR/Slot. Time to spell Love with Feagan at RB.

Most visits go pretty well, but I’m told this one set the bar high.

LSU will have ground to make up. Ole Miss is third, IMO.

The opportunity to play immediately plus a robust participation by ICON puts Illinois in good position.

Hate to see it for the most underappreciated running back in the NFL.

At least Kevin Stefanski will now have a reason not to give it Chubb on 2nd and 1. Or 3rd and 1. Or 4th and 1.

he will not visit LSU this weekend and the Tigers are out.

He will still visit Ole Miss the following weekend.

Schedule | Printable
Champaign, ILL. – The Big Ten announced the conference basketball schedule live on BTN Tuesday, completing the 2023-24 Illinois schedule. Illinois previously released its non-conference schedule on Aug. 16.

llinois Big Ten Schedule Notes

• Seven teams Illinois plays twice (home and away): Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers
• Three teams Illinois plays only at home: Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska
• Three teams Illinois plays only on the road: Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
• Illinois plays 12 league games against teams that participated in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
• Illinois begins and ends Big Ten play on the road for the second straight year.
• Illinois opens the conference slate Dec. 2 at Rutgers. That is Illinois' lone B1G game in December.
• Illinois resumes league play on Jan. 2, hosting Northwestern.
• Illinois' only B1G Friday game is Jan. 5 at Purdue.
• Illinois has a total of five weekend home games: two on Saturday (Jan. 27 vs. Indiana and Feb. 24 vs. Iowa) and three on Sunday (Jan. 14 vs. Maryland, Jan. 21 vs. Rutgers and Feb. 4 vs. Nebraska).
• Illinois plays back-to-back home games Jan. 11 vs. Michigan State and Jan. 14 vs. Maryland.
• The Illini alternate road and home dates over an eight-game stretch bookended by matchups with Michigan: Jan. 18 in Ann Arbor and Feb. 13 in Champaign.
• After its only two-game road stretch at Maryland (Feb. 17) and at Penn State (Feb. 21), the Illini return to campus for consecutive home games vs. Iowa (Feb. 24) and Minnesota (Feb. 28).
• Senior Night at State Farm Center is set for March 5 vs. Purdue.
• Illinois closes out the regular season at Iowa on March 10.
• The Big Ten Tournament makes its debut in Minneapolis, set for March 13-17 at Target Center.