Driving over from Indy for the game Saturday, and haven’t been to a game in a couple decades. Bringing my son(13), and would appreciate some info to make things go smooth. Parking, don’t mind paying for convenience. Family friendly pregame activities, etc… Appreciate it!! ILL!!

Brad Underwood and Shauna Green press conference at 1:30 followed by player interviews.

We will have video interviews with all 12 players.

This kid arrives today (Friday) for his official visit. BYU is the presumed leader. He's a legacy recruit there and is set to visit the weekend of October 25.

Burgess plans to go on a two-year LDS mission so he's essentially class of 2027.

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I'm waiting for the 2025 KenPom ratings, but I also appreciate that they will not give us the numbers we're looking for. Here's why:

• KenPom struggles with international players, reclassifications, and high 4* players. I think they can capture the one-and-done guys but I don't think that credit will go all the way to capture guys like KJ and Riley. We see them as potential lottery picks. KenPom won't. I have no idea what they are going to expect out of Ivisic either. Our wheelhouse of Top 50 but not Top 25 star freshmen (think Kofi, Ayo, and hopefully Morez Johnson) just don't move the needle either.
• High usage, low efficiency rate transfers won't rate very well. If you assume Tre White and Carey Booth are going to see tons of floor time (because you discount our freshmen), then you aren't going to give them an efficiency boost in a lower usage role. Underwood is going to define their roles.
• Our KenPom is going to bank heavily on guys like Ty Rodgers, Kylan Boswell, and Tre White. If that was all we had on the roster then we're probably the bubble team that we'll be rated as (I'm thinking we'll be 45-55 in the preseason KenPom.) We just don't have a proven star. We may benefit some from our program quality (I think that factors in some carryover to account for coaching) but this roster is going to seem like a bag of spare parts.
• The bottom line is we have almost nobody who is a proven producer in the role they will be playing on this team. The only plug and play guy is Boswell (his 107.8 ORtg is lower than our entire starting rotation last year.) Humrichous is solid in terms of past efficiency but he's moving up a tier or two and that may discount him somewhat too.

The real secret sauce for this team is the roster construction. We're going to be able to lean on positional size for defense and 3-point shooting ability for offense along with the elite playmaking skills from KJ. I also think you have a lottery pick in Riley that can just get you a bucket when you need it. Underwood is going to have to coach and scheme really hard to figure out a way to get these guys to play effective defense and stay out of foul trouble. I think we may have the sweetest preseason scrimmage videos that we've ever had but he's basically coaching an Olympic team where the guys are building chemistry from scratch and the rotations are totally undefined. I can't think of a better coach in the country to pull this off (for example, they'd never be able to execute Weber's motion offense without a million turnovers or Self's hard-nosed defense without a million fouls) but it will be an adventure.

With practice underway, there are some wide open battles to crack the starting lineup. I talked to a bunch of different people at Big Ten Media Days and got some thoughts on lineups.

I think the backcourt starters are pretty locked in. It's going to be Kylan Boswell and Kasparas Jakucionis, with Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn off the bench and Louisville transfer Tre White playing some guard. Most think of Boswell as a point guard, but KJ has been their best passer / playmaker. Those two are interchangeable, and Boswell can play off the ball.

Some have written off Ty Rodgers as a starter, but he started every game last year and the staff sees him as the leader of the team and the bridge to the newcomers. Right now, I see him starting at the 3 when the season opens. Freshman Will Riley is their best pure scorer at the 3.

There will be a battle to start in the front court. They love Ben Humrichous as a spot up 4 and 3-point shooter, and he's also shown some ability to put it on the floor. Morez Johnson can play the 4 or the 5 and he's their most aggressive front court player on the glass. He's still a bit raw offensively but is improving, and is somewhat foul prone right now. Carey Booth is a unique combination of length and athleticism, though he still needs strength / bulk. Tomislav Isivic is the most complete 5 and he's a legit 7-foot-1. Do you practice like he's going to be eligible when the season starts, or not count on it?

If Underwood only goes 9 deep, who is the odd man out? He basically only went 8 deep last year.

My best guess right now, assuming Isivic is good to go...

G Kylan Boswell
G Kasparas Jakucionis
F Ty Rodgers
F Ben Humrichous
C Tomislav Isivic

Bench:

Morez Johnson
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn
Will Riley
Carey Booth
Tre White

Your thoughts?

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Television and streaming designations for the 2024-25 Fighting Illini women's basketball schedule were announced by the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday. The Illini will have at least nine games broadcast by conference partners, with all remaining home games slated to stream on Big Ten Plus.

Illinois will play on Big Ten Network seven times during the regular season, starting on Sunday, Nov. 10, against Marquette. The Orange and Blue's Big Ten opener at Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 8, is also slated to air on BTN. Home conference games against Washington (Dec. 31), Purdue (Jan. 27), and Nebraska (Feb. 16), along with away Big Ten contests at Northwestern (Jan. 23) and UCLA (Feb. 20), will all appear on Big Ten Network.

The Illini's road contest at Indiana on Jan. 16 will stream on Peacock, while Illinois' game at USC on Feb. 23 is set to air on FS1.

The Big Ten Tournament (March 5-9) will once again be available to watch on Big Ten Network.

Game times for the majority of Illinois' home and away games – with the exception of the Illini's contests against Oregon State (Nov. 22) and Southern (Dec. 20) at State Farm Center – can be found HERE.

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I found his stats on the Stl Post Dispatch. He is 105 for 129 completions. For 1546 yards at an 81.4 completion ratio. 12tds and 2 interceptions. Also has rushed for 411 yards. Looks like a very special player.

Wisconsin leading Purdue 28-6 early in the 3Q.

Penn State 17 UCLA 3 midway through 3Q.

I wouldn’t be shocked if Iowa gives Ohio State all they want this afternoon. 2:30 kickoff.

Rutgers vs. Nebraska is a game to pay attention to for Illinois fans.

Texas A&M blowing out Mizzou 31-0.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois' home game against Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 19, will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS, the conference office and television partners announced Monday.

The contest will see #23 Illinois host the #24 Wolverines for the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Rededication Game. Illinois has announced detailed plans for the Rededication weekend, set for Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19. To see the complete schedule of Memorial Stadium Rededication plans, click here.

This is the first time in a while that I don't have a favorite player in mind before the season starts. My favorites may not be your favorites (most people would pick Dee and Ayo every year, for example) Sometimes the season played out and I changed to someone else later (see the "oops" especially)

2025: ???
2024: TSJ
2023: TSJ
2022: Kofi
2021: Kofi
2020: Ayo
2019: Trent
2018: Da'Monte
2017: Hill
2016: Hill
2015: Hill
2014: Rice
2013: Paul
2012: Paul
2011: Richmond (oops)
2010: Tisdale
2009: McCamey
2008: McCamey
2007: Smith (oops)
2006: Dee
2005: Deron
2004: Dee
2003: Cook
2002: Frank
2001: Frank
2000: Bradford

My daughter wanted to look at the roster (she likes to pick out a favorite player. It had been Coleman Hawkins for a while.) and she asked who my favorite player was. I didn't really have an answer. I'm torn between a few different guys.

Ty is the heart of the team and the guy we know.
Will Riley has the explosive 5* shooting talent.
KJ has the most game and is probably the best draft prospect on the roster.
Morez has been committed forever and is the in-state star.
Boswell is the local guy and has the best college resume going into the season.

I'm leaning towards Riley just because I think he'll be the most fun to watch. I'm worried though that he'll be a liability on defense and that will be frustrating.

Ty and Boswell are the faces of the team at media day and that means something.

I think this season I'll have to stay open-minded and figure out how I see things by December.