It's that time of year. If we want to be West champions pretty much have to win today. Despite what most of us thought preseason it's within reach and just takes beating two teams many of us penciled in as potential wins before play started. If we can't do that we're not the best team in the West.

A lot rests on Witherspoon today and he's a pretty solid guy to shoulder it. DeVito has been excellent, in a rather quiet way. But I think he's the other guy who might have to single-handedly be the difference on his side of the ball. Chase should have another solid day but in the RZ I think we'll have to rely on TD.

So much fun in November having something to play for beyond hoping to somehow pull off a 6th win.

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No. 1 North Carolina trailing Charlotte 68-67. 12:00 2H

Michigan State 53 No. 2 Gonzaga 50. 7:02 2H

Temple 45 No. 16 Villanova 44. 10:41 2H

No. 22 Michigan tips off vs. Eastern Michigan at 8 pm.

About 70 minutes to tipoff.

RJ Melendez is out early getting some jumpers up. Dain Dainja working on post foot work.

Post your questions on:

* This year's team / players
* 2023 signing class
* Future recruiting
* Anything else that's on your mind

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You Marines have a great Birthday of 247 Years !

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The 23rd-ranked Fighting Illini continue their three-game home stand to open the season on Friday night, hosting Kansas City at 8 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early and be in their seats well ahead of tip-off – between 7:15-7:30 – as Illinois will hold a pregame ceremony fans won't want to miss.

Championship rings will be presented to all returning members of the program who helped lead Illinois to the 2022 Big Ten regular season title with a 15-5 record.

In addition, four former stars who stand among the most beloved players in school history are expected to attend the pregame ceremony, receiving their rings and helping raise a Big Ten banner to the State Farm Center rafters for the second year in a row:

Alfonso Plummer: Beginning his rookie season with the Mexico City Capitanes in the NBA G League … Third-team All-Big Ten selection last year after ranking second on the team in scoring at 14.6 ppg … Made 98 three-pointers on the season, third-most in Illini history … Tied school record with eight three-pointers vs. Ohio State … Broke the UI single-season free throw record by making 87.4% from the line.

Da'Monte Williams: Played in 159 career games during his five-year career, the most in Illini history … Carried on the proud tradition of Peoria natives helping lead Illinois to a Big Ten title … Gained national acclaim as an All-Glue Guy who played and defended every position on the court … Scored more than 600 points and collected more than 600 rebounds during his career.

Kofi Cockburn: Set to embark on pro career in Japan with Niigata Albirex BB … The greatest center in Fighting Illini history … Two-time consensus All-American; one of three players in program history to achieve that distinction … The only player in the country to average 20+ points and 10+ rebounds last season, garnering first-team All-America honors by 11 organizations … Illinois' leading scorer (1,546) and rebounder (861) among three-year players … School-record holder with 45 career double-doubles.

Trent Frazier: Returning to campus from Serbia, where he is off to a brilliant start to his pro career with FMP Meridian … Second-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection last season … School-record holder for most games started (138) and most minutes played (4,855) … Finished his career No. 5 on the Illini all-time scoring list with 1,794 points … Second in school history with 310 career 3-pointers … Sixth at UI in career steals (207), ninth in career assists (452) and 10th in career field goals (593).

Duke DT commit Terry Simmons will take his OV with Illinois on Dec. 16.

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Can there be any hotter than Jimbo's at A & M. when the Aggie band is the attraction, can Jimbo be paid off while Oil futures are still high ?

So, in addition, to those already open ; BC, Navy, WVU, Indy, would they touch Fitzy ? or Mizery ?

On if he made his scheduled OV:

“I did not. I had some paperwork issues to get cleared up. I’ll be up soon.”

Illini were picked to win between 4 to 5 games this year and not make a bowl game before the season started! Now have 7 in the bag, will be in a good bowl game..

If anyone predicted that Illini would seriously be in contention to play in INDY on Dec 3rd before the season -- would have been laughed off the forum!!

Do not know about others, but I have spent very little time on the Henson forum to date - way to interested in Football - the big Kahuna!

Illini lost a game they were slated to win and ARE STILL IN TOP 25 IN BOTH POLLS!!

Starting running back is in Heisman talk

Top players on both sides of the ball are getting more and more attention - and should lead to more interest with new recruits.

Range of possible outcomes:

8 - 4 - Play in decent bowl game (would be disappointment at this time)
9 - 3 - Play in Conference Championship and play in New Year Bowl game with all that brings -- most likely I think
10 - 2 - Take care of PU and NU, and catch scUM looking ahead to "The Game" - not likely, but never know...
9 - 3 - Play in INDY 12/3 - Beat Buckeyes one week after "the Game" (NW gave them a game this last weekend)

If you had offered the first one in late August MOST readers would take that record and run!!! Chins Up folks -- ILLINI rule

Long time Lockport HS coach. His 1978 championship team was undefeated. The entire program from freshman on up were also undefeated.

Illinois WBB basketball defeated Long Island on Wednesday night 75-40.

Kendall Bostic led Illinois with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Dayton transfer guard Makira Cook had 14 points.

6-foot-6 center Aicha Ndour had 10 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.

Guard Adalia McKenzie 12 points 7 rebounds.

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Illinois is expecting 1-2 more open rides in the spring. The Portal will be the priority. They will also look for breakout kids, decommits, etc.

I expect Illinois and North Carolina to be locked in a battle for James Brown in the spring after the high school season is over. Illinois feels pretty good.

When Zacharie Perrin arrives on campus is still up in the air, but he won't play until the 2023-24 season. It all depends on academic stuff that Underwood won't talk about. He will be fine to enroll next fall.

I’ll post full rankings in a bit