Story from the News-Gazette.

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Six Illini earned All-Big Ten selections and Dan Hartleb was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, the conference announced Tuesday.

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Nike EYBL Fri / Sat. Preview is on the front page.

Then the Rivals Camp Series on Sunday. A lot of Illini football recruiting targets expected to be there.

FYI.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Cornerback Terrance Brooks signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid with the University of Illinois and will join the Fighting Illini program as a transfer, head coach Bret Bielema announced. Brooks comes to Champaign from Texas, where he started 16 career games and was an All-Big XII honorable mention selection last season.

"We are excited to bring Terrance to Illinois," said Bielema. "He is an extremely talented player with valuable experiences as an all-conference college football player from a football family. As soon as we got him to campus, we knew we could provide a great match for what Terrance was looking for in a University, football program, and community. We're excited to get him here to join our Illini famILLy."

Brooks started 13 games for Texas last season, helping the Longhorns to a Big XII Championship and appearance in the College Football Playoff. He totaled 20 tackles, six passes defended, and three interceptions on the season, while finishing in the top 20 of Power-5 cornerbacks with a 58.7 passer rating against, according to PFF (min. 500 snaps).

"Thank you to Coach Bielema and Coach Henry for the opportunity to join the Illini famILLy," said Brooks. "I can't wait to get back to Champaign to get to work."

Brooks has a strong football lineage, as his father, Chet, played safety at Texas A&M and for three years in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers. Chet was part of two Super Bowl teams in San Francisco.

"I think, from a coaching perspective, the Illinois staff fit what Terrance was looking for based off what he has learned in college football," said Chet. "Coach Bielema and Coach Henry have a proven track record of development with trust, truth, and transparency. They have turned no-star guys into NFL players. We're really looking forward to this journey."

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B1G Baseball Tournament Section 112 Row 4 Seats 9, 10 & 11 All sessions

I'm in a box, my cost with fees is $186.50, and that's what I'm asking.

Section 112 should is behind home plate, directly behind the media.

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."