View from the press box.

hoping we bought the Wisco model w/ some NFL experience upgrades

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I just read an article about the top 10 bball recruits for 2023, and two top 10 guys, including #1, are going G League. Max contracts in G are $462k. I’d guess the number would be higher at top NIL schools.

I wonder if competing with the G League was part of the behind the doors conversation?

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team's 2024 Big Ten schedule was announced Thursday by the conference office. The 2024 season will be the first for the 18-team Big Ten following the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington to the conference.

2024 Illinois Football Schedule




Illinois is finalizing plans for its Week 1 game at Memorial Stadium. The Illini were originally scheduled to play Eastern Illinois on Sept. 21, which is now the date for Illinois' trip to Nebraska.

All games and dates are subject to change.

Obviously loved the guy from 2000-2003.
Hated him from 2004-2012
Was fairly ambivalent from 2013-2019
Found a new admiration since around 2020.

He was the nemesis of the Weber area as he crushed us in recruiting and sustained the success that we only tasted and watched drift away.

The Groce era (and the first two years where Underwood rebuilt us) was just such a mess that is was hard to care about Kansas. I vaguely remember something with a hat but the details are foggy now.

The mutual admiration between Underwood and Self has been therapeutic. Our renewed success and the NIL era give me confidence in our program. Self’s health problems and the approaching end of his career make him someone who is no longer a threat to us but someone who has a Hall of Fame career in part at Illinois who we can claim as one of ours.

It also helps that we have Hunter Dickinson as a villain so we can cheer Self and boo HD. Everyone gets the full fan experience.

I won’t be there but I think this will be a cool moment and great for everyone involved.

RB Reggie Love and DL Keith Randolph have both practiced this week.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Lombardi Award, the Rotary Club of Houston announced Wednesday. Newton is the only defensive tackle and one of only three Big Ten players among the 12 semifinalists.

Newton has been the most productive and durable defensive tackle in the nation to date. He is tied for the national lead in quarterback pressures among defensive tackles with 31, according to PFF, and he has played more snaps than any other Power-5 defensive tackle with 62.75 per game. Newton leads Big Ten defensive tackles by eight pressures, with the next closest being Ohio State's Michael Hall Jr. (23).

Newton was named to the AP Midseason All-American First Team on Oct. 18 after earning AP All-American Second-Team honors following last season. He is looking to become the second Illini defender to earn consensus All-American honors in as many years, following DB Devon Witherspoon last year. Illinois has not had back-to-back years with consensus All-Americans since linebackers Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995) from 1994-95.

Newton's two biggest games have come against two of Illinois' best opponents. He had eight pressures against Wisconsin, the most in a game by any defensive tackle in the nation this season, and seven pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener, the second-most by any defensive tackle in a game this season. Newton was the highest-rated Power-5 defensive tackle in the nation during Week 3 vs. Penn State and Week 8 vs. Wisconsin (minimum 30 snaps), according to PFF. His 95.0 grade against Wisconsin was the highest by a Big Ten defender since 2019.

Newton has also contributed on special teams, as he is tied for the national lead with two blocked kicks. Both his blocked kicks have come in Big Ten games: a blocked field goal vs. Penn State (9/16/23) and a blocked extra point at Purdue (9/30/23).

Newton and the Illini are back in action Saturday at Minnesota for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff on Big Ten Network. Newton will have to sit out the first half due to a targeting penalty in the Illini's last game against Wisconsin.

Lombardi Award Semifinalists

OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
OG Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
DE Jonah Elliss, Utah
OL Olu Fashanu, Penn State
OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
ILB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
OG Zak Zinter, Michigan

I'll be at State Farm Center tonight for Illinois WBB exhibition against Truman State.

Tipoff is at 6 pm. You can stream the game on BTN+.

Quiglley Down Under begat Quincy Down Under. Let’s see just how impactful Guerrier is under the bucket and close to the rim. I also saw him hitting a three so he has range.

He could be a real difference maker for the Illini. The team needs to have someone to battle Edey besides Coleman Hawkins and Dain Dainja. Hansbury may have to step in there too.

Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman was the other one I thought of. When one is retired one’s mind runs amok, at times.

1. TJ Shannon is going to have a big season and contend for All-American honors. I think he was capable to that kind of performance last year, but didn't always have that killer mindset. He's really dialed in right now. Sometimes he gets a bit too amped up and goes wildly to the rim. If he can harness that a bit more and take open mid-range shots, he's really going to be a monster.

2. Illinois obviously doesn't have a pure point guard. There are positive things and negative things about the position-less lineup. They can muscle opponents. They will dominate some teams from a physical standpoint. Their length will bother teams defensively. On the other hand, they will struggle at times at the end of the shot clock and end of game situations. They closed out the game last night at the free throw line, but there were some bad possessions late. Ball pressure will bother them from time to time. And as we saw last night, transition defense is a work in progress. (It's hard to matchup when the point guard drives). I'm not yet convinced that Domask will work at the backup point guard. I think Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn needs to progress and earn that spot. They need his athleticism.

3. Big steps in terms of movement and shot selection. There were a few ball stoppages and a couple of ill-advised threes, but for an October exhibition game, I liked what I saw. Overall, good ball and player movement. One huge change is the cutting. Guys last year like Epps, Melendez, Mayer, didn't make much of an effort to cut. When they did cut to the basket, it wasn't a hard cut. This year's team moves the ball, and generally take good shots. With guys cutting, it's not just tossing it around the perimeter then jacking up a 3. They move - players and ball - with a purpose.

4. You can see why Underwood likes having all those 5th year seniors. They know how to play. Really impressed with the basketball IQ of Domask, Guerrier, and Harmon. They make the right play at the right time. Each has their own limitations, but the experience outweighs them. Harmon is the embodiment of glue guy. Guerrier knows when to shoot it, and when to put it on the floor. Domask plays within himself. They all play hard. Fans will like this team.

5. Underwood sacrifices some interior defense by going small. Kansas scored 50 points in the paint. Illinois had just 2 blocks. The lineups that Underwood is throwing out there doesn't really defend the rim very well. Dainja is struggling defensively and seems to be in the dog house. He needs to get it together. Hawkins contests shots but he can get can pushed out of the post. The one guys I really liked defensively in the paint was Guerrier. He had by far the best DRtg (98.1). They will be fine against most matchups, but against Purdue and others with a strong post presence they will give up some layups.