BIG TEN RELEASE

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Fighting Illini junior Jackson Buchanan has been named Big Ten Golfer of the Week following his co-medalist performance earlier this week at the Purdue Fall Invitational. The Big Ten Conference announced the honor Thursday afternoon.

• Carded three consecutive rounds in the 60s, including a closing 67 (-4) on Tuesday, to overcome a four-shot deficit in a come-from-behind co-medalist performance at the Purdue Fall Invitational
• Carded rounds of 68, 69, and 67 to finish more than five strokes below the course average of 73.17 for the week
• Recorded 46 of 54 holes at or below par, including a tournament-leading 17 birdies, to seal his second collegiate victory

It marks the third-career Big Ten Golfer of the Week honor of Buchanan's career, and the second for the Fighting Illini in 2023-24.

Illinois' 2023-24 Big Ten Men's Golfer of the Week Winners
Sept. 14: Max Herendeen
Oct. 12: Jackson Buchanan

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Post your questions for an Illini hoops mailbag.

Responses on Thursday.

There’s a lot to like about this Illinois team and where we sit going forward.

1. Obvious go-to guy in Shannon. You need that and we have him for year two. That raises the floor of this team a lot.
2. Hawkins back for Year 4. I think he’s ready to be the emotional leader of this team. He’s grown a lot and I think he finally gets it. The coaching staff knows how to use him finally. Also an NBA type.
3. Rodgers as the glue guy. He’s not a natural PG in my opinion but he is the toughest guy on the team and you want him in a leadership role.
4. Veteran up-transfers. The best transfers are the guys who were “the man” at mid-majors and move up a level. I like that better than the guys who left other high-majors (unless they are local guys coming home.) Guys can get more efficient in this case and they also are generally good attitude, competitive guys.
5. Hansberry will surprise. This guy went to my high school and has that Baltimore tough attitude. He’s a winner and won’t disappoint.
6. Hungry without the hype. Lots of guys looking for success but not burdened with too much expectation. Good recipe for overachievement, which can snowball in a positive way.

I also like our ‘24 recruiting class.

It’s mid-October and football is pretty much dead to me, so I’m ready to get hyped for basketball season. It’s a familiar feeling.

Bret Bielema press conference on Monday.

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Link: Media Days Central

PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES CENTRAL) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10

Coaches address media with opening statement, followed by Q&A on the main Target Center court (event level)

All press conferences televised live on Big Ten Network and the FOX Sports app, and streamed on the Big Ten Conference social media channels

CHAMPAIGN, Ill -- Illinois' Homecoming game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 21 will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT, the conference office announced on Monday. Television coverage for the game will be announced following games played on Oct. 14.

Saturday, Oct. 21

11 a.m. CT
Penn State at Ohio State – FOX
Rutgers at Indiana – Big Ten Network

2:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern at Nebraska – Big Ten Network
Wisconsin at Illinois – Network TBD following games played on 10/14
Minnesota at Iowa – Network TBD following games played on 10/14

6:30 p.m. CT
Michigan at Michigan State – NBC

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He fires Lunney and Henry tomorrow, and hires whomever is the most high powered OC he can find, and he should include HS coaches as options there.

Play calling is the single biggest differentiator between the P5 teams in the bottom half talent wise. You have to adjust to your and the other team’s personel. Lunney is completely incapable, and he’s exposed weekly.

Here I come !

First: Changing Assistants in mis-season is NOT unheard of in football. Windy just got pummeled by almost the EXACT same score at Merryland ! Offensive co-ord FIRED , analysist hired (sound like a possibility ?).

Second; Playing games on Saturday is a direct result of practiced during the week. Monday, team Meeting, ALL positions are now OPEN ! Step on practice field. Practices are already filmed, but graded ? Plenty of drills that are EASILY grade able. Bull in the ring, TE vs LB blocking, 1 on 1 blocking OL vs DL., pass catching drills WR vs DB !

Here's a great one. Blocking dummies laid on ground 5-8 yds apart. TE vs DE with Blocking back with RB behind , Whistle blows TE Vs DE, DE defeats TE, Blocking back then tries to block DE, DE makes tackle of RB, all between the 2 blocking bags. Then you KNOW you have a DE !

IN other words we're SOFT, my way or the Portal. Fatties sit, in shape play !

STOP pulling backside OL, instead cut off backside pursuit ! I learned my lesson versus the Cowboys ! Playing RG, cut/crab blocked the DT, which would have been fine in college, NOT the NFL. He made an assist tackle, I learned a lesson !

Double team blocks, NOT allowed to slip off the DL to get a LB ! MOVE the man where you want the RB to run, FIRST. Worry about the LB, second.

Junk the shotgun with 1 RB, 2 is the minimum. The T formation was good enough for Knute Rockney, why argue, with a QB taking the under the center snap ? (After all we aren't Double Directional high jinks in the locker room !)

In other word's junk our current Offense.

OL has ONE advantage over the DL. IT"S the Snap count ! Disguise the count !

Defense: You're an All American or All Big ! YOU PLAY EVERY SNAP ! I played BOTH ways as a Frosh at UNC, just like I did at Manlius ! With NO tv timeouts. I'm sure Newton hates coming out ! He's GOT pride. DL has to change it's tecgnigues

Offensive line is one of the worst in college football.

Maryland up 10-0 on Ohio State early in the second quarter.

Wisconsin leading Rutgers 3-0.

Purdue @ Iowa 2:30

Michigan @ Minnesota 6:30