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Illinois Basketball Season Declining Due to Overreliance on Three Point Shooting

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This 2024-25 Illinois basketball season is getting rapidly redefined downward, unfortunately, and it's largely due to the team's overreliance on three point shooting. They are embodying the cliche of "live and die by the three" to the utmost. Tonight at home versus #11 Michigan State, they came out of the gates guns blazing, knocking down several three point attempts. Early … [Read more...] about Illinois Basketball Season Declining Due to Overreliance on Three Point Shooting

Illinois Basketball Game Preview vs #11 Michigan State Spartans

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This Illinois basketball team is now starting to stack up quality wins. And with the #11 Michigan State Spartans coming to town on Saturday night, for a nationally televised (on regular, free over-the-air television, not the usual subscription streaming service bs) marquee matchup, an opportunity for a true "signature win" awaits. … [Read more...] about Illinois Basketball Game Preview vs #11 Michigan State Spartans

Bret Bielema Has an $88,000 Super Bowl Ring

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As Super Bowl 59 approaches this Sunday, it's a good time to be reminded of the bodacious bling possessed by Illini Coach Bret Bielema. In addition to the Rose Bowl ring that he earned during his playing days (1990 Iowa Hawkeyes, Big Ten Co-Champions, who lost to Washington 46-34), he also has a ring Super Bowl ring. It's from Super Bowl LIII, when he served as the defensive … [Read more...] about Bret Bielema Has an $88,000 Super Bowl Ring

Ace Bailey Provides a Tough Task for Illini Defenders

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Blue chip, five-star freshman Ace Bailey entered this season with with as much hype up as any one single player. Thus far, the Chattanooga, Tennessee native has delivered the goods, as he currently leads the Big Ten in scoring (top 10 nationally). So when the #23 Illinois Fighting Illini head to the RAC tonight, they'll have a tough assignment on their hands, … [Read more...] about Ace Bailey Provides a Tough Task for Illini Defenders

Illinois Basketball: Current NCAA Tournament Resume, Projections

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Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood has been great for the program, on a big picture level. He inherited a dumpster fire from John Groce, and within three-to-four years he had the Illini nationally relevant again. And overall, Illinois basketball is in a great place. Credit Athletic Director Josh Whitman on this hire. However, every season of the Underwood era, or so it … [Read more...] about Illinois Basketball: Current NCAA Tournament Resume, Projections

Illini Football: Very Early 2025 Season Preview

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With 18 of 22 starters returning, Illini football should be special in 2025. Winning ten games, including the Citrus Bowl, has put the program back up at a level relevance that hasn't been seen since 2001. And perhaps most importantly, the Illini have done it by finding and maintaining an identity. Defensive Coordinator Aaron Henry has perfectly articulated the Illini … [Read more...] about Illini Football: Very Early 2025 Season Preview

Illini Return 18/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025

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Is 2025 going to be the year that the Illinois Fighting Illini football program finally starts stacking winning seasons? It certainly looks that way on paper. And while there was obvious cause for optimism in 2000, 2002, 2008 and 2023 (four seasons that followed major program breakthroughs), it just didn't work out that way, and all four of those years were mere five-in … [Read more...] about Illini Return 18/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025

Hank Beatty Could Become the Illini WR1 Next Season

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One of the biggest benefits of bowl games is that they provide a glimpse into what is to come the next season. With every bowl game opt-out, a new opportunity is presented for someone else to step in and fill that void. And most of the time it's somebody who will then take on a greater role within the team during the next season. Illinois wide receiver Hank Beatty is a … [Read more...] about Hank Beatty Could Become the Illini WR1 Next Season

Illini Citrus Bowl Win Broke Program Barriers, Set New Milestones

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Believe it or not, the Citrus Bowl includes a college football game- it's not just an infomercial for cheese-flavored crackers. It was one hell of a ballgame too as the #20 Illinois Fighting Illini came in as 10 pt. underdogs and upset #15 South Carolina 21-17, marking the school's first ever win over a SEC team! It was also the first win for the Illini in a traditionally … [Read more...] about Illini Citrus Bowl Win Broke Program Barriers, Set New Milestones

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