University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook and head basketball coach Bruce Weber will visit with Fighting Illini fans in Chicagoland twice during the month of June for Illini Nights at Minor League Baseball. They will attend the Kane County Cougars game on June 8 at 6:30 pm as well as the Schaumburg Flyers game on June 22 at 7 pm. … [Read more...] about Illini Nights at Minor League Baseball Coming Up
Illini Day
Kendall Gill to sing Wrigley Field 7th inning stretch
By Paul M. Banks It's the time of year again- Illini Day at Wrigley, which typically draws more than 1,000 Illini fans to the Friendly Confines. The even often sells out within a nanosecond of tickets being released. This year, the event has a special guest. … [Read more...] about Kendall Gill to sing Wrigley Field 7th inning stretch
#20 Illini Fighting on in Las Vegas Invitational
By Paul M. Banks It's Feast Week! When there's non-stop college basketball, so many games start at bizarre times. And not just because games are going on in obscure parts of the world in far away time zones. In order to accommodate the television coverage, some games start at...like this one starts at 8:30 pm. #20 Illinois vs. the Wofford Terriers in the second round of the … [Read more...] about #20 Illini Fighting on in Las Vegas Invitational
Illini Ink Top 10 Recruiting Class
By Paul M. Banks In case you missed it, today was "National Signing Day" for basketball. I totally understand if it's not on our your radar, because it's the day that we "officially" learn what we've already known for months, and sometimes years. We pretty much know where all the top recruits are going, but this is the day it becomes a contract. It just puts the notoriously … [Read more...] about Illini Ink Top 10 Recruiting Class
Meet your Illini Dominique Keller, Alex Legion
By Paul M. Banks and Paul Schmidt Welcome to The Sports Bank.net YouTube Channel! We just launched what will now be our primary home for the first-class interviews we conduct with the biggest names in Midwestern sports. Please subscribe to TSB's channel by clicking here. We launch our channel with the first of our series of exclusive interviews with some of the #23 ranked … [Read more...] about Meet your Illini Dominique Keller, Alex Legion
Exclusive with the Nation’s Best WR Arrelious “Rejus” Benn
The University of Illinois Wide Receiving Corps will be among the best in College Football this year. In this four part series, Paul M. Banks interviews and profiles each of the top four Illini pass catching threats. Part 4: Arrelious “Rejus” Benn Talk about saving the best for last- in the final installment of my interview/profiles of the stellar University of Illinois … [Read more...] about Exclusive with the Nation’s Best WR Arrelious “Rejus” Benn
ESPN Finally Gives Gameday Love to the Illini
By Paul M. Banks For some bizarre reason, the Eastern Seaboard Programming Network ignored the University of Illinois when it came to finding a locale to host their popular "College Gameday" pre-game show. The show has been running for six seasons, and during that period of time, the Fighting Illini were 6th in the nation in total wins! They've been a NCAA Tournament regular … [Read more...] about ESPN Finally Gives Gameday Love to the Illini
Big Ten Power Rankings
By Paul M. Banks Now that Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago are over, and the cases have been made for the strengths and weaknesses of the league’s 11 teams in the “City of Broad Shoulders,” it’s time to sort the league’s macho men from the weaklings. And, of course these rankings are highly subject to change. Last year’s record (and when applicable, bowl appearance) … [Read more...] about Big Ten Power Rankings
Cubbies are Consistently Inconsistent
By Paul Schmidt Nothing like an easy week or so of baseball to just get you relaxed. The Cubs have always given their fans something of a workout, pumping them waaaayyyy up, then bringing them waaaayyyy down. I feel as though, personally, that they may actually make my head explode. Somehow, in their last 10 games, the Cubs are 6-4. It seems ridiculous to see this in … [Read more...] about Cubbies are Consistently Inconsistent