Illini Forward Myke Henry: hey, thanks for coming!
Yet again Illini nation must say “hey, thanks for coming!” to a college basketball player. Myke Henry is the fourth Illini baller to leave the Big Ten program this offseason. No biggee, the Illini have a tremendous recruiting class coming in, and a couple transfers. Illinois basketball is seeing a lot of influx of players; just as they’re seeing an exodus too.
Henry attended...
Throwback Thursday: Tavon Wilson
Catching up with former Fighting Illini defensive great Tavon Wilson.
What is behind Northwestern's success at recruiting?
Morrissey was right when he sang "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful." Of course, we hate it more when our rivals or enemies become even more successful. That's the case as Tom Fornelli of the Illinois blog The Champaign Room, whom apparently is more than a little envious of the Fighting Illini's in-state rival Northwestern's recruiting success this...
Illini Brandon Paul: NBA Mock Draft Composite
Time to focus on the NBA Draft. It seems pretty certain the Illinois Fighting Illini will once again have representation on draft night. Guard Brandon Paul was at the draft combine last week and he’s had contact with the L.A. Clippers, Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls.
Two years ago was a disaster when both Demetri McCamey and Jereme Richmond went undrafted, despite all...
Two players kicked off of Illinois football team
Wide receiver Darius Millines and defensive end Darrius Caldwell have been kicked off the University of Illinois football team for unspecified rules violations, the Associated Press reported on Thursday.
Last season Millines was the second-leading receiver on the Illini catching 32 passes for 319 yards in his junior season.
Millines was the Illini’s second-leading receiver last...
Throwback Thursday: Whitney Mercilus
Catching up with former Fighting Illini defensive great Whitney Mercilus.
Frysinger Moving Forward
Former Illini wideout Jordan Frysinger has the option to continue his academic path at Illinois if he so chooses.
Illini Coach Tim Beckman rips off Northwestern football slogan
Illini college football coach Tim Beckman went on 670 The Score in Chicago today. Around 4:30 CDT with Boers and Bernstein. Tim Beckman appeared with Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas and college basketball coach John Groce. If and when WSCR posts the audio, I’ll link it here.
The Northwestern Twitterverse (there’s not many of them, but there are some) are blowing up about...
Illinois football: What experts are saying about Akeem Spence's future in the NFL
When Akeem Spence was selected with the third pick in the fourth round (150th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, many believed that his new NFL team had found an immediate starter on the defensive line.
Spence, a 6-foot-1, 307-pound defensive tackle, can take over the vacant nose tackle spot left behind by Roy Miller. Miller signed a deal with the Jaguars on March 15.
Spence...
Illinois Men's Basketball: Assembly Hall is now the State Farm Center
The renovation plans for the Assembly Hall have been announced in the past months, but a major announcement came in at a 2 p.m. Monday press conference in Champaign.
The Assembly Hall will be renamed for the first time in the history of the 50-year structure. Thanks to a 30-year, $60-million deal with State Farm Insurance Company, Assembly Hall will now be known as the State Farm...
Illinois Fighting Illini football: New Big Ten division alignment puts Illini in West
The realignment of the Big Ten has been finalized for 2014. With the additions of Rutgers and Maryland, the 14-team Big Ten will be split into two seven-team divisions, the East and West.
Illinois will be in the West with Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin.
The East will consist of Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and...
Steelers 2013 Fifth Round Draft Pick – Illinois CB Terry Hawthorne
The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Illinois cornerback Terry Hawthorne with their fifth round pick of the 2013 NFL draft.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/terry-hawthorne?id=2539238
OVERVIEW
Illinois’ talented defense has received well-deserved praise over the past couple of seasons, with defensive end Whitney Mercilus landing in the first round of the 2012 draft (after...
Steelers Select Illinois CB Terry Hawthorne (Rd.5, No.150)
With the 150th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Steelers select Illinois CB Terry Hawthorne. At 6'0" and 194 lbs, Hawthorne has the long, linear fram that NFL teams are always looking for. Few tall cornerbacks possess the foot quickness, agility and playing speed that Hawthorne does. Blessed with quick feet and good agility, when he maintains good technique/footwork...
Buccaneers Select Illinois DT Akeem Spence (Rd.4, No. 100)
With the 100th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Buccaneers select Illinois DT Akeem Spence. Spence has a good build and displays a strong set of hands. He's a physical tackler, and will make tackles all around the line of scrimmage. However, he needs to improve how he comes off the ball, and needs to make better use of the power in his upper and lower body. He should be...
Colts Select Illinois OG Hugh Thornton (Rd.3, No.86)
With the 86th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Colts select Illinois OG Hugh Thornton. His exceptionally-difficult childhood forced him to deal with this parents divorce, the murder of his mother and sister, as well as an abusive father. But Thornton fought through all of that, along with a couple of off-field mistakes, to become a versatile lineman (started at both tackle...
Ex Illini Jereme Richmond arrested: in other news, water is wet
I don’t know what’s harder to keep up with: Jereme Richmond legal trouble or GREATEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUIT ever Gunner Kiel tranfers. Both events happen frequently, so it’s hard to remember it all. Troubled former Illinois Mr. Basketball and Illini hoops one-and-done Jereme Richmond was sent back to jail this morning under accusations of making threats to his probation...
Illinois Football: Tim Beckman must keep kids in Illinois
With the April 20th commitment of Enoch Smith Jr. to Michigan State, the questions regarding the Illini's recruiting ability inside their own state are reasonably fair to the coaching staff.
Smith, a defensive tackle out of Mount Carmel, was Rivals' top-ranked player at his position in Illinois for the 2014 class. At 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, the defensive lineman could have...
Illinois Fighting Illini football: Former players preparing for upcoming NFL Draft
Despite ending their first season 2-10 under first-year coach Tim Beckman, the Illinois Fighting Illini will still be well represented at the upcoming NFL Draft.
Offensive guard Hugh Thornton, defensive linemen Michael Buchanan and Akeem Spence, and cornerback Terry Hawthorne lead the group of former Illini players hoping to hear their names called at the draft, which will be conducted...
Illinois basketball: What kind of expectations should be set for John Groce's second season?
About one
week ago, the Illinois Fighting Illini gave Head Coach John Groce a one-year
contract extension and a nice pay raise, $200,000 to be exact. Groce was given this pay bump and extension
because he led the Illini to a 23-13
record and an 8-10 record in the Big Ten. And lets not forget, a NCAA tournament
appearance and a victory in his first year.
...
2013 Spring Football Exit Interview: Illinois Edition
Throughout the month of April the Big Ten will spend a Friday night and a lot of Saturday afternoon's in front of crowds going through spring football games. As things wind down we will bring you the thoughts of those plugged in to the programs - fellow bloggers and beat writers.
Last week we put a bow on the Nebraska Cornhuskers' spring game and today it'...
AP Source: Illinois adding 2 transfers
Illinois is adding two transfers to a basketball roster left thin by graduation.
Illinois State forward Jon Ekey and Seton Hall guard Aaron Crosby have agreed to join Illinois, according to a person familiar with the moves who spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss them publicly.
Ekey will play immediately as a...
2012-13 Big Ten Basketball Review: Illinois Fighting Illini
If you've been following along with us all season long then you know that we tend to do things that aren't always done by other outlets and one of those things is taking a look back - back to what they said when previewing a season - and frankly we find that a bit odd.
I mean, you are brazen enough to go out on a limb and predict the season, but aren't willing...
Illinois basketball: Illini program continues to gain momentum
On March 24th, the Illinois Fighting Illini basketball program suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to cap off an amazing 12 or so months for the program. It might sound strange to use the terms "cap off" and "amazing" to describe a loss, but I meant it. I also meant gut-wrenching, but I won't rehash the end of that game. The Illini's inspired effort to nearly...
Illini offense impresses in spring game
On a blustery Friday night in Champaign improvement was easily recognizable despite the crazy amount of injuries going into and during spring. Well, improvement was the name of the game for the offensive side of the ball at the least as the Blue team, led by Nathan Scheelhaase, won 35-28 over the Orange team led by Riley O'Toole.
The old adage is that you can never...
Illinois students kick field goals at student appreciation practice
This is easily one of the coolest ideas I’ve seen from a college football team. On Wednesday afternoon, the Illinois Fighting Illini invited students out to watch a live scrimmage and gave them free pizza. When the scrimmage was over, three lucky students were given the opportunity to kick a field goal. All three students made the kicks with the players cheering them on,...
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