News Category: Illinois Fighting Illini

Top-seeded UConn bracing for tough test vs. No. 3 Illinois

BOSTON — Even though top-seeded UConn has put together a dominant NCAA Tournament run, it isn’t expecting to walk right by third-seeded Illinois when the teams meet in the Elite Eight on Saturday. The Huskies (34-3) have won their first three games of the tourney by an average of 28.7 points, most recently recording an 82-52 blowout over fifth-seeded San Diego State on Thursday in the Sweet 16. However, UConn coach Dan Hurley isn’t taking

Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois take on Iowa State’s D in Sweet 16

BOSTON — If Iowa State wants to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000, it will have to find a way to get through Terrence Shannon Jr. Shannon is a perfect 6-0 against the Cyclones, and he will have a chance to improve that record on Thursday when Illinois and Iowa State meet in a battle of East Region teams in the Sweet 16. All six of Shannon’s previous victories vs. the

Coach’s retirement on hold as Duquesne tries to slay No. 3 Illinois

Illinois and Duquesne last faced off in the NCAA Tournament during the Truman administration. Before Thursday, the Dukes’ most recent tourney win came months before man landed on the moon. That’s historic, to be sure, but crafting a new narrative is the focus for both programs lately. On Saturday, one can advance that objective as Illinois meets Duquesne in an NCAA Tournament second-round game in Omaha, Neb. The third-seeded Fighting Illini (27-8) realize they’ll be

Riley Minix, Morehead State grab attention of No. 3 seed Illinois

Illinois coach Brad Underwood exhaled Sunday after the Fighting Illini rallied past Wisconsin to earn the Big Ten tournament title. “The postseason is over in the Big Ten and thank God we don’t have to see another Big Ten team for a while,” he said. That may be true, but a dangerous opponent awaits the Fighting Illini in the NCAA Tournament East Region first round nonetheless. Third-seeded Illinois (26-8) meets No. 14 Morehead State (26-8)

Wisconsin aims to cap storybook run vs. Illinois in Big Ten title game

Wisconsin finished the regular season on a down note by winning just three of 11 games. Funny how fast the vibe has changed with the Badgers winning three straight games in the Big Ten tournament. The suddenly hot Badgers will play for the tournament championship against No. 13 Illinois on Sunday in Minneapolis. Fifth-seeded Wisconsin (22-12) crashed the title game with a scintillating 76-75 overtime victory over top-seeded Purdue in Saturday’s semifinals. Chucky Hepburn forced

No. 13 Illinois stands in way of Nebraska’s first Big Ten final

Nebraska is one victory away from playing in the Big Ten tournament championship game for the first time. Cornhuskers coach Fred Hoiberg took it one step further. “If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time Nebraska has ever been in the semifinal in the Big Ten tournament,” Hoiberg said. That also is true. Now the third-seeded Cornhuskers (23-9) have a chance for a breakthrough when they face second-seeded Illinois (24-8) on Saturday afternoon in

No. 13 Illinois isn’t resting on laurels, focuses on Ohio State

No. 13 Illinois effectively has punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, but don’t suggest to coach Brad Underwood that his team’s play in the Big Ten tournament is irrelevant. After enjoying a bye for the first two rounds, the second-seeded Fighting Illini (23-8) will meet 10th-seeded Ohio State (20-12)) in quarterfinal action Friday night in Minneapolis. The Buckeyes never trailed in their 90-78 upset of seventh-seeded Iowa in the second round on Thursday night.

Iowa not expecting Sunday stroll over No. 12 Illinois

For No. 12 Illinois, there’s little at stake in the regular-season finale at Iowa on Sunday afternoon. The Big Ten title is out of reach, the No. 2 seed in next week’s Big Ten tournament is clinched, and a No. 4 or 5 NCAA Tournament seed seems virtually assured. But for Iowa, there’s so much more than Senior Night on the agenda. The Hawkeyes have won four of their last five games to enter this

No. 3 Purdue can own Big Ten with win over No. 12 Illinois

On Saturday night, Purdue partied. After the Boilermakers held off Michigan State to clinch a share of their league-best 26th Big Ten crown, enough confetti fell from the Mackey Arena rafters for Zach Edey and his mates to make confetti angels on the court. “It’s a great accomplishment to win back-to-back Big Ten championships,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “It’s a very difficult task. We’re happy for our entire team, but really happy for our

No. 13 Illinois looks to hand Wisconsin rare home loss

The biggest obstacle facing 13th-ranked Illinois when it visits Wisconsin on Saturday might be location, location, location. Illinois (21-7, 12-5 Big Ten) is coming off a 105-97 home victory over Minnesota on Wednesday for its fourth win in five games. The Badgers (18-10, 10-7) lost at Indiana 74-70 on Tuesday, their fifth consecutive road loss. But Wisconsin is 13-2 at home, losing only to then-No. 9 Tennessee 80-70 in early November, and 75-69 to No.