Brad Underwood is still searching for the last piece to the 2024-25 roster — a wing scorer is the focus — while looking ahead to 2025, 2026 and 2027 recruits for future rosters. Coleman Hawkins is still searching for clarity with his NBA draft future. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

Illinois' roster reconstruction continued Monday with the addition of 7-foot-1 center Tomislav Ivisic. The eighth newcomer ahead of the 2024-25 season. With three open scholarships still remaining. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses the Croatian big man, the potential impact of all the newcomers (with Kylan Boswell leading that group) and what next season's roster still needs in this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

The transfer portal closes Wednesday, but that doesn't mean the near complete roster overhaul will be a finished product. That process will assuredly consume the month of May (and maybe beyond, although that can't be Brad Underwood's wish). What's clear, though, is there's still work to be done to field a roster to compete at the top of the Big Ten. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

Illinois now has just three scholarship players set to return from last year's 29-win team that reached the Elite Eight. Only one of them played a significant role in the rotation. Only Ty Rodgers' continued presence (so far) makes it a complete and total roster reload for Brad Underwood. Otherwise known as college basketball in 2024. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

Jase Butler reopening his recruitment. Constant portal activity. Brad Underwood a candidate at Kentucky? This April is turning out to be even wilder than expected for an Illinois team that has plenty of work to do before the 2024-25 season. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

The 2023-24 Illinois basketball season ended Saturday in Boston. The upside? It was in the Elite Eight. The downside? It was a brutal loss to UConn. But there's no time to dwell on that. The 2024-25 season is already underway, with a transfer commitment getting things started. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

Illinois is back in the Sweet 16. For the first time since 2005. March success had evaded Illinois for nearly two decades. A spot in the Sweet 16 was all the fan base wanted. Now that it's been secured? Might as well win the whole thing. The challenge gets stiffer — Iowa State for sure, then probably reigning champions UConn — but Illinois has proven in the last two weeks it's also one of the best teams in the country. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

Illinois won three games in three days in Minneapolis to claim its second Big Ten tournament championship in four years. The next goal? Chasing down a national title in the NCAA tournament, which would be the program's first. It all starts Thursday with a first-round game against Morehead State. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

Illinois is down to two guaranteed games left this season, with the Big Ten tournament starting this week in Minneapolis and the NCAA tournament right around the corner. Brad Underwood talks about the "abruptness of the end" all the time, and the end of the last several Illinois seasons has qualified. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more

Ballots are due this week for All-Big Ten honors. It's not a question of if Illinois will be represented. It's more how many. Could Terrence Shannon Jr. be left off enough ballots to knock him off the First Team? It's not off the table. But Shannon, Marcus Domask and Coleman Hawkins should all be in consideration for some level or recognition. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that, the end of the regular season and the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments in this week's Inside Illini Basketball ..read more