Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to the news that Purdue hired Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters. The guys discuss the fit for Walters and what this means for Illinois, who could be Walters' replacement and how it impacts recruiting. Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8   Other: https://bit.ly/36gn7C...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss two new commitments for Illinois football (Avery Jones and Collin Dixon) and discuss who could be next in the Class of 2023. The guys discuss how Collin Dixon fits into the Illini receiver room renovation and then discuss what Jones, an ECU transfer center, brings to the Illini offensive line and how the Illini have overcome inherited issues...

Illini Inquirer's Derek Piper and Jeremy Werner discuss Illinois basketball's 74-59 loss to Penn State and Brad Underwood's fiery reaction to the loss. The guys discuss why Illinois had its worst defensive performance of the year and poor performances from all the veterans. The guys then discuss what they think about Underwood calling out his team's effort and leadership after the game. The guys t...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner discusses the latest with the Illinois football offseason, including Big Ten coaching changes, QB options, other transfer possibilities and two big prep prospect official visitors. Werner then chats with Illini Inquirer basketball analyst Mike LaTulip about Illinois basketball's 85-78 overtime win over No. 2 Texas in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. LaT...

Illini Inquirer's Derek Piper and Jeremy Werner discuss Illinois basketball's 85-78 overtime win over No. 2 Texas at Madison Square Garden. The guys discuss Matthew Mayer's heater, dominant stretches of defense, clutch late performances from Jayden Epps and Terrence Shannon and how this talented, deep team is growing through nine games. The guys also look ahead to Saturday's game against Penn Stat...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss Illinois football's bid to the ReliaQuest Bowl to play Mississippi State. The guys discuss the matchup and then talk more about the offseason ahead, including the future of Ryan Walters and the quarterback position. Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8   Other: https://bit.ly...

Illini Inquirer's Derek Piper, live from College Park, and Jeremy Werner discuss No. 16 Illinois basketball's 71-66 loss at No. 22 Maryland. The guys discuss a second close loss by Illinois (6-2) against a veteran opponent and Illinois basketball's resilience despite going down double digits in both the first and second halves. The guys talk big performances from Terren Shannon Jr., Coleman Hawkin...

Illini Inquirer basketball analyst joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to review Illinois basketball's 73-44 win over Syracuse and preview big away matchups at Maryland and vs. Texas. LaTulip breaks down Coleman Hawkins' historic triple-double performance against Syracuse, breaks down why the Illini defense has been so good and impressions of the two freshmen guards, Matthew Mayer and RJ Melende...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Derek Piper react to Illinois basketball's 73-44 rout of Syracuse in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, including Coleman Hawkins' triple-double. The guys discuss the Illini's strong defensive effort, whether shooting 39 threes was too many and some individual performances, including RJ Melendez's second straight strong scoring night, Matthew Mayer's great effort and th...

All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to recap Illinois football's 2022 regular season. The guys discuss the Northwestern win, what was the program's biggest stride and what is it's next important step. The guys also discuss who was the team's offensive and defensive MVPs and most improved players. Then J and Jeremy preview a hectic offseason, including the future o...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss Illinois football's 41-3 rout of Northwestern and how they view the season after the best regular season since 2007 but just missing out on a Big Ten West title. The guys discuss standout days from Sydney Brown, Devon Witherspoon and Reggie Love before diving into the biggest storylines of the start of the offseason, including Ryan Walters, N...

Illini Inquirer basketball analyst Mike LaTulip breaks down his takeaways from Illinois basketball's 1-1 record in the Main Event. He discusses Terrence Shannon's big game against UCLA and struggles against Virginia; what he saw from the freshmen guards Skyy Clark, Jayden Epps and Sencire Harris; how Dain Dainja, Coleman Hawkins and RJ Melendez asserted themselves; and what Brad Underwood and his...

All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to break down Illinois football's 19-17 loss at No. 3 Michigan. Leman discusses what led to the Illini loss, including questionable officiating, special teams miscues and a conservative play call late. But Leman also highlights some big positives, including great play in the trenches and the Illini stars shining. Leman then look...

Illini Inquirer's Derek Piper and Jeremy Werner react to Illinois basketball's 70-61 loss to Virginia in the Main Event championship game. The guys discuss the Illini's late-game fade and what they can learn from failing to close out, how Virginia frustrated Terrence Shannon Jr., a big performance from freshman guard Jayden Epps and what we learned about Illinois against two top-20 opponents. Foll...

Illini Inquirer's Derek Piper and Jeremy Werner react to Illinois basketball's comeback 79-70 win over No. 8 UCLA at the Main Event in Las Vegas. The guys discuss what the Illini showed coming back from a 15-point second-half deficit against one of the best teams in the country, Terrence Shannon's record-setting performance, Matthew Mayer's best game as an Illini, how freshman guard Sencire Harris...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner previews Illinois at No. 3 Michigan with Alejandro Zúñiga and Joey Wagner. Zúñiga, from The Michigan Insider, discusses the program's rise under Jim Harbaugh the last two seasons, their dominant running game and dominant defense, QB J.J. McCarthy's first year as a starter and the matchup against Illinois. Wagner then breaks down the Illini's matchup against Michigan...

Illini Inquirer basketball analyst Mike LaTulip joins Jeremy Werner to weigh in on what he's seen from the Illini through three games including great initial impressions of transfers Terrence Shannon Jr. and Dain Dainja, growth from the freshmen guards and what's going on with Matthew Mayer. LaTulip then looks ahead to the Illini's marquee matchups at the Main Event in Las Vegas this weekend, incl...

Illini Inquirer's Derek Piper and Jeremy Werner react to Illinois basketball's 103-65 rout of Monmouth. The guys break down a big game from Terrence Shannon Jr., growth from the freshmen guards, another good performance from Dain Dainja, Matthew Mayer and Coleman Hawkins' off night. The guys then preview two big games in Vegas this weekend, including Friday night's battle against No. 8 UCLA, and w...

All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to break down Illinois football's 31-24 loss to Purdue. Leman weighs in on what has changed for Illinois the last two weeks, some questionable penalty calls, how opponents have adjusted to Illinois and how injuries have impacted the Illini. Leman then looks ahead to Saturday's trip to No. 3 Michigan and what he wants to see in A...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's 31-24 loss to Purdue, a loss that craters the Illini's chances of winning the Big Ten West. The guys break down an avalanche of penalties (including multiple questionable calls), how Big Ten opponents are adjusting to the Illini offense and defense and how injuries are impacting the team late in the season. The guys then...

Illini Inquirer's Derek Piper and Jeremy Werner react to Illinois basketball's 86-48 rout of UMKC. The guys break down Dain Dainja's big game (20 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks), improved play from the freshmen point guards, steady play from three veteran starters and Matthew Mayer's early struggles. The guys also discuss the Big Ten Championship banner ceremony, Trent Frazier's moment and Bruce We...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner previews a monster Big Ten West game between No. 21 Illinois and Purdue with BlackandGold.com's Tom Dienhart and Joey Wagner. Dienhart breaks down why Purdue lost back-to-back games, a dangerous passing attack, an improved rushing attack, the defense's strengths and weaknesses and what he thinks of the matchup with Illinois. Wagner then joins Werner to give the late...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner discusses the Illini basketball signing class and Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.'s contract extension. Illini Inquirer basketball analyst Mike LaTulip then joins Werner to give his thoughts on the Illini basketball Class of 2023: four-star forward Amani Hansberry, four-star guard Dra Gibss-Lawhorn and three-star forward Zacharie Perrin. LaTulip then...

Illini Inquirer's Derek Piper and Jeremy Werner discuss No. 23 Illinois basketball's 87-57 season-opening win over Eastern Illinois. The guys discuss the dynamic duo of Coleman Hawkins (23 points, 12 rebounds) and Terrence Shannon (24 points, 8 rebounds) and big nights off the bench from Dain Dainja (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Sencire Harris (9 points). The guys also discuss their impressions of...

All-American linebacker J Leman breaks down issues from Illinois football's 23-15 loss to Michigan State, including red-zone and short-yardage failures, a weak spot in a great defense and a special teams nightmare. Leman then looks ahead to a big matchup against Purdue that will go a long way in determining the Big Ten West champion. This is an excerpt from the Illini Inquirer Podcast. Follow the...