Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

The 200 Level Podcast's Mike Carpenter joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to discuss all the summer storylines for Illinois athletics. The guys discuss fans returning to the stands and the state of Illinois football and basketball, including impressions of Bret Bielema's first offseason and an offseason of change for Illini basketball.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss their excitement about Illinois athletics announcing fans will be back in the stands at 100-percent capacity for the 2021-22 season, including football and basketball games, what the last year without fans was like and what no restrictions means for Bret Bielema's program. Then the guys discuss a theory about the Illini's long third assistant...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss their early impressions on Illinois football and basketball hosting recruits for the first time in a year. The guys break down feedback they've heard from Illini football recruiting targets, coaches and parents following the first official visit weekend and what it means moving forward. The guys also talk about a commitment from three-star Jo...

The best way to bring back a program is to build from within its own state. For Bret Bielema, prioritizing Illinois is his mission! Back in college football after spending the last three seasons in the NFL, the former Wisconsin and Arkansas head coach is ready to take on the challenge of bringing back the Illini! Host:  Trey Scott    Guest: Bret Bielema Follow or Subscribe to The College Football...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Derek Piper discuss all things Illinois basketball with in-person recruiting re-opening. The guys start by diving into Kofi Cockburn's reported NBA Draft decision and the still-vacant assistant coaching position. Then the guys discuss how Illinois basketball will approach in-person recruiting and visits this month and some of the key targets who will visit.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Ryan Easterling discuss Illinois football's approach to a busy month of June recruiting. The guys break down what the end of the dead period means for the program and discuss many of the prospects who have scheduled visits, including in-state prospects Jared Badie, Eian Pugh, Aidan Laughery and Jacob Bostick, as well as out-of-state prospects Dallan Hayden, Patr...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner talk with newest Illini beat reporter James Boyd, who will cover Illinois athletics for Lee Enterprises newspapers, including for newspapers in St. Louis, Decatur, Bloomington, Mattoon and the Quad Cities. James discusses getting the gig, his time at the Northwest Indiana Times, how he approaches the job, being a Black sports reporter, his University...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Derek Piper discuss Brad Underwood's attempt to fill out his staff and the latest in recruiting. The guys discuss the wait to fill the final assistant spot, the roster seemingly stay in tact and what internal promotion Geoff Alexander brings as an assistant. Then the guys discuss the Illini's ongoing search for a four, whether they should try to add a transfer c...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Derek Piper discuss the latest with Illinois basketball. The guys discuss Class of 2022 prospect AJ Storr's decommitment and what it means for Illinois. Then Derek weighs in on what Chester Frazier brings as a recruiter, and the guys chat about the latest buzz for the open assistant coaching position, the Big Ten opponents release, why the 2021-22 roster still h...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner chats with Trent Meacham and Matt McCumber about what Chester Frazier brings to the Illinois basketball staff. Meacham was a teammate with Frazier from 2005-09 at Illinois and discusses how Frazier showed coaching tendencies as a player from the get-go but especially during his final two seasons, which included great adversity. McCumber served on the Kansas State wi...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner talk with Illinois football coach Bret Bielema about his first six months as head coach of the Illini. Bielema discusses running his own program again, what he's learned about the Illini, selling the program, his history under Hall of Fame coaches, how having kids has impacted him as a coach, recruiting this summer and his staff.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Derek Piper discuss the big Illinois basketball staff shakeup and what it means for Brad Underwood. The guys dive into the official news of Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman leaving Illinois for Kentucky and if it says anything about the Illini and what their losses mean for Underwood this offseason. Then the guys discusses Illinois reportedly hiring Illini alum...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner chats with Illinois golf coach Mike Small about his program claiming its 11th Big Ten Championship in 12 years with a one-stroke, comeback win over Iowa. Small breaks down how his team made the frantic comeback and what it showed about his team. Then Small looks forward to the NCAA Regional as Illinois tries to make its 13th straight NCAA Championships.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner start the podcast discussing Illinois basketball's reported coaching staff departures, what Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman leaving for Kentucky means for the program and how Brad Underwood rebounds. Then the guys discuss Isaiah Williams' move to wide receiver and what it means for both the quarterback and wide receiver rooms. The guys end the podca...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner talks with Illini men's tennis coach Brad Dancer about winning the 2021 Big Ten Tournament Championship, what makes his senior class special and what he thinks about his team's chances in the NCAA Tournament.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner breaks down the Illini's addition of QB transfer Artur Sitkowski with Bobby Deren of ScarletNation.com and Joey Wagner. First, Deren breaks down Sitkowski's freshman year struggles at Rutgers, his improvement the last two years and his potential with a change of scenery. Then Werner and Wagner break down why Illinois would add Sitkowski and what his addition means t...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner chats with CBS Sports draft expert Josh Edwards about the NFL Draft and the Illini's four draft hopefuls. Edwards breaks down the quarterback class, scouting during a pandemic and the draft's strengths and weaknesses by position. Then Edwards breaks down the draft stock of Illini prospects Kendrick Green, Josh Imatorbhebhe, Nate Hobbs and Milo Eifler.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner chats with 247Sports' national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn about Illinois 2022 quarterback commit Donovan Leary. Dohn breaks down Leary's rise in recruiting, some questions around an unremarkable junior season and his offseason improvement, including a great performance at last weekend's Elite 11 regional.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner chats with Big Ten Network's J Leman about his takeaways from the Illini Spring Game. Leman discusses Bret Bielema's embrace of selling the program and making central Illinois a recruiting priority. Then Leman breaks down what he saw from Tony Petersen's offense scheme, QB Brandon Peters and TE Luke Ford. Then Leman gives thoughts on Ryan Walters' defense before say...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner break down their biggest takeaways from the Illinois football spring game. The guys discuss what they saw out of the offensive and defensive schemes, how Brandon Peters asserted himself in the quarterback race, Luke Ford's big day, a dominant defensive front and more. Then the guys talk about Bret Bielema's embrace as program salesman and CEO.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Ryan Easterling discuss Illinois football's trio of commits this week: OL Hunter Whitenack, WR Hank Beatty and OL Clayton Leonard. The guys discuss what this recent rush of commitments says about the Illini staff's approach, especially in-state. Then the guys break down what each prospect brings to Illinois. Then the guys talk about recent in-state offers Jordan...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Derek Piper discuss Illinois basketball adding to guards to its 2021-22 roster: Utah transfer Alfonso Plummer and super senior Trent Frazier. The guys discuss what the two smaller scoring guards bring to the Illini and how they will mix with Andre Curbelo on both ends of the court. Then the guys discuss what's next for Illini, including potential remaining posit...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner recap what they've learned from Illinois spring football so far and what they will learn in Monday's spring game. The guys go position-by-position and break down what they've learned about the players and staff and highlight some players to watch from each group.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Derek Piper break down what four-star 2021 guard Brandin Podziemski, the Wisconsin Mr. Basketball, brings to the Illini program. The guys also discuss how he fits into the Class of 2021 and how that class was constructed. Then the guys talk about what could be next for Illinois, including the potential of returns for Kofi Cockburn, Trent Frazier and Adam Miller,...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner discusses Giorgi Bezhanishvili leaving Illinois basketball for professional opportunities before chatting with City/Suburban Hoops Reports' Joe Henricksen about the state of in-state college basketball programs. The guys talk about how much Illinois basketball changed perception following the last two seasons and how Porter Moser found such great success at Loyola....