Inside Illini Basketball

Campus visits. Coaches on the road for evaluation periods. College basketball is getting back to normal — at least on the recruiting trail. Illinois has been busy, too, even down an assistant coach. Beat writer Scott Richey breaks it down…

Brad Underwood still has a couple staff positions to fill, but recruiting is picking up even more this week with coaches on the road recruiting in addition to visitors making their way to campus. Beat writer Scott Richey breaks it…

Brad Underwood is still searching for a third assistant coach, but everything else is seemingly back to normal for Illinois hoops. Campus visits are back on the schedule, recruiting is only bound to pick up and summer workouts are right…

There's never a slow week in the college basketball world, which is going full steam 24/7/365. At Illinois, the latest was an unconfirmed rumor regarding Andre Curbelo (which he flatly denied) and the ongoing turnover for assistant coaches. Beat writer…

Last week included no resolution to Illinois' coaching staff turnover. Will this week be any different? Beat writer Scott Richey hits on the search to round out Brad Underwood's staff, some recruiting and impact Big Ten transfers — including two…

Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman are out. Chester Frazier is in — and should soon have company. The assistant coach shuffle finally hit C-U at the end of last week, and beat writer Scott Richey breaks down that and more…

Plenty about the Illinois men's basketball team will be different come the 2021-22 season — from the roster to perhaps even the coaching staff. Beat writer Scott Richey breaks down that and recruiting (always recruiting) in this week's episode of…

Nearly 1,500 players are in the transfer portal, including two now former Illini. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that growing part of college basketball and the coaching carousel coming for some Illinois assistants in this week's episode of "Inside Illini…

Kofi Cockburn has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. So what's next for the Illinois basketball team? Cockburn's final decision will dictate how the 2021-22 Illini roster, which has changed significantly in the last month, shakes out. Beat writer Scott…

College basketball has become a 12-months-a-year sport. The actual season has given way to the silly season with an active coaching carousel and an even more active transfer portal. Illinois avoided the first, but nobody escapes the latter. A roster…

Beat writer Scott Richey discusses Adam Miller's transfer out, Omar Payne's transfer in and the odds of a mostly new-look Illinois in 2021-22 in this week's episode of "Inside Illini Basketball" with a few new names to know on the…

The next Illinois basketball game won't be for another seven months. That doesn't mean beat writer Scott Richey is left with nothing to talk about. This week's episode of "Inside Illini Basketball" dives into some potential offseason storylines.

The 2020-21 college basketball season is over. At least if you're Illinois. Over too soon perhaps. But that's sports. To borrow a phrase from coach Brad Underwood ... on to the next. So that's where beat writer Scott Richey went…

Time to turn the page. The Big Ten tournament championship was an accomplishment for Illinois. A big one. But it's just one of two titles the Illini are hoping to win in Indianapolis. The NCAA tournament is back (thank goodness)…

Lost in the chaos that came from discussing Illinois' Big Ten title candidacy is the fact the team is in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history. Celebrate it a little, Illini fans. There's plenty of…

Illinois has found a way to win without Ayo Dosunmu, beating Nebraska and Wisconsin. That freshmen guards Adam Miller and Andre Curbelo elevated their game accordingly isn't a coincidence. That said, the sooner Dosunmu returns the better for the Illini,…

Illinois is the No. 5 team in the country and enters a busy week (three games in six days) riding a seven-game winning streak. Illinois also has two of the best players in the country in Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi…

Following up a triple-double against Wisconsin with a complete takeover at Nebraska has Ayo Dosunmu garnering more buzz as a potential national player of the year. Beat writer Scott Richey dives into that topic in addition to Illinois' place in…

It's time to start talking about Illinois' All-Americans. Yes, plural. Ayo Dosunmu has been in that conservation all year after garnering preseason recognition. Kofi Cockburn has played his way to that level. If the ballots had to be submitted today,…

Illinois is back on track. Secure in its spot near the top of the Big Ten standings. For now, of course. Anything can happen — and in some cases has — this year in college basketball. The Illini have two…

The Illinois basketball team will play again ... eventually. With COVID-19 pauses affecting other teams in the Big Ten, the Illini will go more than a week between games, though, with Friday's showdown with Iowa at least the light at…

This Illinois basketball team has some clearly defined goals for the 2020-21 season. Ayo Dosunmu came back to compete for a Big Ten title — and a national championship. There were sky high expectations. Expectations not currently being met. Beat…

Illinois played its best half of basketball all season in the final 20 minutes at Northwestern. Plus one of its worst in the first half in Evanston. Then the Illini were upset at home by Maryland. Inconsistencies are a problem,…

Illinois' three-game winning streak (on the line again Thursday at Northwestern) has been good for a jump back up the AP Top 25. Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn continue to lead the way, but Andre Curbelo's importance is growing game…

Ayo Dosunmu has more than lived up to his preseason All-American billing. Three 30-point games this season and more of the do-everything variety should also have the Illinois junior guard in the national player of the year conversation. Beat writer…