Inside Illini Basketball

Big Ten football media days (and vacation) might have taken beat writer Scott Richey to Las Vegas, but there's always basketball to discuss. From NBA Summer League to Peach Jam to the fact Illinois still doesn't have its entire roster on campus as the end of July approaches. Richey discusses that and more in this week's on location version of Inside Illini Basketball.

There's never a day where there's not something going on at least tangentially related to college basketball. Dog days of summer? Not anymore. So that's why beat writer Scott Richey had plenty to discuss in this week's Inside Illini Basketball from NBA Summer League to FIBA events to getting the 2025-26 schedule in bits and pieces.

The 2025 NBA Draft is in the books. Summer League rosters are starting to fill out. Las Vegas in July is going to have a solid Illinois presence. Just like Europe does right now with the FIBA U19 World Cup underway in Switzerland. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses the draft, summer league, international basketball, recruiting and the return of EA Sports' college basketball video game in this week...

Illinois began its summer workouts Monday without its full complement of players and was notably without veteran wing Ty Rodgers, who suffered a knee injury that will require surgery. Not an ideal start to the summer. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois has operated in a peculiar space for a few weeks, with its roster set for the 2025-26 season but still waiting on summer workouts to begin. But there's always something happening like scheduling news (home-and-home with Texas Tech) and on the recruiting trail (some new 2026 offers). Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood has expressed a desire to play in New York as often as possible. The 2025-26 season will be the fourth straight the Illini get a game at Madison Square Garden, with news breaking Monday of a one-off, Black Friday game against Connecticut. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that, having Illinois in his top preseason 10 and recruiting in this week's Inside Illini Basket...

The Illinois coaching staff was on the road recruiting this past weekend... in the U.S. While international recruiting has become a point of emphasis for Brad Underwood and Co., they haven't given up on finding talent closer to home. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley will be in Chicago this week for the NBA draft combine. That both are projected first round picks means the Illinois duo won't be involved in every facet of the pre-draft process in the Windy City, but it's still another opportunity to impress NBA decision makers. Beat writer Scott Richey, who will also be in Chicago, discusses that and more in this week's Inside...

Brad Underwood could add to his roster for the 2025-26 season if he wanted. There are spots available. But the Illinois coach is content with the group he has — at least for now — with no rush to make any moves. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses the roster being set (or mostly so), key NBA dates and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Monday came with good news for Illinois in the form of another addition to the 2025-26 roster. Not just any addition either. The one Brad Underwood and Co. have been waiting for in California transfer Andrej Stojakovic. The scorer on the wing that will fit nicely with the rest of the roster both from a fit perspective and in his Greek-Serbian heritage. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and m...

This week might mark the closure of the transfer portal, but it won't slow down the madness that is the college basketball offseason. Illinois is right in the thick of it with spots to fill in its roster/rotation and, to date, not all that much to show for it. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Kasparas Jakucionis, as expected, declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on Monday. Notable news to start the week for Illinois — both in the fact it just produced a likely one-and-done lottery pick and for the necessity to replace him. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses Jakucionis, the Nike Hoop Summit and recruiting in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois has made a serious investment in recruiting Europe. It's not a new concept — international stars have made stops in college basketball before — but Illinois appears to be recruiting Europe harder than any other program at the moment. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

The transfer portal has only been open one week, and more than 1,500 players have already decided the grass is greener elsewhere. That includes Illinois, which has seen multiple players depart (both surprising and expected). Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

The 2024-25 Illinois basketball season came to an abrupt end Sunday night in Milwaukee. A second-round exit from the NCAA tournament. The shift in the college basketball landscape, though, means there's no time to dwell on that disappointment. The transfer portal is open, and focus has already shifted to 2025-26. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's "Inside Illini Basket...

Did everything come up Illinois when the NCAA tournament bracket was revealed Sunday evening? There's an argument to be made that's exactly what happened. As far as No. 6 seeds go, Illinois shouldn't have too many complaints. How that potential path forward through the tournament plays out, of course, is the question. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's "Inside Illini B...

Illinois made it through a an up-and-down January and more of the same in February to emerge in March looking more like the Final Four-caliber team so many national pundits said Brad Underwood's team could be. Now's the time to prove it, with momentum on Illinois' side heading into postseason play. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's "Inside Illini Basketball."

February was bleak for Illinois. More injuries and illnesses. More losses. Waning hope. But now it's March, and all is apparently well after a 2-0 week that saw Illinois beat up on Iowa at home and then do the same at Michigan five days later to generate the kind of momentum you need this time of year. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois just experienced its worst loss in program history — a 43-point thumping at the hands of then No. 3 Duke on basketball's biggest stage. That blowout was emblematic of the continued struggles Brad Underwood's team has experienced the past six weeks. Struggles that need fixed as the regular season winds to a close if Illinois still has aspirations at meaningful postseason basketball. Beat w...

Beat writer Scott Richey recorded this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball before news broke of, well, Morez Johnson Jr.'s broken wrist. That only would have added to the discussion of the up-and-down (and up-and-down again) last two months for Illinois. A round of true/false with our beat writer shines a light on where the Illini stand with five games to play in the regular season.

Kofi Cockburn and Terrence Shannon Jr. will be back in town this week to see their jerseys raised to the State Farm Center rafters. A reason to celebrate. But the games themselves — against UCLA and Michigan State — can't be overlooked. It's a week for Illinois to prove its place among the Big Ten's best. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more, including a visit from a top-level European...

Illinois got whole again with Tomislav Ivisic's return and showed, in its comeback win against Ohio State, what that group is capable of doing on the court. Now Illinois will take its full strength lineup on the road for key games at Rutgers and Minnesota. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

The "Tomislav Ivisic has mono" experience created two distinct results last week for Illinois. A blowout home loss to Maryland followed by dominating 35 of 40 minutes against Northwestern for a win where the final score wasn't indicative of the gap between the two teams. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that, recruiting and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois didn't lose Sunday's game at Michigan State because of the officials. Missed free throws (a lot of them) and missed three-pointers (even more) played a part. But ... so did Kasparas Jakucionis only playing 8 1/2 minutes after some iffy calls fouled the future lottery pick out of the game. But there were positives coming out of East Lansing — like Will Riley asserting himself — and Illinoi...

Lose a home game in the Big Ten (a Quad III loss no less)? Better make it up on the road. Illinois has a pair of opportunities this week at Indiana and Michigan State. Win both and a place atop the conference is secured for a while longer. Win one and stay competitive in the race. Lose both and the pressure increases on the remaining games on the schedule. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that a...