Inside Illini Basketball

The beginning of July is about as slow as things get for a college basketball team. Rosters are (mostly) set and summer workouts are underway. But basketball as a whole is still active. The NBA Summer League is starting and AAU makes its summer return. The latter is where future Illini Morez Johnson Jr. is thriving. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses Johnson's rise, Summer League rosters and more...

It's nearly July, and Illinois still hasn't landed that veteran point guard Brad Underwood said he wanted. Will it even happen at this point? Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that prolonged pursuit and former Illinois guard turned first round pick Brandin Podziemski in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

With all 13 scholarships for 2023-24 spoken for — albeit just with a commitment for one of them — one might assume the Illinois roster is set for next season. But maybe not. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses a transfer portal option that's become popular, schedule news and recruiting in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Thirteen players for 13 scholarships. The 2023-24 Illinois roster is set. Probably. This is college basketball in the NIL and transfer portal era. But Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins are back. That's important. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Like so many college basketball fans in these parts, Homer native Cory Whitt can't wait for the day when the Illini finally win it all. 'It'll be bedlam.' In a special edition of 'Inside Illini Basketball,' Whitt opens up about all things Illini fandom, from sharing a beer with his favorite coach (Bill Self) to cheering on his favorite player (Doug Altenberger) to welcoming home his favorite team...

Illinois will have some roster clarity for the 2023-24 season. Soon. Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins have until the end of the month to make their "stay or go" decision about the NBA draft. Landing a point guard? That's an entirely different question with no firm deadline, but as much a game changer next season. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini...

Three decisions to be made. Three decisions that will change the 2023-24 Illinois basketball. Until those decisions are made — Toledo guard RayJ Dennis on his transfer home and Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins about the NBA draft — what Illinois will be next season is still up in the air. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins have until the end of this month to make a decision about their basketball future. In or out of the NBA draft. (Toledo transfer and priority Illinois target RayJ Dennis is in the same boat). So a little patience in May is a necessity, while the rest of the college basketball world spins. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's Inside Illini...

The last month has meant plenty of news — and changes — for the 2023-24 Illinois roster with more to come. Like a point guard. And NBA draft decisions from Coleman Hawkins and Terrence Shannon Jr. The potential best case scenario might mean a rather talented team in Champaign next season. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois still has moves to make this offseason. Part of it is waiting on Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins to make NBA draft decisions, but Brad Underwood and Co. still need a point guard and another frontcourt piece. Just don't expect it all to happen at once. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Multiple players have transferred out. Two have transferred in. Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins are testing the NBA draft waters. Little is settled about Illinois at this point of the offseason. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois' relationship with the transfer portal has been fairly one-sided in the first month it's been open. As in, all out. That changed in a notable way Monday with SIU wing Marcus Domask committing to the Illini. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois is down two players to the transfer portal and connected to more than a dozen others that could fill the open scholarships. The offseason has hit full speed with more than 1,200 transfers available and teams far from being set for the 2023-24 season. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

It's been a quiet offseason for Illinois ... so far. The transfer portal has been open two full weeks, and the start of Week 3 has seen zero Illini enter. But there are still offseason questions to be answered before Illinois takes the court again in seven-plus months. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball.

The 2022-23 Illinois basketball season is in the books. And what an interesting season it was. There might not be any more games to play, but that doesn't mean things slow down for Brad Underwood and Co. It's time to start putting together next year's team. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Scott Richey and Joey Wright break down Illinois' season-ending loss to Arkansas in the NCAA tournament.

College basketball beat writer and AP voter Scott Richey and Joey Wright preview Illinois' game against Arkansas in the opening NCAA tournament.

The narrative around this Illinois basketball team dating back to the summer when the roster came together was that it was built for March. We're two weeks into the month, and that hasn't necessarily been true. But the NCAA tournament can be a fresh start, and after an up-and-down season could become what the Illini are remembered for. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more before the NC...

Illinois enters the Big Ten tournament still trying to figure out what kind of team it is. At least for 40 minutes. It's a team loaded with potential that simply hasn't tapped fully into it on a consistent basis. But it's win-or-go-home time. Better figure it out. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

It's hard to pin down this Illinois basketball team. From game to game. Or half to half. It's led to some huge wins (remember UCLA and Texas?) and some disappointing losses (Ohio State simply the latest). So there's not telling how Illinois will fare in the final week of the regular season and postseason play. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball...

Illinois will play five times in the next two weeks to wrap up the 2022-23 regular season. While a Big Ten title isn't a mathematical impossibility, it might as well be. A top four finish in the conference standings is also a long shot. But an Illinois team that has coach Brad Underwood believing in it more than at any point this season could still build toward more in March. Beat writer Scott Ric...

Illinois didn't get back into the AP Top 25 this week even after a ranked win against Rutgers. While the Illini have won eight of their last 10 games, there just hasn't been enough quality to go with the quantity. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois is down to eight regular season games left on the schedule. Eight more opportunities to stay near the top of the Big Ten and eight more opportunities to improve its NCAA tournament standing. Not that it will be easy. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

For close to 50 years, Ed Bond has helped bring Illini basketball to life on the radio. In that time, the producer has seen much change, from technology to travel. In a special appearance on 'Inside Illini Basketball,' Bond strolls Memory Lane with stories of his favorite coaches, players and stadiums. Like the time Lou Henson had to hurry home from Minneapolis after his Flyin' Illini booked a tri...

The Big Ten is competitive. The nightly results — where any team can win — have shown that throughout the season. But there's a real conversation to be had about how good the conference is compared to its counterparts across the country. Illinois is right in the thick of the overcrowded middle of the Big Ten with a couple opportunities this week to move up and out. Beat writer Scott Richey discuss...