The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast

Not that they hadn't already . . . but the Illini truly punched their NCAA tournament ticket with a thrilling 67-66 win against Indiana.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Hans Dee react during the entire game, which finished with a clutch steal from Andres Feliz and daggers from Ayo Dosunmu.  

What else could we call this episode?  Mike Carpenter and Trevor Vallese react to Illinois' win in Evanston, keyed by a breakout performance from Alan Griffin and standout games from Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn.  The Illini have basically punched their NCAA ticket, and set up a fun Sunday afternoon game against Indiana.

Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose flip on the mics for the ENTIRE Illini vs. Nebraska game, and ride the wave from despair to relief.  Illinois improves to 10-6 in the Big Ten (18-9 overall) with a 12-point win against a short-handed Nebraska team, and sets up another "please, don't lose this stupid game" scenario at Northwestern on Thursday.

HE DID IT!  Ayo Dosunmu drops 24 points in his triumphant return, helping Illinois to a massive 62-56 win at #9 Penn State.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose brought back the good mojo with another second-half/postgame podcast, and react to a win that likely punches the tournament ticket for the Illini.

In a whirlwind 24 hours, Illini fans went from the lowest of lows . . . to the highest of highs . . . back down, and then up again.  Mike Carpenter reacts live to the news of Ayo's diagnosis of "no structural damage" and how it will impact the rest of the season, beginning with a possible upset bid at Rutgers.

So . . . Friday didn't go how we all wanted it to.  Fortunately, Brad Underwood and the Illini get a mulligan with Michigan State coming to town Tuesday night.  Mike Carpenter picks up the pieces and tries to get back his fanboy mojo in anticipation of another big home game at the State Farm Center.

19 years ago, Illinois beat Michigan State at the first "Paint the Hall Orange" and announced their arrival on the national stage.  In the next five days, Brad Underwood's Illini team has an opportunity to announce their return to national relevance. Mike Carpenter reflects on this moment and his own journey as an Illini fan.  For a long-starved fan base, these two games mean everything.

The winning streak ends at 7, as the Illini lose to Iowa at Carver Hawkeye.  Mike Carpenter's temper flares up as he goes full-Fanboy, while Trevor Vallese ponders the double-meaning of Iowa's "White Out".  Alas, Illinois is still in first place with two huge home games upcoming. 

Illinois basketball has won seven games in a row (thanks in large part to Andres Feliz' 17 points), regaining the top spot in the Big Ten next to Michigan State.  Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose react live to the second half of the Minnesota game, and look ahead to a huge Super Bowl Sunday matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Ayo Dosunmu is ice cold, and the Fighting Illini are red hot after their 6th straight conference win.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose react to the second half of the Illinois-Michigan game (including Ayo's game winner), and try to process what the heck just happened.

The Illini triumph at Purdue with a 79-62 stomping of the Boilermakers, fortunately negating some first half stomping from Alan Griffin. Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose recorded this podcast during the second half and react as Illinois played their best basketball of the season.

Happy days are here again!  Illinois basketball is in sole possession of 2nd place in the Big Ten after ending a 15-game losing streak to Wisconsin and beating Rutgers at home.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose are feeling optimistic about making the tournament (and isn't that what it's all about?)

The Jekyll and Hyde season of Illini basketball finds a 20-point loss at Michigan State followed up by a 26-point win against Purdue.  Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose dissect what went right, and what needs to KEEP going right for Brad Underwood's squad to make the NCAA Tournament.

As 2019 winds down, Mike Carpenter wraps up not only the Illini football season, but Harry Black's tenure on The 200 Level, Tay & Carp, and the Tay & J Show.  Mike and Harry reflect on a crazy Illini football season, ponder what's next for Lovie Smith's program, and reflect on the last few years.

After a forgettable Braggin' Rights performance, Illini basketball is "Halfway to Worrytown" again.  For the final time, The Earthly Trio (Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese, and Harry Black) share memories of their run together at ESPN 93.5 and The 200 Level.

It's a far cry from last week's episode, as Illinois basketball gets a top-5 win against Michigan and controls the game against Old Dominion.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose ponder the path to a tournament appearance in a Big Ten where the home team seemingly never loses.

It's a good news / bad news podcast: Illinois football is going to the Redbox Bowl in San Francisco, while Illini basketball is "Halfway to Worrytown" after a missed opportunity against Maryland.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Harry Black cover all these topics, along with Star Wars and fake Counting Crowes album titles.

A month after an episode titled "Everything is Awesome" . . . we have a total dud of a weekend.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Harry Black recap one of the cruddiest 48-hour stretches in recent Illini sports memory, with a blowout football loss to Northwestern and the basketball comeback that wasn't against Miami.

It was a disappointing (yet not disheartening) loss for the Illini in Iowa City.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Harry Black talk about the 19-10 loss to the Hawkeyes, Senior Day against Northwestern, and compare Illinois football seasons to Star Wars movies.

With no new Illini football or basketball games to talk about, Mike Carpenter and Trevor Vallese open things up to listener questions, while looking forward to a big matchup against the Hawkeyes.  Carp is also joined by film critic Chuck Koplinski for a wide-ranging conversation about movies.

Mike Carpenter, Harry Black and Trevor Vallese revel in the aftermath of the greatest comeback in Illini football history.  They take a detailed look at the insane 4th quarter in East Lansing, an outside chance of winning the Big Ten West, and happily eat crow.

Mike Carpenter and Harry Black are basking in the glow of three straight Big Ten wins for Lovie Smith and Illinois football.  Meanwhile, Brad Underwood's Illini basketball program begins their season with three big games in 7 days, just after the commitment of 2020 PG Andre Curbelo.  On this day, truly, everything is awesome.

Illinois football followed up the biggest upset in program history with a dominating road win at Purdue.  Mike Carpenter and Harry Black ponder best-case scenarios for the Fighting Illini, and if the team has in fact turned a corner.

History was made at Memorial Stadium, as Illinois upset #6 Wisconsin and gave Lovie Smith a long-awaited signature win.  Mike Carpenter, Harry Black and Trevor Vallese talk about how the win affects the long-term picture for Illinois football, while previewing an all-of-a-sudden crucial game at Purdue.

Illinois is 2-4 with a Homecoming matchup against Wisconsin looming.  Mike Carpenter and Harry Black look back on a very weird game against Michigan, look forward to American football in Ireland, and ponder a brush with greatness at a urinal in Memorial Stadium.