Illini Begin Las Vegas Tournament At Home

The Fighting Illini basketball team begins play in the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament with a home game versus Presbyterian College Saturday evening. The Blue Hose have lost both games this season and figure to have matchup problems with the Illini. Wofford invades the Assembly Hall Tuesday before the Illini travel to Vegas over Thanksgiving.   Full Story

College basketball teams are allowed 13 scholarships. Only five can play at any time, and most coaches employ no more than 8-10 in crucial contests. Sometimes, decent players must ride the pine waiting their turn. Illini redshirt freshman center Stan Simpson is still trying to gain the confidence of his coaches.   Full Story

Pro basketball players rarely get a chance to visit their college teams during the season. Former Illini star Cory Bradford has played extensively all over the world, so he has had even less opportunity to watch a home game in person. But he showed up at the Assembly Hall to watch the Illini host NIU, and he was happy to partake of the festivities.    Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team withstood an aggressive Northern Illinois quintet, pulling away for a hard-fought 80-61 victory Tuesday evening at the Assembly Hall. The Huskies were primed for upset and taught the Illini valuable lessons. Freshman Brandon Paul led all scorers, but it was the upperclassmen who saved the day.    Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team hopes to make it 2-0 on the young season as it hosts the Northern Illinois Huskies Tuesday evening at the Assemby Hall. NIU brings a high-scoring team that loves to run, so it should be an entertaining game. And the Huskies have the added incentive of playing their state school.   Full Story

College coaches make recruiting decisions based on their projections of how much players will continue to improve and mature. It is an inexact science as some players take longer than others to reach their full potential. Illini junior Bill Cole's progress is continuing, and he may finally have found his niche on the team.   Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball coaches continue to pursue talent in the state of Indiana. That state is loaded with a outstanding prospects in the 2011 and 2012 classes, more than the state schools can possibly recruit. Ron Patterson paid a visit to the Illini for their Quincy exhibition game, and he is one of the best for 2012.   Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team was dominant early and coasted over an outmanned SIU--Edwardsville quintet 96-69 Friday night at the Assembly Hall. Freshman Brandon Paul was a dynamo at the beginning of each half and was the leading scorer in the game. It was an impressive tuneup for bigger games to come.   Full Story

Fighting Illini basketball coach Bruce Weber finally got the chance to talk about his prize group of three basketball signees for the 2009 class. Ranked among the ten best in the country, this class will join another excellent group of players already on campus to make the future of Illini basketball bright indeed.    Full Story

Excitement is building for the 2009-2010 basketball season. The Big 10 may be the dominant conference in the nation this year, and the Fighting Illini should be in the thick of the league race. A blend of experienced upperclassmen and four talented rookies gives Illini Nation much to anticipate. SIU-Edwardsville invades the Assembly Hall Friday.    Full Story

The Big 10 may be the dominant basketball conference this season. That strength should continue into the future as the level of upcoming Midwest talent is exceptional. The states of Illinois and Indiana are loaded in the 2011-2013 classes. Two of many top Indiana high school players visited Illinois Saturday. One was rising star Jeremy Hollowell.    Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team overcame a sluggish, disinterested beginning to finish off a pesky, well-coached Quincy University team in the Assembly Hall Sunday evening, 84-63. Freshman D.J. Richardson scored 8 straight points midway through the second half to give the Illini breathing room. The result gives the team plenty to study as the season begins.   Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team plays Quincy University Sunday in its final tuneup for the start of the 2009-10 season. There are still many questions to answer. Who are the starters? What roles will different players fill? Who will be the rebounding leaders? Will the upperclassmen provide leadership? Bruce Weber hopes to get some ideas Sunday.   Full Story

A couple years ago, Fighting Illini basketball coach Bruce Weber was struggling to recruit players of sufficient quality to maintain the school's pre-eminent position among the elite programs in the country. But a philosophical adjustment has reversed fortunes for the better. Illini assistant Jerrance Howard has had a first hand view of these efforts.    Full Story

The Illinois basketball team needs its upperclassmen to play a leading role to have a successful season. The four freshmen will provide a big boost in energy and athleticism, but a group of five juniors must carry the brunt of the load. Power forward Mike Davis improved tremendously last season, but more is needed from him.   Full Story

The quality and quantity of outstanding basketball players in the Illinois high school ranks varies yearly. Some years, there is excellent talent available for college recruiters, and sometimes the great ones are few and far between. The years 2009, 2010, and 2011 are above average in Division I talent, but the 2013 class is truly special.    Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team normally recruits most of its players from the Midwest. But when special talents from distant locations show interest, Illini coaches are quick to become involved. Alabama natives Devin Langford and his older cousin Josh Langford are both considering Illinois and may be making an unofficial visit in the near future.    Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team opened the exhibition portion of its schedule with a convincing 95-67 rout of an outmanned Missouri Southern team at the Assembly Hall Friday evening. Five players scored in double figures as Coach Bruce Weber tried to divide up the minutes equally. There were too many turnovers, but it was a good beginning.   Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team begins the exhibition portion of its 2009-2010 season Friday evening against Missouri Southern at the Assembly Hall. With experienced upperclassmen and an exciting freshman class, the Illini Nation has high expectations. Assistant coach Jerrance Howard discusses the progress of the team to this point.   Full Story

When people talk about the Fighting Illini basketball team, they often bring up the exciting freshman class. Those four players have more than lived up to their press clippings, and all should see significant playing time this winter. Three guards are all dynamic and garner plenty of attention, but big man Tyler Griffey is just as talented.    Full Story

It usually takes freshmen basketball players awhile to get accustomed to the complexities of college basketball. It can be even harder to catch up with upperclassmen if they suffer an injury at the beginning of their first year. Illini freshman Joseph Bertrand is recovering from knee surgery, and it is taking him awhile to get back in playing shape.    Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team played its annual Orange & Blue scrimmage at the Assembly Hall Sunday afternoon. Junior shooting guard Alex Legion broke out of a prolonged slump, putting a smile on his face and everyone else who watched. The upperclassmen asserted themselves while the freshmen showed glimpses of their ability.   Full Story

Bruce Weber will showcase his Fighting Illini basketball team Sunday at 4:00pm at the Assembly Hall. The team will be divided into two groups, and there will be plenty of changes as Weber studies the effectiveness of different groupings. This will be a good chance for Illini fans to check out the team ahead of two exhibition games right around the corner.   Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team wanted to improve its athleticism, so Coach Bruce Weber and his assistants devised a plan to target recruits early. That strategy brought in four promising freshmen this year, and Brandon Paul may the most explosive one of the four. The Warren product has all the attributes of a future star.    Full Story

The Fighting Illini basketball team includes four freshmen who bring energy, enthusiasm and considerable talent to the table. But when discussions of a starting lineup occur, one is listed most frequently for that role. Peoria's D.J. Richardson has the experience and maturity to step in and be a solid contributor on both offense and defense his freshman year.    Full Story