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College basketball beat writer and AP voter Scott Richey weighs in on the sports he loves with insight on Illini basketball.
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Illinois has an opportunity to cement its place among the legimtiate Big Ten title contenders — and the best teams in the country — Saturday afternoon in West Lafayette, Ind. (With the idea mid-week business is handled against Maryland). It's that weekend matchup with Purdue, though, that stands as a litmus test for Illinois. Seven straight wins (and perhaps an eighth against the Terrapins) is good, but the back half of Big Ten play will be exceedingly more difficult. That leaves plenty to prove for Brad Underwood and Co., which beat writer Scott Richey discusses in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
The computers love Illinois this season mostly because Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell and Co. have teamed up to produce a top three offense and top 20 defense after some serious improvement on the defensive end the last month. Illinois will put its five-game winning streak on the line this week with two games that could (should) keep those metrics high. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more, including Jake Davis' role and recruiting, in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Whoever set Illinois' Big Ten schedule put together a favorable first half of league play. A series of winnable games — both at home and on the road — that could help Illinois match preseason expectations (contending for a
conference title) with in-season results (actually contending for a conference title). Illinois will do so with one of the top offenses in the country and an improving defense anchored by legitimate rim protector Zvonimir Ivisic. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this
week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Illinois played its most complete game of the season in its Braggin' Rights blowout against Missouri. Exactly the kind of performance that
needs to be repeated in Big Ten play. Will they all be 43-point blowouts? No, but if Illinois can generate enough rebounding and defense to match its high-powered offense, a conference title isn't out of the question. Beat writer Scott Richey, on location in Nashville, Tenn., for the Music
City Bowl, discusses that and more in this week's episode of "Inside Illini Basketball."
College basketball takes a bit of a hiatus during the holidays. Games are few and far between. Players get a little time with their families. Coaches schedule more practices because class isn't an issue. So it's a different kind of busy this week. Beat writer Scott Richey provides a
little comfort and joy with holiday gifts for the entire Illinois roster — and coach Brad Underwood — in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Losing at home to Nebraska was not the end of the world for Illinois. It wasn't great, of course, particularly after starting Big Ten play with a
road win at Ohio State, but there's plenty of season for Brad Underwood and Co. to accomplish what they intend to this season. Illinois will just need better defense and significantly more consistent production from
Tomislav Ivisic. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Big Ten play started last week across the conference. Illinois will play its two early league games this week, with a road trip to Ohio State and a home game against Nebraska. Illinois will do so with some positive momentum following its double-digit win against Tennessee — a game that doubled as good prep for the physical Big Ten. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Was the Black Friday game against Connecticut a snapshot of Illinois at its best? No, but it's also no reason to start hitting the panic button.
Opportunities await this month for a talented Illinois team to bolster its résumé — starting Saturday in Nashville, Tenn., against Tennessee. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more (including recruiting, of course) in this week's Inside Illini Basketball
How far can a high-powered offense take Illinois this season? It's a relevant question given how productive the offense has been and how
competitive Illinois has looked because of it. A high-powered offense that might be necessary this week with a Black Friday showdown with Connecticut at Madison Square Garden. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more
in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
The first two weeks of the college basketball season have proven two things our Scott Richey thought heading into the year — Illinois has a
real depth of talent and is, in fact, one of the best teams in the country. Last week's win against Texas Tech reinforced both ideas and propelled Illinois up the AP Top 25 again ahead of another high-level showdown with Alabama in Chicago. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Illinois cruised through the opening week of the college basketball season, dominating Jackson State and Florida Gulf Coast. The challenge
increases dramatically with Tuesday's game against Texas Tech and two other high-profile games this month against Alabama and Connecticut. It's one thing to crush a mid-major opponent. It's another to go toe-to-toe with another top 15 team. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
The 2025-25 college basketball season tipped off Monday morning with actual games played. Illinois was a 29 1/2-point favorite in its opener
against Jackson State, so beat writer Scott Richey got in his weekly time in the podcast booth ahead of tipoff. Up for debate? How good this Illinois team might be — particularly when it's at as full strength as possible. Richey discussed that and more, including how he caught a stray
from Brad Underwood, in this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball.
Illinois will play its season opener in exactly one week — a Nov. 3 date with Jackson State at State Farm Center. College basketball is here! Beat
writer Scott Richey discusses exhibition/scrimmage season (a perfect time for overreactions), Kylan Boswell as an All-Big Ten caliber player and recruiting (always) in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Did our Scott Richey call David Mirkovic the Montenegrin Draymond Green after his performance in the exhibition win against Illinois State? You bet. That's what you do during exhibition season. Overreact. Even if the
Illinois freshman looked the part of a big time Big Ten contributor. Richey discusses Mirkovic's performance, what's next on the "secret
scrimmage" front and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Illinois will officially (but without consequence) tip off its 2025-26 season Sunday afternoon at State Farm Center with an exhibition game against Illinois State. Brad Underwood, Kylan Boswell and Co. will do so as the No. 17 team in the country and likely more than a bit short handed.
Beat writer Scott Richey discusses the preseason ranking, the state of the roster and more in this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball.
The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll will come out next week. Our Scott Richey had to submit his ballot at the end of last week — the end result of an intensive process to narrow about 40 teams down to 25. Rosters were scoured. Opinions were formed. And Illinois wound up in the same spot they held on Richey's "too early" ballot this summer. He discusses that process and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
The deadlines for preseason All-Big Ten ballots and the preseason Associated Press Top 25 ballot are this week, and Illinois beat writer
Scott Richey is tinkering away to produce his best effort. Will someone — or some fan base — take offense? Without a doubt, but it's as difficult as
ever to sort through an 18-team Big Ten that could resume its role as the top conference in the country (or at least the deepest). Narrowing 365
Division I teams down to 25 isn't any easier. Before he hits submit, Richey discusses his ballots and more in this week's Inside Illini
Basketball.
The 2025-26 Illinois basketball season officially got underway Monday with the first practice of the season. A practice that didn't feature Ty Rodgers or Andrej Stojakovic as they continue to recover from their respective knee injuries. Stojakovic projects to return in a couple more weeks. Rodgers' timetable is less clear. Throw in Mihailo Petrovic's not yet receiving full eligibility clearance, and there are some question marks with the season on the horizon. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
The 2025-26 college basketball season begins next week with the first official practices. The biggest sign hoops is here? Emails have gone out
to beat writer Scott Richey to get his AP Top 25 ballot ready and to start thinking about how he'll rank the Big Ten teams from 1-18. Basketball in
the fall also means visit season to Champaign, and Richey discusses it all in this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball.
Illinois is two weeks out from the start of practice and will continue its fall workouts, for the time being, without Andrej Stojakovic. But the rest
of the team is still preparing for the 2025-26 season, where expectations for the program remain as high as ever. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more — including recruiting — in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
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