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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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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.
This week's special holiday edition of Inside Illini Basketball — a solo run by beat writer Scott Richey — touches on the program's past (the
2004-05 team's reunion), present (workouts back underway this week) and future (visitors on their way). Richey also throws down the gauntlet for
inclusion in any future episodes of College Basketball Jeopardy from Basket Under Review.
Mihailo Petrovic arrived on campus over the weekend, officially putting the final piece to the Illinois puzzle in place ahead of the 2025-26.
There's work to be done to get the 22-year-old Serbian point guard up to speed, but the fact he's here is seriously good news for a team that
pursued another playmaker for a reason. Beat writer Scott Richey discussed that and more in this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball.
College basketball never really stops — it's truly 24/7/365 — but it does slow down occasionally. Like in mid-August when summer workouts have
concluded and classes haven't started yet. That's the sweet spot Illinois has hit, with players left to their own devices before they return to campus and start prepping in earnest for the 2025-26 season. Beat writer Scott Richey tackles the basketball slow down with discussion about the
season ahead and never-ending recruiting talk in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Our Scott Richey spent his Saturday night in Robinson where Illinois basketball and country music collided with Meyers Leonard's debut concert. Meanwhile, back in Champaign, summer workouts are coming to their conclusion with most of the team on campus. The wait for Mihailo
Petrovic's arrival continues, which is a decidedly important for the 2025-26 season. Richey discusses all that and more in this week's Inside
Illini Basketball.
Last week was an eventful one for Illinois, with Mihailo Petrovic officially signing, David Mirkovic finally arriving in Champaign and Class of 2026 guard Ethan Brown committing. The confluence of events begs the question: How will Brad Underwood assemble rosters moving forward in an ever-changing college basketball landscape. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Summer workouts are nearing their conclusion at Illinois, with classes set to start for the fall semester in less than a month. Summer workouts that have, of course, not included the entire Illini team with David Mirkovic and Mihailo Petrovic still in Europe. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses
that and more — including recruiting and scheduling — in this week's 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's Inside Illini Basketball.
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 Basketball.
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 Illini Basketball.
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 more in this week's Inside Illini
Basketball.
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