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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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Winning a share of the Big Ten regular season title certainly got much more difficult after a split the Los Angeles trip. Now, Illinois has to do what it can to protect its spot on the No. 2 seed line for the NCAA tournament. Beating Michigan on Friday would certainly help. Not losing to Oregon or Maryland to end the regular season is even more important. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that, the West Coast swing and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Illinois got back on track with Sunday's blowout win against Indiana. Turns out getting Kylan Boswell back in the lineup was a big deal. A return that came just in time for a pivotal West Coast trip, with games against USC and UCLA that will either keep Illinois in the hunt for a Big Ten regular season title or make it easier for Michigan, Purdue or Nebraska to claim the league championship. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more, including what the Kansas State job coming open means in Champaign (likely not much to the consternation of the Wildcats faithful), in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Beat writer Scott Richey fields a series of true or false statements concerning Illinois. Up for debate? Big Ten officiating, the timeline for Kylan Boswell's return, Illinois' place as a Big Ten championship contender and more all discussed in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
Scott Richey and Loren Tate team up to discuss Illinois' big win at Nebraska and the potential of landing a Number 1 seed for the NCAA tournament in this week's Inside Illini Basketball podcast.
Nine straight wins. Five on the road in Big Ten play. Scoring and shooting records getting reset by a star freshman. A rise in the national rankings. Illinois is in a good place after another 2-0 week included Keaton Wagler's record-setting performance at Purdue. Illinois has legitimized itself as not only a Big Ten title contender, but a threat to win the national championship. Basketball school. Beat writer Scott RIchey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
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.
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