Recent content by combes1

Without checking, I believe Illinois has 5 also: Texas Tech, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, UConn. Coach says they are looking for another, too.

It can happen. Ben Humrichous played three years at Huntington before going to Evansville for a year then to Illinois. I will say that adjusting to competition level of the Big Ten was tough at times for Humrichous, but he came on strong late. I expect him to shoot it better with a year of...

Illinois is not listed as a top portal team as they only had two transfers. The other top players were Euros who count as recruits.

no doubt he is a very good coach. The Big Ten is filled with very good coaches. Still comes down to talent.

Underwood is a glutton for punishment. Confirmed games: Tennessee, UConn, Alabama, Missouri, Texas Tech Illinois went 2-3 against a similar gauntlet last season. I’m torn on whether this is a good idea.

I know Washington has fared well in the portal. Northwestern is always better than predicted and have the returning leading scorer in the league. Lots of unknowns right now. Indiana has a new coach but has added a lot of talent.

I don’t think Illinois will play in one. Underwood prefers the single game high profile matchups. Pretty sure they are playing Tennessee and Alabama again. Expect a couple more.

It’s been updated since this one.

He’s really not. He’s an extremely kind man. You just see from the outside. Do a little more research about his relationships with players, his close friends among the Big Ten coaches and his many charitable activities. He just had a huge Coaches against Cancer fundraiser. In the last few...

You are pretty far off base. Hawkins loves Underwood. He spent four years here and graduated, then went for a bag. He constantly talked about winning at Illinois while KState struggled. He still follows Illinois and still talks to Underwood weekly. He jokes a lot, too, like about the...

Desmond Claude entered the portal today. I thought he was really good for USC this past season.

Quite a few players with no eligibility left are trying for a waiver: Dainja, Dickinson and a number of others. Just in case the rules change.

Illinois football just had a nose tackle denied a 6th year. The argument is that he played 5 games at Northwestern (4 is the limit) his sophomore year. Basketball doesn’t have the 4 game rule. It’s as soon as you enter a game barring injury in the first 30% of games. Hard to imagine they...

Agreed. Great offensive rebounder and has a motor. His dad wants more, though. Plus the extra $800,000. Lol

Morez is a loss for Illinois. He was a freshman who averaged 7 an 6 this season and was offered $1,000,000 for next season as a rebounder/rim runner. His dad wanted him to shoot threes and be a bigger part of the offense to prepare for next level. That is Ivisic. Other schools have offered...