Illinois Fighting Illini News

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Friday, April 10, 2026
Former Illinois basketball star goes off in a huge night in the NBA

An Illinois basketball legend reminded everyone what he can do when given the opportunity

Illinois basketball ready for battle vs a blue blood for huge transfer portal talent

The Illinois basketball team needs to rebuild for 2026-27, and now we are going up against a massive blue blood in the transfer portal.

Thursday, April 9, 2026
Wagler First Illini Freshman Named Consensus All-American

Wagler is the first freshman in school history to be named a Consensus All-American.

Brad Underwood eyes Kylan Boswell 2.0 for Illinois basketball in the transfer portal

Illinois basketball had a nasty guard in Kylan Boswell this season, and now Brad Underwood could get us in the hunt for Boswell 2.0.

NBA All-Star gives his blessing to Illinois basketball commit

Illinois basketball has a ton of talent coming into the program, and one now has the blessing from a multi-time NBA All-Star.

Illinois sign former five star Divine Bourrage

The transfer portal season is starting to heat up with the madness of the tournament ending. Illinois has already lost two players to the portal in Hayven Smith and Naomi Benson.  Now, tides have...

Illinois basketball locks in another official visit for 2026

The Illinois basketball team wants to build out the roster even more for 2026, and that is why it is exciting to get another official visit.

Illini Add Sophomore Transfer Divine Bourrage

Bourrage marks the third five-star recruit on the roster for 2026-27.

Illinois makes short list of teams without transfer losses 2 days into the portal

Brad Underwood and the Illinois Fighting Illini have done an incredible job with recruiting and retention after their appearance in the Final Four.

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer doing everything he can to climb NFL Draft boards

Former Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer isn't missing out on an opportunity to prove his worth ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Illinois’s projected lineup if it lands John Blackwell would have Final Four written all over it

Brad Underwood is looking to pluck John Blackwell out of the portal, and if he does, the Illini could be Final Four favorites.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Brad Underwood must go all-in for John Blackwell and keep him away from this school

John Blackwell is one of the top players on the market this offseason, so Illinois will need to pay up to get him to Champaign.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Projected Illinois basketball lineup for 2026-27 before the transfer portal and NBA

Illinois basketball has a ton of talent on the roster, but the transfer portal and NBA Draft is bearing down on the program.

Sports media giant gives Illinois basketball high praise entering 2026-27

The Illinois basketball team had a special season in 2025, and this sports media giant thinks they will continue to roll in 2026.

The Illinois basketball offseason blueprint

Brad Underwood has Illinois basketball riding high, but like other offseasons, this one will be crucial in sustaining the great success.

3 dream transfers Brad Underwood needs to target with the portal finally open

Brad Underwood has Illinois back in the national title conversation, but to stay there, he'll need to nail the offseason again.

Early transfer portal wish list for the Illinois basketball program

Illinois basketball has plenty of options out there, and the transfer portal should bear fruit.

Monday, April 6, 2026
Illinois basketball guard helps put on a show during Final Four opening ceremony

Prior to Illinois' Final Four matchup vs. UConn on Saturday, a member of the women's basketball team lent her voice to an emotional opening ceremony.

Brad Underwood has Illinois basketball fans ready to run through a brick wall

Illinois basketball lost a heartbreaker in Indianapolis on Saturday night, and it led to an emotional speech by Brad Underwood that has fans inspired.

Illinois basketball players who seem destined for the transfer portal

The Illinois basketball team is now transitioning to the offseason, and there are some players who seem destined for the transfer portal.

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Huge transfer portal legacy guard could put Illinois basketball over the top

Illinois basketball has a great opportunity to bring a legacy player back in the fold through the transfer portal.

Illinois basketball 2026 Transfer Portal tracker: Brad Underwood's title run starts now

An up-to-date tracker on which Illinois players have transferred, who the Illini have recruited from the portal, and the athletes heading to the NBA Draft.

Former top recruit could be excellent transfer portal fit for Illinois basketball

The transfer portal is now heating up for the Illinois basketball team, as a former top recruit is back on the market

Illinois basketball says goodbye to another transfer portal departure

The frontcourt of the women's Illinois basketball program has taken a hit with another member of the team deciding to head for the transfer portal.

Sunday, April 5, 2026
Illinois fans cannot help but give Brad Underwood his flowers for an amazing season

Although the Illinois Fighting Illini's season came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday night to the UConn Huskies in the Final Four, people abound were more than willing to give head coach Brad...

Brad Underwood fighting tears after Final Four loss makes things even more heartbreaking

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood was openly emotional after the Fighting Illini suffered their defeat in the Final Four at the hands of the UConn Huskies.

Illinois was up against these impossible odds, and nearly pulled it off

The Illinois Fighting Illini were up against steep competition no matter who they faced in the Final Four, but UConn may have genuinely been the cream of the crop.

Dave Portnoy both left-handed congratulated and trolled Illinois at the same time

Is it really a compliment if it also feels like an insult?

Despite heartbreaking loss, Keaton Wagler still managed to make history vs. UConn

The Illinois Fighting Illini were devastated by the UConn Huskies last night, but star freshman Keaton Wagler was still able to pull off something incredible.

Brad Underwood's toughest offseason recruiting effort may have started in the postgame presser

Brad Underwood doesn't want Illinois to have another 21-year Final Four drought, and if he wants to go back next season, portal retention will be key.

Illinois basketball has the perfect transfer portal option to replace Keaton Wagler

Losing Keaton Wagler to the NBA is going to be tough, but there is now a great transfer portal option for the Illinois basketball program to replace the star freshman.

5 interesting Brad Underwood quotes from the Illinois basketball loss to UConn

Illinois basketball suffered a disappointing loss in the Final Four, and Brad Underwood took questions after the game.

Illinois basketball has proof of concept despite tough loss to UConn

Illinois basketball fell short in the Final Four, but the proof of concept is there for the Illini moving forward.

Saturday, April 4, 2026
Illinois's final trip to the locker room is heartbreaking for Illini fans

That last walk to the locker room is always the longest and the hardest.

UConn curse on Illinois basketball looks to be deeper than first thought

Illinois basketball was so close to the national championship, but the curse of UConn stood in the way.

Brad Underwood sent the perfect postgame Final four message to Illini fans

This season felt magical for Illinois. Brad Underwood wants it to be the expectations in Champaign.

Illinois basketball fell to Dan Hurley's UConn squad due to one crucial stat

The Illinois basketball team fell to UConn on Saturday night, and it rests on the shoulders of one important stat.

Dan Hurley used Illinois’s biggest advantage against Brad Underwood in the Final Four

Illinois had a major size advantage over UConn, but Dan Hurley is too good a coach to let that beat him.

5 sad observations from the Illinois basketball loss to UConn in the Final Four

Illinois basketball came up just short on Saturday night, as UConn is now heading back to the national championship.

Dan Hurley trolls Illinois fans in weak move right after UConn's Final Four win

With Illinois fans booing him after the final whistle, Dan Hurley just had to make sure he reminded everyone in the stands that UConn is headed to the title game.

Remarkable stats proves Dan Hurley is officially a thorn in Brad Underwood's side

Here is to hoping Illinois doesn't have to face Dan Hurley anytime soon.

Illinois fans fume as viral clip from official March Madness account shows blatant foul

The Illinois Fighting Illini were being abused by the UConn Huskies, and it only got more evident after March Madness itself posted a video.

Illinois fans are losing faith with Dan Hurley coaching circles around Brad Underwood

The first half was not what Illinois fans were hoping to see out of Brad Underwood in the Final Four.

A Jon Scheyer recruitment photo proves Duke didn't belong in Final Four with Illinois

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer had an old picture come out from his recruitment that showed the Illini were pretty much destined to be in the Final Four.

Charles Barkley’s bold Illinois/UConn Final Four prediction will have Illini fans oozing confidence

Illinois is a small favorite over UConn in the Final Four, but Charles Barkely sees the Illini winning big.

Brad Underwood reveals the difference in Illinois's UConn rematch, and it's not Keaton Wagler

Brad Underwood knows that Illinois must do this one thing in order to help get the win over UConn.

3 numbers that could expose Illinois basketball against UConn in the Final Four

Illinois basketball has a tough challenge with UConn, and there are a few numbers that worry me in the Final Four.

3 numbers that could expose UConn against Illinois basketball in the Final Four

Illinois basketball has a chance to do something special, and to get there, we can expose UConn with these three stats.

Illinois basketball vs UConn betting lines show a nail-biting Final Four

The Illinois basketball team has a tough matchup against UConn, but Las Vegas things this Final Four matchup will be extremely close.

Friday, April 3, 2026
Projected Illinois basketball lineup with the addition of Quentin Coleman

Illinois basketball has done a great job winning on and off the court, and now we have added another big-time recruit.

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