Inside Illini Basketball

Pick an adjective to describe Illinois' first two wins of the season, and it probably isn't strong enough. Fairleigh Dickinson and Penn were literally run off the court at State Farm Center in a pair of Illinois blowouts. The challenges gets considerably more difficult with a top 25 showdown Tuesday at Texas Tech. Beat writer Scott Richey breaks down that matchup and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

It's one game. Against Fairleigh Dickinson. Temper your expectations — at least slightly — after a 75-point victory to start the season. Illinois intends to overwhelm teams with its size, shooting and uptempo pace. It won't always be to the same degree FDU got throttled, but that's the goal. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois is down to one last exhibition game — Wednesday against UIC — to iron out any preseason wrinkles before Fairleigh Dickinson comes to town Nov. 2. The priority now? Getting healthy, with David Mirkovic back in a boot and in-game injuries to a trio of key players. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that, the impressive Illinois freshmen and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois officially staked its claim as one of the top teams in the country this week, landing at No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll. Brad Underwood's squad certainly looked like it in its 105-96 exhibition victory at Cincinnati that saw six players in double figures and freshman guard Quentin Coleman play like a potential lottery pick. Beat writer Scott Richey, who was on the ground in the Queen City, discusses Illinois' place in the preseason poll, the exhibition win and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois will be in action for the first time this weekend with a Saturday date in Cincinnati with the Bearcats. The first of three exhibition games on the schedule might not count, but it will provide an opportunity to see what this team is all about — even if David Mirkovic likely won't be available. There are enough newcomers, however, to make the trip to the Queen City intriguing. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses the exhibition season and is recently-submitted AP Top 25 preseason ballot in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

The results of the annual preseason Big Ten media poll came as expected Monday morning. Illinois is the projected favorite to cut down the nets in 2026-27. How many Big Ten titles that might mean — and if that act is repeated in Detroit in April — is what will be decided in the next seven months. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more, including a heavy dose of recruiting, in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Bringing back seven players and five key rotation pieces from a Final Four team? That was a big deal for Illinois this offseason. Equally as important, though, was Brad Underwood keeping his entire coaching staff together — from associate head coach Orlando Antigua to even some graduate assistants. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Baketball.

Illinois had a quartet of five-star recruits on campus this past weekend. That's what happens when you make the Final Four and now regularly boast one-and-done first-round draft picks. Beat writer Scott Richey spoke with Darius Wabbington, Moussa Kamissoko, Bentley Lusakueno and Dylan Betts last Saturday and breaks down their visit in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

The start of the 2026-27 college basketball season is within sight. Practices will ramp up at the end of this month ahead of October exhibitions and early November openers across the country. A perfect time for beat writer Scott Richey to weigh in on 10 things he thinks he knows about Illinois in this week's "Inside Illini Basketball."

Past Illinois basketball stars and potential future stars will be on campus this weekend, with the Illini bringing back new Hall of Fame inductees Ayo Dosunmu and James Augustine and expecting five-star guard NaVorro Bowman Jr. for an official visit. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more on a special Labor Day edition of Inside Illini Basketball.