The latest news from InsideIllini.com. InsideIllini.com covers University of Illinois athletics. http://illinois.scout.com/ http://media.scout.com/media/rss/scout.gif http://illinois.scout.com/ en-us Copyright © 2010 InsideIllini.com and Scout.com. All rights reserved. This website is an unofficial and independent source of news and information, and is not affiliated with any school, team or league. frankfrangie@aol.com info@scout.com Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:55:24 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss Scout.com RSS Engine v1.0 (Server:YESLER) 60 Do you believe in miracles? The Fighting Illini basketball team is making believers out of fans and skeptics alike, conquering the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison 63-56 Tuesday night. The Badgers were 51-0 against unranked Big 10 foes in the Kohl Center under Coach Bo Ryan before the Illini triumph. The Illini are now 9-3 in the Big 10 and are playing their best ball. http://illinois.scout.com/2/945315.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/945315.html Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:44:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois Out of the frying pan and into the fire. After playing and defeating the mighty Michigan State Spartans at home Saturday, the Fighting Illini travel to Madison to take on Wisconsin Tuesday evening. The Badgers may be playing the best ball in the Big 10 at this time, and they have only five Big 10 losses at home in Bo Ryan's tenure as coach. The Illini have their work cut out for them. http://illinois.scout.com/2/945184.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/945184.html Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:23:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois College basketball coaching is a rigorous profession. It requires long hours, tireless effort and mental toughness to withstand all the down times. Like myriad others, Illinois assistant Gary Nottingham wants to be a head coach. Competition is fierce, and the criteria used to hire coaches are often skewed by the whims of those in charge. Many super coaches go unnoticed. http://illinois.scout.com/2/945073.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/945073.html Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:51:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois Culver Military Academy is developing a good young nucleus of basketball players who will eventually be a formidable opponent for anyone. Among their starters is former Rantoul product Travis Britt. The sophomore's skills are displayed in these video highlights from two holiday tournaments. http://illinois.scout.com/2/944900.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/944900.html Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:55:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois Orchard Park St. Mary's in Michigan is a football factory, producing major college prospects yearly. So when safety Earnest Thomas committed to UCLA last summer, it was no surprise. What was surprising was when Thomas decommitted in early January, opening himself to new possibilities. Illinois took advantage and added the hard hitter to their team. http://illinois.scout.com/2/944729.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/944729.html Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:02:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois The Fighting Illini completed a perfect College GameDay experience with a 78-73 win over Michigan State at the Assembly Hall Saturday night. From 7:30am on, the Orange Krush led an amazing fan charge that impressed a national audience throughout the day. They had enough left over to blow the roof off the Assembly Hall with the big win. http://illinois.scout.com/2/944681.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/944681.html Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:06:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois Now comes something special. ESPN College GameDay will spend all day on campus Saturday ahead of an evening matchup between the second place Fighting Illini and Big 10 leading Michigan State. GameDay will make Illinois center stage, reporting live from the Assembly Hall during it's morning show while also taping segments to run throughout the day. http://illinois.scout.com/2/944459.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/944459.html Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:53:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois Signing Day has come and gone with recruits having made their collegiate choice. It’s never easy to make a final decision, as it will help determine their future. But after careful deliberation, athlete Brandon Denmark decided to be an Illini. http://illinois.scout.com/2/944318.html Mike Lopuszynski http://illinois.scout.com/2/944318.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:08:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois The Fighting Illini basketball team has been inconsistent this year, and part of the problem is having to incorporate young players into the lineup. It takes them awhile to adapt to college and the complexities of the game. But players like D.J. Richardson will always eventually become top players because of their work ethic and hunger to improve. http://illinois.scout.com/2/944157.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/944157.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:07:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois The Fighting Illini basketball team overcame a 7 minute second half drought and held on to defeat Iowa 57-49 in Iowa City Wednesday. With the win, the Illini advance their record to 15-8, 7-3 in the Big 10. Demetri McCamey led the Illini with 15 points as they retain second place in the conference ahead of a GameDay home showdown with Big 10 leader Michigan State Saturday. http://illinois.scout.com/2/943953.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/943953.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:54:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois The Fighting Illini football team salvaged its recruiting season by signing 20 new athletes to scholarship tenders Wednesday. The class is not highly rated, but it is much better than expected given the frustrating 2009 season. A last minute push, buoyed in part by the new assistant coaches, brought in some quality players to top off the class. http://illinois.scout.com/2/943880.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/943880.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:07:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois With College GameDay coming to Champaign Saturday, it is easy to think of that situation and ignore what comes before. But the Fighting Illini can't afford to look past their trip to Iowa. The Hawkeyes are an improving team and are expected to give the Illini a battle in Iowa City. GameDay will be much less significant if the Illini go into their Saturday game after a loss. http://illinois.scout.com/2/943327.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/943327.html Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:38:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois Fullbacks are hard to find. Many schools employ spread offenses or one-back attacks where there is no fullback. Many fullbacks are moved there from other positions as they are used primarily as blockers. Illinois has a need for fullbacks as it is switching to an offense that uses them. One they plan to sign Wednesday is Jay Prosch out of Mobile, Alabama. http://illinois.scout.com/2/943180.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/943180.html Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:30:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois When there are coaching changes, some high school athletes reconsider their previous college commitments. But Illini quarterback recruit Chandler Whitmer never wavered when the Illini had a difficult season and several assistant coaches were let go. Now enrolled in school, Whitmer is hoping his team workouts will prepare him for early playing time. http://illinois.scout.com/2/943051.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/943051.html Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:57:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois When Illinois hired Paul Petrino to run its offense, the new style suddenly required fullbacks to help run it. McHenry standout Jake Howe saw the opportunity and jumped on it without even visiting. Now that he has made his official visit, Howe is even more convinced he made the correct decision. http://illinois.scout.com/2/942883.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/942883.html Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:41:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois During the month of January, the Illinois basketball staff spent some time getting familiar with Georgia forward Julian Royal. Inside Illini takes a look at the 6-foot-8 junior. http://illinois.scout.com/2/942800.html Eric Bossi http://illinois.scout.com/2/942800.html Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:25:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois This weekend was the last weekend before Signing Day, and recruits across the country were hoping a last minute visit would help them decide where to continue their football careers. Austin Teitsma visited Illinois seeking an offer and left the campus as an Illini. http://illinois.scout.com/2/942761.html Mike Lopuszynski http://illinois.scout.com/2/942761.html Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:31:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois It is difficult for any athlete being recruited by multiple colleges to call up coaches to tell them he is planning to attend a different school. It is even harder when that athlete changes his mind after committing to a school. But Louisiana center Alex Hill had to do that, decommitting from Duke in favor of the University of Illinois. http://illinois.scout.com/2/942557.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/942557.html Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:46:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois After a difficult season on the field, the Fighting Illini football team was predicted to have a poor recruiting class for next Wednesday's signing day. But head coach Ron Zook feels rejuvenated, and he and his newly-refurbished staff are putting together a much better class than most had a right to expect. He spoke about recruiting and the new momentum of the team. http://illinois.scout.com/2/942421.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/942421.html Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:36:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois Demetri McCamey hit a floater in the lane at the last second as the Fighting Illini held on to defeat Indiana 72-70 in the Assembly Hall Saturday afternoon. The Illini bolted to a 13 point lead in the first half but watched the Hoosiers battle back to take the lead and hold it most of the second half. McCamey led the Illini with 19 points and 8 assists. http://illinois.scout.com/2/942402.html Jack Lyman http://illinois.scout.com/2/942402.html Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:35:00 GMT 1 169 Illinois illinois