Illinois Fighting Illini On SI - Sports Illustrated

SI.COM
ON SI
SI SWIMSUIT
SI TICKETS
SI RESORTS
SI SHOPS
MY ACCOUNT
SUBSCRIBE NOW

FOOTBALL
BASKETBALL
RECRUITING
OLYMPIC SPORTS
SI.COM

Dec 6, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Zvonimir Ivisic (44) and forward David Mirkovic (0) celebrate after a called time out against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Illinois Basketball Grades: Evaluating the Illini Against Tennessee

See how Illinois on SI evaluated each Illini's individual performance in a head-turning win over the Volunteers

Jason Langendorf

|

5 Hours Ago

Latest News

Why Has Illinois' Andrej Stojakovic Struggled in Recent Games?

Social Media Reacts After Illinois Swarms Tennessee in Season's Biggest Win

Illinois Soars Up the NET Rankings After Top-15 Win Over Tennessee

Did Illinois' Keaton Wagler Just Level Up Against Tennessee?

Brad Underwood Dubs MVP of Illinois' Win vs. Tennessee: It May Come as a Surprise

Top Takeaway From Illinois' Victory Over Tennessee: Tomislav Ivisic is Back

Three Key Observations From Illinois Basketball's 75-62 Victory Over Tennessee

Illinois Defensive Tackle Jeremiah Warren to Enter Transfer Portal: What It Means

Three Key Observations From Illinois WBB's 78-57 Victory Over Indiana

Illini Featured Stories

Oct 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema during warmups prior to a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Music City Bowl Outlook: Can Illinois Meet the Moment in an SEC Showdown?

Nov 28, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Illinois' Brad Underwood Details Game Plan for Tennessee's Stingy Defense

Illinois forward Berry Wallace (23) dribbles the floor against Bellarmine in the Illini's 90-41 win on Tuesday at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

How to Watch Illinois Women's Basketball vs. Indiana: TV, Tip-Off Time, More

Mar 30, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ty Rodgers (20) dribbles the ball against the Connecticut Huskies in the finals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

How Ty Rodgers Can Help This Illinois Basketball Team Right Now

Football

See More

Oct 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema during warmups prior to a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois' Trey Petty, Easton Baker Plan to Enter Transfer Portal: What It Means

Oct 4, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema stands on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Illinois Early Signing Day Superlatives: Who Stood Out in the Illini's 2026 Class?

Sep 27, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema leads his team down the Illini Walk before an NCAA football game with the Southern California Trojans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois Flips 2026 Offensive Lineman Micah Smith From UCLA: Why it Matters

Nov 16, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema gives a hand to players before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Why Illinois Tapping Into the JUCO Pipeline Is More Than Just a Quick Fix

Oct 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema during warmups prior to a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois Flips 2026 Running Back Javari Barnett From Alabama: Why it Speaks Volumes

Jul 22, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Illinois head coach Bret Bielema speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Illinois Football Early Signing Day Tracker: Every Player Coming in 2026

The Illinois football team gathers on the snow mounds inside Gies Memorial Stadium after its 20-13 win over Northwestern on Saturday in its season finale in Champaign, Illinois.

Social Media Swirls Around Illinois Football's Snowy Win Over Northwestern

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema walks across the field as the team arrives prior to the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Oct. 11, 2025.

Illinois Lands Top JUCO Recruits in TJ Taylor and Jakwon Morris: What It Means

Basketball

See More

Dec 14, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ben Humrichous (3) dunks the ball during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Staff Picks: Who Wins Illinois Basketball vs. Tennessee?

Nov 28, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) collides with UConn Huskies guard Malachi Smith (0) in the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

How to Watch No. 14 Illinois vs. No. 13 Tennessee: TV, Tip-off Time, More

Nov 19, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood yells to his team during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

ESPN's Matchup Predictor Reveals Favorite for Illinois vs. Tennessee

Illinois guard Mihailo Petrovic (77) drives by a UT Rio Grande Valley defender in the Illini's win over the Vaqueros last week at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

Is It Finally Time for Illinois Basketball to Start Mihailo Petrovic?

Illinois guard Aaliyah Guyton (1) locks up a Bellarmine ball-handler in the Illini's 90-41 win Tuesday at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

Three Key Observations From Illinois WBB's Impressive Blowout of Bellarmine

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is shown during the second half of their second round NCAA men’ s basketball tournament game Sunday, March 23, 2025 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Kentucky beat Illinois 84-75.

Illinois Basketball Ranked in Baffling Spot in Initial NET Rankings

Illinois guard Kylan Boswell (4) finish at the rim against a UConn defender in the Illini's 74-61 loss to the Huskies last week at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Illinois Ranked in Latest AP College Basketball Poll Right Where It Belongs

Mar 23, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kentucky Wildcats at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

How Illinois Basketball Must Attack Tennessee’s Dominant Defense

Recruiting

See More

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is shown after their game Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Illinois beat Wisconsin 34-10.

MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

Illinois Offers Another Top JUCO Recruit in Archie Chambers: What it Means

Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema before an NCAA game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois Football Offers Three-Star Safety Jabarri Lofton: What it Means

East Peoria’s Quinton Kitt (23) moves the ball against Morton in the second half of their Mid-Illini high school basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at East Peoria High School. The Raiders upset state-ranked Morton 72-69 in overtime.

Four-Star Forward Quinton Kitt Commits to Illinois: How He Fits

Mar 23, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kentucky Wildcats at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Brad Underwood Sees Shades of Recent Illinois Great in Lucas Morillo

Sep 27, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts during the second half against the Southern California Trojans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois Football Included in JUCO Lineman TJ Taylor's Top Five: What it Means

Oct 3, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Illinois head coach Brad Underwood takes a question at the podium during the 2024 Big Ten Menís Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images

Illinois Basketball Signs Four-Star Guard Lucas Morillo: How He Fits

Sep 27, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema leads his team down the Illini Walk before an NCAA football game with the Southern California Trojans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois Lands Three-Star JUCO Offensive Lineman Alfred Washington: What it Means

Oct 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema during warmups prior to a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois Football Offers Division II Quarterback Maurice Smith: What it Means

Olympic Sports

See More

Jun 1, 2024; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; Adrien Dumont de Chassart hits his tee shot at the seventh hole during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Former Illini Adrien Dumont de Chassart Wins Event With Record-Breaking Round

Mar 22, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Lucas Byrd of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates win against Drake Ayala of the Iowa Hawkeyes (not pictured) during the Division I Men's Wrestling Championship held at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Defending National Champ Lucas Byrd Will Return to Illinois for Senior Season

Jul 25, 2024; Blaine, Minnesota, USA; Nick Hardy hits his tee shot on the tenth hole during the first round of the 3M Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Former Illinois Golfer Nick Hardy Shoots Another Low Round to Close 3M Open

May 23, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Nick Hardy plays his shot from the ninth tee during the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images

Illinois Golf Alum Nick Hardy Fires Another Steady Round at 3M Open

Feb 25, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Shauna Green watches her team play the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Illinois Women's Basketball Offers Dynamic Freshman Daughter of Former Illini

May 23, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Nick Hardy watches his shot from the ninth tee during the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images

Illinois Golf's Max Herendeen and Alum Nick Hardy Deliver in 3M Open First Round

North Fort Myers resident John Berg has collected putters, drivers and irons in Illinois, the Miami area, Lake Okeechobee and now North Fort Myers.

Fnp 012321 Rr Nf Golf Collector003

Illinois Golf Rising Star Max Herendeen Set to Make PGA Tour Debut

Feb 25, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Shauna Green reacts against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Illinois Women's Basketball Ranks as Top Academic Program in Big Ten

Takedown Policy

Terms and Conditions

SI Accessibility Statement

© 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates, licensees and related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.