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Illinois Fighting Illini guard Aaliyah Guyton (1) drives to the basket Friday, March 6, 2026, during a Big Ten women's basketball tournament game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Illini fought back late in their Big Ten Tournament semifinal Friday, but they ultimately couldn't overcome an elite Hawkeye squad

Illinois Fighting Illini guard Aaliyah Guyton (1) drives to the basket Friday, March 6, 2026, during a Big Ten women's basketball tournament game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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The Illini fought back late in their Big Ten Tournament semifinal Friday, but they ultimately couldn't overcome an elite Hawkeye squad

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Feb 27, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood greets the crowd before the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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The conference appears to have its best shot at breaking the national-title drought in quite a while. Which teams have a real chance?

Illinois women's basketball coach Shauna Green celebrates the Illini's 71-69 win over Michigan State in Thursday's second round at the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.

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The Illini continued their Big Ten Tournament run with an upset over a very good Spartans squad

Feb 21, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Solomon Washington (9) reacts during the second half against the Washington Huskies at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

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The Illini will close the regular season on the road in College Park against a Terrapins team that has struggled this season

Feb 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) dribbles the ball against the Southern California Trojans in the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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The experienced Illini guard is renowned for his defense - but it hasn't been at the level it should be this year

Mar 3, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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The Illini have been taking hits ever since the start of February, but so has the rest of the conference (other than Michigan, of course)

Illinois forward Berry Wallace squares up in the Illini's 82-70 win over Wisconsin in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday in Indianapolis.

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The Illini (20-10, 9-9 Big Ten) will continue postseason play on Thursday in Indianapolis against the Spartans

Illinois women's basketball coach Shauna Green guided the Illini to an 82-70 win over Wisconsin on Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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The Illini opened postseason play with a victory over the Badgers in the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday in Indianapolis

Mar 3, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) drives the ball up court during the fist half against the Oregon Ducks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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The Illini freshman phenom scored just 11 points against Oregon, but in the process, he displayed why he's so special

Feb 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Shauna Green reacts during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

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Illinois women's basketball faces Wisconsin tonight. Here's the tip-off time, TV channel, streaming options, and everything else you need to watch.

Nov 14, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood greets the crowd before the tip of the game with the Colgate Raiders at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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Illini target Zhang has been a star for Veritas Prep this year, and he has seen his stock soar as a result

Feb 27, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) drives the ball against Michigan Wolverines guard L.J. Cason (2) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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Stojakovic was held scoreless in a loss to Michigan, then exploded for 21 points in a win over Oregon. Is he locked in for the Illini again?

Mar 3, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Drew Carter (12) tries to block Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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The Illini rebounded from back-to-back losses in a big way, taking care of the Ducks with ease – but social media is mostly reserving judgment

Mar 3, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Zvonimir Ivisic (44) dunks during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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The Illini responded after their biggest loss of the season by dunking on the Ducks on Tuesday in Champaign

Feb 20, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Will Riley (27) dribbles against the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

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Illinois has three players serving in instrumental roles for their respective NBA team, plus another striving to get there. Here's the latest.

Feb 27, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) drives the ball against Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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The Illini host their final home game of the season Tuesday night against Oregon

Feb 27, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood greets the crowd before the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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The Illini, despite struggling in recent weeks, still appear to have a relatively favorable path in the Big Dance

Illinois guard Kylan Boswell (4) floats to the rim against Michigan in the Illini's 84-70 loss to Michigan last Friday at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

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The Illini (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten) have stumbled down the stretch, but they get a chance to find their footing against the Ducks (11-18, 4-14) on Tuesday

Feb 27, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini fans cheer during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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The Illini (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten) can't overlook the Ducks (20-11, 8-10 Big Ten) on Tuesday if they're to maintain NCAA Tournament positioning

Feb 4, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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Underwood revealed what his team's defensive weaknesses have been and how Illinois plans to solve the problems

Oregon forward Miles Stewart celebrates from the bench as the Oregon Ducks host the Wisconsin Badgers on Feb. 25, 2026, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon.

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The Illini will be aiming to bounce back from a two-game losing streak in Champaign against a wounded Ducks squad

Dec 7, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; UNLV Runnin' Rebels guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (0) smiles during a break in the action against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

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Former Illini Gibbs-Lawhorn is torching the Mountain West Conference, leading the league in scoring. How would he have fit at Illinois?

Illinois forward Cearah Parchment (30) goes for a finish at the rim against Minnesota in the Illini's 78-73 loss to No. 22 Minnesota on Sunday at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

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The Illini fought hard but ultimately came up short in the closing minute of their final regular-season game

Jan 24, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood looks at a referee during the first half of a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

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The Illini have consistently been one of the better teams in the country in recent years, but have they gone as far as they can go?

Feb 7, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Dame Sarr (7) on the court in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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The Illini elected to take Stojakovic over Sarr this past offseason. Was it the right move?