“I play hard, and I’m a winner. I think everybody knows that.” —
@IlliniMBB
’s
@Ty_rodgers20
on his impact on the court without being a shooter
#Illini
First player out on the court at State Farm Center today? Class of 2023 five-star point guard Kylan Boswell, who's on an official visit and getting up some shots.
#Illini
The Orange Krush chanting "transfer portal" at Minnesota's Dawson Garcia when all five Illinois players on the court at the time started their careers elsewhere is ... something.
#Illini
#B1G
Some strong words from
#Illini
forward Coleman Hawkins: “We don’t have anything to lose. People have been moving the cameras away from us and putting all the attention on everyone else. I think this team is made for March. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.
"They were giving out free T-shirts and having all their students come in trying to pack it out. Usually there’s 1,000 people in here. We were able to get a win tonight in a pretty hostile environment." —
@IlliniMBB
's
@colehawk23
after Saturday's win at Maryland.
#Illini
#B1G
Brad Underwood on players attending Terrence Shannon Jr.'s hearing yesterday: They're supporting their teammate. That's what good teammates do.
#Illini
Terrence Shannon on Underwood’s comments: “I just looked at it as a coach being frustrated with one of his best players and leaders. I didn't show up against Penn State. I can't do that. I can't have nights like that. I took responsibility for it and talked to my team.”
#Illini
“I just want to make sure I don’t screw it up. My job is to come in and try to be supportive of the work the guys have done here.” —
@CoachOantigua
on his return to
@IlliniMBB
.
#Illini
Brad Underwood and Adam Fletcher just arrived at Ayo Dosunmu’s draft party. Several
#Illini
players — Kofi Cockburn, Da’Monte Williams, Jacob Grandison and Coleman Hawkins — already here.
#NBADraft
Brad Underwood: Coleman Hawkins could run practice and we would be prepared. He'll know Maryland backward and forward. ... His in depth understanding of the game is a big plus.
#Illini
Trent Frazier: "Location doesn't matter. ... I'm not going there for vacation."
Kofi Cockburn: "Before today there was only one location I knew about, and that was New Orleans."
#Illini
#MarchMadness2022
Ty Rodgers: “I think the more I started to get on the court the more I was able to just settle down, let my nerves loose and all of the stress and anxiety, just let that go. I feel like the past couple games have gone really well for me, and I’ve been able to play free.”
#Illini
Brad Underwood is asking why Kofi Cockburn doesn't get the cylinder calls like E.J. Liddell just did. The fact Underwood's face is almost purple tells you how he feels about it.
#Illini
“For there to be a 19-year drought is pretty crazy to think. To be a part of the team that kind of broke out of the mold is pretty special.” —
@IlliniMBB
’s
@lukegoode10
on the
#Illini
getting back to the Sweet 16
#MarchMadness
“We didn’t lose our minds when they went on a run. We were able to still have control of the game.” —
@IlliniMBB
’s
@DDainja
on what it took to fend off Iowa State in the Sweet 16
#Illini
#MarchMadness
“We were not making shots. I think our transition defense was bad in the second half compared to the first half.” —
@IlliniMBB
’s
@quincyguerrier
on what went wrong in the second half against UConn.
#Illini
#MarchMadness
Tim Anderson is holding Chester Frazier by the back of his shirt to make sure he doesn't get on the court as he tries to rile up the crowd after those Trent Frazier threes.
#Illini
Jayden Epps on earning starting role: "I just know what I can do, and I know what I can bring to the team. I don’t want anything handed to me. I want to earn everything. I was raised up like that — not taking any handouts. I love that I earn what I get."
#Illini
Future
#Illini
Ty Rodgers (
@Ty_rodgers20
) was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic on April 15 in Chicago. On his JBC team is uncommitted 2022 guard Skyy Clark, who, let's say, Illinois is keeping tabs on.
“I can’t lie. It felt good. There were a lot of people here who hadn’t watched me play since high school.” —
@IlliniMBB
’s
@marcusdomask
, a Wisconsin native, after putting up 31 points in Saturday’s 91-83 win against
@BadgerMBB
in Madison.
#Illini
#B1G
Brad Underwood: Ty Rodgers, I thought, was dominant. ... Everybody keeps putting 5-men on him, and we keep laughing because he's our best post player.
#Illini
#B1G
“My No. 1 check list in the portal was a team that could win important games. Win meaningful games in March.” —
@IlliniMBB
’s
@marcusdomask
, who will play in his first NCAA tournament game tomorrow.
#Illini
#MarchMadness
There have been several high profile additions for Illinois this offseason. Is it enough to get
@IlliniMBB
into the preseason
#APTop25
?
Where should I think about putting Brad Underwood's latest built-from-basically-scratch team,
#Illini
fans?
It was a busy spring for
@IlliniMBB
, but now the 2024-25 roster is built. Two returning players. Ten newcomers. No change in expectations (especially offensively) with a new-look group.
“We’ve tapped just about every market.” —
@CoachUnderwood
#Illini
Brad Underwood (on Terrence Shannon Jr.): There was a sequence, I don't think I've seen anything like that from anybody and I sat on the sideline with Michael Beasley and Bill Walker. I don't think I've seen a sequence as freakishly dominating athletically.
#Illini
Brad Underwood on Ty Rodgers: If he doesn't smoke a layup in the first half, he's got a heck of a night. ... Almost every day he leads us in rebounding. A couple of his rebounds were huge momentum stoppers to get those balls back. I love Ty Rodgers, man.
#Illini
Incoming!
@IlliniMBB
’s
@CoachUnderwood
discusses his four incoming transfers — Jake Davis, Kylan Boswell, Tre White and, new on Tuesday, Carey Booth.
#Illini