Podcasts about fighting illini

The Fighting Illini continue to build one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules as Illinois and Texas Tech officially move forward with a marquee home-and-home basketball series. The grumbles of Big Ten schools NOT playing Texas Tech, post-Brendan Sorsby, amounts to nothing. Illinois hosted the first matchup in Champaign, with a return trip to Lubbock set for the 2026-27 season, giving Brad Underwood another high-profile test against a perennial Big 12 contender. On the international stage, Team USA delivered an impressive World Cup performance, defeating Australia 2-0 in Group D action. The Americans improved their position in the group standings with a dominant defensive effort and continued momentum after their strong tournament-opening victory over Paraguay. The win sets up a crucial stretch run as the United States looks to advance to the knockout stage. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals endured one of their roughest losses of the season, falling 14-6 to the Kansas City Royals. Matthew Liberatore struggled early, allowing the Royals to erupt for a six-run second inning. Kansas City finished with 17 hits and three home runs, while Bobby Witt Jr. homered before leaving with knee discomfort. Salvador Perez added a historic blast at Kauffman Stadium, and despite collecting 13 hits of their own, the Cardinals stranded 15 runners in the lopsided defeat.  

Illinois basketball's non-conference schedule continued to take shape as the Fighting Illini added matchups against in-state foe Eastern Illinois and Ivy League contender Penn. The games provide Brad Underwood's squad with opportunities to build its résumé while giving fans a closer look at another highly anticipated Illinois roster. In Major League Baseball, trade deadline speculation heats up as the Cardinals weigh whether starting pitcher Dustin May could become one of the most coveted arms on the market. After another dominant outing against San Diego, the question becomes whether St. Louis views May as a key piece of a playoff push or a valuable trade asset. Meanwhile, the Cubs face a similar dilemma with Seiya Suzuki. Despite Chicago's recent surge, Suzuki's bat could attract significant interest from contenders if the front office decides to capitalize on his value before the deadline. The hour wrapped up with a spirited Tuesday Draft as the crew selected The Best Smells of All Time, featuring favorites ranging from fresh-cut grass and movie theater popcorn to bacon, campfires, and the smell of rain after a summer storm. Follow The Drive on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Cory Brada and Mark Rogers discuss the latest with Iowa Football. Sunny Verma of Talking Illini also joins the show to discuss the Hawks vs. Fighting Illini.Join Mark Rogers and Cory Brada every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. CT for Iowa Hawkeyes LIVE on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iowa at the Voice of CFB channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTube.

Ohio State defeated Illinois 34-16 in 2025, but the final score doesn't tell the full story. The Buckeyes managed just 272 total yards, averaged only 4.3 yards per play, and struggled to establish the run game. So how did Ohio State win comfortably? Matt Patricia's defense dominated, forcing three turnovers and holding Illinois to just 47 rushing yards. In today's episode, we go back and rewatch Ohio State's win over Illinois to uncover what really happened and why the Fighting Illini could be a much tougher challenge in 2026. We'll discuss:

On this episode I discuss how Andrej Stojakovic's return impacts the Fighting Illini's bid for another Final Four (3:51) as well as incoming freshman Quentin Coleman earning a spot on Team USA (17:02). I also introduce Illinois' newest women's basketball recruits (23:15) and criticize the NCAA's new international eligibility rules (30:20). Finally, I provide updates on Illinois' football schedule (43:25) and the program's newest signees (51:43). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 15, 2026 - Angela Foulke joined Byers & Co to talk about the Fighting Illini, her new responsibilities at the Decatur Family YMCA during their executive director job search, and the Indianapolis 500. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back with a packed hour, highlighted by a strong showing from Fighting Illini football at the NFL Draft over the weekend. The guys also break down draft grades for the Chicago Bears and what it all means moving forward. Plus, a recap of The Oskees at State Farm Center. Intern Coop was on The Orange Carpet all night. Follow The Drive on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

Illinois women's basketball just added a major piece, and here's the story behind it.On this episode of Ked's Recruiting Roundup, Kedric Prince sits down with Illinois transfer Divine Bourrage, along with her mother, Leanne Binion, and uncle, Devon Binion, for a conversation that goes beyond the game. A former five-star recruit, Bourrage discusses her journey, her decision to transfer, and why Illinois was the right fit. The family shares their bond, perspective, and excitement for what's ahead in Champaign.From recruiting to relationships with coaches like Shauna Green, this episode offers an inside look at one of the most intriguing additions to the Illini roster.

Fighting Illini Today 04-10-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fighting Illini Today 04-09-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mylas Copeland is the guest host in the first show live from the new Team Calhoun's Studio as he welcomes Fighting Illini men's basketball assistant coaches Geoff Alexander and Orlando Antigua. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fighting Illini Today 04-08-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fighting Illini Today 04-07-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's the lede, Vaughn? Doug goes with the Blues and being 3 points out and still not likely to get into the ‘Yoffs. Stat padding. Robert Thomas and his future. Discussion about show notes that I'm now putting in the show notes (Meta AF). Gilman, so powerful. Talking Final Four as Illinois falls to UConn. Dan Hurley getting boo'ed. Chainsmokers. Tough shooting night for the Fighting Illini. Brad Underwood very emotional following the loss. Coaching moves. Michigan-Arizona was a bloodbath. Talking Redbirds. Lost a series, now 2-1 on the year. Rough lineup Friday. Dustin May, rough. Jordan Walker hitting though. What's going on in Memphis? Cardinals postgame sound tough to find sometimes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's the lede, Vaughn? Doug goes with the Blues and being 3 points out and still not likely to get into the ‘Yoffs. Stat padding. Robert Thomas and his future. Discussion about show notes that I'm now putting in the show notes (Meta AF). Gilman, so powerful. Talking Final Four as Illinois falls to UConn. Dan Hurley getting boo'ed. Chainsmokers. Tough shooting night for the Fighting Illini. Brad Underwood very emotional following the loss. Coaching moves. Michigan-Arizona was a bloodbath. Talking Redbirds. Lost a series, now 2-1 on the year. Rough lineup Friday. Dustin May, rough. Jordan Walker hitting though. What's going on in Memphis? Cardinals postgame sound tough to find sometimes. Chris Kerber joins the program to talk all things Blues as we head down the stretch. Talking Robert Thomas' hat trick last night and his future with the team. Talking about some of the recent close losses that really stung given the Blues place in the standings. Mike Francesa loves talking about who he see's at the horse races. And now it's on to Augusta. Masters on Thursday. Who do the fellas like for the tournament? Outkast. Michigan-UConn tonight. Jon Hamm on New Heights pod talking about his Chiefs fandom. Martin asks a Masters quiz questions. People are upset we are talking golf. Merle Haggard on what would have been his 89th birthday. Blues recap. Casino Kurt joins the program to ask us about his bet. Red hot call. Movies with ape co-stars. New Chairman Kurt beat. The new Michael Jackson biopic. Revisiting the Tiger Woods Story film from 1998. Jackson doesn't like music biopics. Elvis. EMOTD. Jason Kelce and his stock. What's the future of him and ESPN? Mt. Rushmore of podcasts. Podcast ranking questions.Return of the Mack. Jim Montgomery on Robert Thomas' hat trick. Breaking down the Blues and some of the close losses that are costing them a playoff spot. Shakira discussion. What happened with her and her soccer star husband? On the range at the Masters. Worst rules in sports discussions.A discussion on "man's men. " EMOTD winner revealed.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite the Fighting Illini's Saturday loss to UConn, fans rejoiced in the team's longest March Madness run in 21 years. And a strong season not only reinvigorated school spirit, but was an economic boost to the university and even local businesses can see a major economic boost. We dig into what a winning season means for both the fan experience and for business. Our panel at the table: Matt Brown, publisher of the sports newsletter Extra Points; Steve Greenberg, Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist; and Robert Rosenthal, publisher of Illiniboard.com and the Illini Boardroom podcast. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Fighting Illini Today 04-06-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Illinois vs. Connecticut College Basketball Pick Prediction by Tony T. Illinois vs. UCONN Profiles Illinois vs. UCONN 3:09PM ET—Illinois is 28-8 overall and 15-5 in the Big Ten. They were 8-2 on the road in conference. They dropped games in the non-conference against Alabama, UCONN and Nebraska. They posted wins against Texas Tech, Tennessee, Ohio St and Missouri. In the NCAA Tournament the Fighting Illini defeated Penn, VCU, Houston and Iowa. UCONN is 33-5 on the year and 17-3 in the Big East. They went 8-2 on the road in conference. The Huskies in the non-conference defeated Illinois, BYU, Kansas, Florida and Texas. They dropped a four-point decision at home against Arizona. UCONN defeated Furman, UCLA, Michigan ST and Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

Headlines and our Draftmas Houseguest has arrived! IAN FURNESS joins the show to share his Draftmas wishes with us. First off, we have to address last night's Kraken loss- what the heck happened and is it over? Obviously Ken Walker leaving left a hole in this Seahawks roster, so where does Ian see the Hawks looking for a running back in the draft? How would Ian draft from a priority standpoint if the Seahawks keep their first three picks? Does Ian have a running back in mind for the Hawks? We've seen two championship teams- one built by Pete and John and one by John and Mike; were Pete and John ever as locked in as Mike and John seem to be? :30- ABCs of the Mariners - L is for Lefties: yes, we're facing another one tonight - M is for Munoz: can we see him in various situations, not just when it's a save? - N is for Naylor: Josh is off to a 1-27 start, but we guarantee he's not worried about it and we shouldn't be either. :45- The Final Four is tomorrow night and these two matchups are very exciting, but can we all agree that we are rooting against Dan Hurley? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

QUINCY PONDEXTER (UW Basketball) Quincy joins the show to give us his thoughts on UW basketball and the Final Four. How far away from a tourney run are the Dawgs? How difficult is it to be watching the Final Four and not being one of the teams in it? What makes these four teams so special? Does he think a Big Ten team will be cutting down the nets? :30- Draftmas Stocking Stuffers- a look at NFL draft rumors - We start with Ty Simpson and the Orlovsky effect, which has now made Simpson polarizing and has him dropping in the draft. - Cleveland is trying to move down in the draft, or at least that's the rumor, but that's what this is all about. - There are a lot of teams in the wide receiver draft discussion. :45- We close out the week and the show with Booze News. Get the Nog! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another year, another abysmal performance by ol’ SwampSwami in the CBS Sports March Madness predictions. Though I played high school basketball, I remain “O-for-Life” at predicting the men’s March Madness champion. My chances for victory crashed last Thursday after the University of Houston lost to Illinois in the Sweet Sixteen round.  The same failed outcome happened for my pick (LSU) in the women’s bracket.  Kim Mulkey’s Tigers lost to Duke on a last second 3-pointer in the Sweet 16 to sink my battleship in that competition. CBSSports.com showed my men’s picks currently ranked a pitiful 1,138,732 (which must be somewhere near the bottom).  My women’s selections have been slightly less embarrassing, but I am still ranked at a microscopic 477,876th overall. Go ahead and laugh.  I’m used to it.  Since my personal top selections are now vaporized, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming weekend of March Madness games. But first… I wanted to take a moment to agree with legendary UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma about some issues which he expressed concern about last week. Beginning in 2023, the NCAA found a way to screw-up the women’s second weekend of Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games. In the second weekend of men’s play, there are four regionals (East, South, Midwest, and West).  Each region features four teams. By contrast, the women’s second weekend featured just two regions with eight teams assigned to each site to play the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games. Why did the NCAA do that to the women’s tournament? (Hint – $$$) Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma rightfully complained about logistics issues created by lumping eight teams together.  His team was one of the eight assigned to “Region 1” in Fort Worth, Texas.  The other eight teams in “Region 2” played in Sacramento, California. In both cases, the city’s arena is needed to host two tournament games per day.  That leaves the eight participating teams with odd practice times and inconsistent media times for the players and coaches.  Some practices were conducted at the crack of dawn.  Others happened in evening hours after the second game of the day concluded. Coach Geno Auriemma told the assembled press last week, “You know what time our shoot-around was yesterday? 6:20 AM for just half an hour.  Does anybody who makes these decisions ever ask the coaches and the players?” The UConn coach then rolled off the poor 3-point shooting statistics for every team participating in last week’s 8-team Fort Worth regional. He added, “They bring in new baskets and new basketballs right out of the box.  We’ve got people dribbling the ball off their feet, missing layups all over the place!  How many arenas are we going to sell out with that BS!” He was blunt and made several valid points. The eight teams in each of the two women’s regions had very little time to get familiar with the arena surroundings prior to playing in last Friday and Saturday’s games. The only plausible reason for doing this is a cost savings decision by the NCAA.  It is cheaper to lease two arenas than four like the men are utilizing during the tournament’s second weekend.  The television production costs for ESPN are also lower with only two sites to broadcast from. It’s doubtful that the NCAA home office in Indianapolis gave much (if any) thought to the logistical difficulties caused by bringing eight teams together to play over two days in the same facility.  One report indicated that the NCAA will keep this format for another two years. Good grief.  How cheap can you get? Now that we have that out of the way.  Let’s review the women’s Final Four! This year’s women’s semifinal and final games are being played in Phoenix.  The same four finalists from last year (UConn, South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA) will return and try to win the title currently held by Connecticut. This elite quartet won an incredible 95% of their games this season with a combined record of 143-7. Semifinal #1 – 6PM CDT Friday on ESPN – Connecticut (38-0) vs. South Carolina (35-3) Get your popcorn ready for this epic battle! This is the women’s basketball version of pitting King Kong vs. Godzilla.  These two teams have captured three of the last four national titles.  UConn defeated South Carolina 82-59 in last year’s championship game, so the Gamecocks want payback. Carolina has five players averaging in double figures led by All-American forward Joyce Edwards.  She scores nearly 20 points per game.  Connecticut counters with two of the best players in the country.  Forward Sarah Strong and guard Azzi Fudd are responsible for nearly 40 points per game this season for the Huskies. Semifinal #2 – 8:30PM CDT Friday on ESPN – Texas (35-3) vs. UCLA (35-1) Texas features ten players getting more than ten minutes of playing time every game. Forward Madison Booker leads the Longhorns with 19.3 points per game.  UCLA’s veteran roster is led by center Lauren Betts (17 points per game) and elusive guard Kiki Rice (15 points ppg).  Texas handed the Bruins their only loss of the season in a 76-65 win in late November.  UCLA has won 25 straight games since that defeat and will be seeking revenge on Friday night. Men’s Final Four – Scouting report Unlike the four #1 seeds in the women’s Final Four, West region #1 Arizona and Midwest #1 Michigan are the only top seeds remaining in this weekend’s Final Four for the guys in Indianapolis. Arizona’s last national title came in 1997, while Michigan’s “Fab Five” won the last title for Big Blue in 1989. This Saturday evening’s nightcap between the Wildcats and Wolverines insures that there will be one top seeded team playing in Monday night’s championship game. Fans of the East #1 seed Duke Blue Devils are still in shock this week.  Duke surrendered a 19-point lead in a 73-72 loss at the buzzer to #2 seed Connecticut on Sunday afternoon.  That other #1 seed was defending champion Florida.  The South top seed lost in the second round to #9 Iowa by that same 73-72 score. The UConn Huskies are riding a lot of momentum as they now seek their third national championship in the past four seasons. Quietly, #3 seed Illinois has not advanced this far in the tournament since 2005 when they lost to North Carolina in the championship game.  This season’s Fighting Illini basketball team is on a quest to bring home the school’s first men’s basketball title. Saturday afternoon’s Men’s Final Four match-ups Semifinal #1 – 5PM – TBS – South #3 seed Illinois (28-8) vs. East #2 Connecticut (33-5) The Fighting Illini had lost three of its last five games heading into the NCAA March Madness tournament.  Coach Brad Underwood’s team has tightened-up its defense during the tournament and has allowed less than 60 points per game.  Illinois rings-up 84 points per game on offense with five double digit scorers in the starting line-up. UConn has been led all season by the inspired play of senior center Taris Reed.  He leads the team with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots per game. The Huskies proved their never-say-die mettle during Sunday’s 19-point comeback against #1 Duke.  This team will hang tough until the final buzzer. Semifinal #2 – 7:45PM – TBS – Midwest #1 Michigan (35-3) vs. West #1 Arizona (36-2) Michigan won the Big Ten regular season title and was a perfect 11-0 on the road.  Coach Dusty May’s Wolverines have scored 90 or more points in all four March Madness tournament games this year.  Michigan features three players who have played at the center position in college.  Getting a rebound has not been a problem for Big Blue this season. Likewise, Big 12 champion Arizona has dominated teams by scoring from within the paint.  The Wildcats’ outside shooting, though, has been suspect at times.  Arizona was ranked #363 in the nation in three point shot attempts primarily because the team’s interior offense has been so effective all season. Enjoy the games! The post Finally! The Final Fours! appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Fighting Illini Today 04-03-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the first hour of Sports Open Line, Matt Pauley takes a look into the first 6 games of the Cardinals season, where they started 4-2, and decipher what matters, and what doesn't quite yet to the season being so young. Then, we are joined by KMOX Sports Contributor, Bernie Miklasz! The first hour wraps up by opening up the phone lines to hear from you! We kick off hour two with Matt chatting with the voice of the Fighting Illini, Brian Barnhart, as they prepare for their Final Four matchup with Uconn! Then, more Cardinals conversation and audio from Blues Head Coach Jim Montgomery.

We kick off hour two with Matt Pauley chatting with the voice of the Fighting Illini, Brian Barnhart, as they prepare for their Final Four matchup with Uconn! Then, more Cardinals conversation and audio from Blues Head Coach Jim Montgomery.

Fighting Illini Today 04-02-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Peanut Butter & Biscuits continues down the recap road breaking down Shrinking Season 3, Episode 10: “The Bodyguard of Sadness”Alice's graduation has arrived and with it make-or-break moments for all. Jimmy's relationship with his father is pushed to the max. Derek & Liz are faced with shocking news that makes them contemplate the rest of their lives. Brian must make a sacrifice for his family. And Paul's impending move lead Jimmy to confront long-simmering feelings whose consequences may be too severe to fix.Craig and Jeremy talk about their still-dancing Fighting Illini, if 3 month is just WAY TOO LONG for a work trip, how much we all miss Jerry Springer, the definitive version of "Walking in Memphis" and the big difference in parenting throughout various generations of fathers. All this and MUCH MORE. Be part of the PB&B Journey! Join us!SPOILERS AHEAD! Make sure you've watched “The Bodyguard of Sadness” before listening.FEATURING: Craig McFarland and Jeremy GoecknerNamed the best Ted Lasso Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcast.feedspot.com/ted_lasso_podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠frontrowlasso@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Facebook group at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/3161086474176010

Fighting Illini Today 04-01-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago has a new working group looking into ⁠proactive rental inspections⁠ and creating a registry of apartment owners. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea explain how we got here and how the moves could help renters. Plus, the ⁠Fighting Illini are in the Final Four⁠, and y'all have thoughts on ⁠AI and robots⁠. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠daily newsletter⁠. Follow us ⁠@citycastchicago⁠ You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: ⁠773 780-0246⁠ Learn more about the sponsors of this March 31 episode: ⁠The Other Art Fair⁠ ⁠Steppenwolf Theatre⁠ ⁠Window Nation⁠ ⁠Chicago Architecture Center Walking Tours⁠ ⁠Become a member of City Cast Chicago⁠. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info ⁠HERE

On this episode The Champaign Room's Brandt Dolce checks in following Illinois' thrilling run to the Final Four (2:59). We discuss how the narrative surrounding Illini basketball has been forever changed (9:07) and Illinois' defensive turnaround (21:58). We also compliment Iowa's March Madness run (31:43), examine how the Illini's narrow regular-season losses may have benefitted them in the tournament (37:21), and the challenges of reaching the Elite Eight and Final Four consistently (45:59). Brandt & I revisit Brad Underwood meaning what he said nine years ago (57:18), examine Illinois' second half surges (60:21), and where the victories against Houston & Iowa rank in program history (64:22). We discuss whether the Illini are back “where they belong” (68:57), Brad Underwood deserving this moment (72:49), and express our gratitude for former Illini (89:56). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Springtime means a return of increasingly warm temperatures (ugh), pollen galore (yuck), and a very eventful initial weekend of sports. Major League Baseball’s 2026 season opened as all 32 teams began tied for first place with a 0-0 record After this past weekend of opening games, it should come as no surprise that the homeless “Athletics” are off to an 0-3 start.  Voodoo dolls in Oakland seem to be having their desired effect on this wandering baseball franchise! The former Oakland Athletics vacated the Bay Area last year and temporarily moved into a minor league baseball stadium in Sacramento.  This team is simply known as the “Athletics” today.  They will remain in Sacto for 2026 and 2027.  A new indoor baseball stadium is under construction in Las Vegas and is expected to become home for this downtrodden franchise starting in 2028. The UFL returned, too.  It’s a good thing St. Louis still has their team! Spring professional football’s UFL began its third year with four games played over the weekend.  The St. Louis Battlehawks attracted more than 31,000 fans to watch its 16-10 win over the defending champion DC Defenders on Saturday in the Battledome. Three other UFL home teams failed to attract even 15,000 patrons for Game #1. The new Louisville Kings franchise were welcomed by 14,000 fans in their inaugural game being played in Kentucky.  They watched the Birmingham Stallions rally to score the game-winning touchdown with two minutes left in a 15-13 victory over the hometown Kings Friday night.  A Sunday night gathering of 11,000 cheered as Orlando “Stormed” to a 23-16 victory over the Columbus Aviators.  The Dallas Renegades pulled a quaint crowd of less than 9,000 fans to its debut game in Frisco, Texas on Saturday. As stated in my league preview last week, the UFL continued to have problems getting most of its teams to score points.  Only two of the eight teams in Week #1 tallied 20 or more points. Are the NFL referees going on strike soon? An under-the-radar story this weekend involved the growing tension between the NFL and its referees union.  The NFL Referees Association may be recommending a strike soon.  The current collective bargaining agreement between the refs and the league is set to expire on May 31. NFL owners have angered the referee union by wanting to raise the probationary period from three years to five and make playoff assignments based on performance rather than seniority.  As you might expect, the referees union looks at those issues differently. A referee strike last occurred in 2012 and lasted three games into the NFL’s regular season.  After several botched calls during the opening weeks of the regular season, the owners and referees finally reached an agreement in late September, 2012. This weekend’s news indicated that the NFL owners are preparing to move forward if there isn’t a new deal soon.  They are compiling a list of possible replacement referee candidates from the ranks of college football.  If a new deal with the NFL referees’ union is not reached by May 1, the football league may be planning to hire and train a set of new referees for the upcoming football season. Golf – first, let’s have some good news! PGA golfer Gary Woodland’s last professional victory came at the 2019 US Open.  About three years ago, the golfer underwent a very delicate surgery to remove a lesion from his brain.  Just two weeks ago, Woodland told the media that he had developed PTSD during his difficult recovery from brain surgery. Sunday’s final round saw Gary Woodland holding a one-shot lead starting the final 18 holes at the Texas Children’s Hospital Houston Open.  He raced out to a 4-under par 31 on the front nine in posting a final round 67 to win the event by five shots. The Houston crowd chanted, “Gary…Gary…Gary!” on the closing holes as Woodland tried to remain focused on the task at hand. Woodland once played on both the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team and on college golf team.  He wisely chose to play professional golf for his post-college career.  Now 41, Gary Woodland picked-up his fifth career PGA win in Houston and a paycheck for nearly $1.8 million. His emotional win in Houston also came with an invitation to play in The Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia in just ten days. Golf – Tiger Woods flipped his SUV and earned a DUI charge in Florida Now 50 years of age, Tiger Woods captured the spotlight once again on Friday.  Golf’s biggest name since Jack Nicklaus was placed under arrest near his home in central Florida after flipping his Land Rover vehicle at a high rate of speed. Tiger Woods’ SUV quickly came upon a truck which was slowing to turn into a driveway. Woods lost control of his vehicle.  The SUV flipped onto its side and Woods safely crawled out of the passenger-side window.  Fortunately, there was no oncoming traffic around when the accident occurred. Woods agreed to a breathalyzer test for alcohol, but he then refused to submit to a lawful test for DUI. He was briefly taken into custody late Friday afternoon and released on bond after several hours at the local jail. I was a bit surprised to learn that Tiger Woods still had a valid driver’s license after having more than one past issue involving driving while impaired. This might be a good time for Tiger limit his future driving to the tee boxes at the golf course. NCAA Basketball – March Madness Mauls SwampSwami’s men’s bracket I don’t know which game surprised me more over the past few days. The #2 seed University of Houston faced #3 seed Illinois on Thursday night with the game being played in the Cougars’ home city of Houston at the Toyota Center.  The Cougars were playing in their seventh year of making it to the Sweet 16 round or further. Houston clanked three-pointers, two pointers, and hardly ever shot a free throw in losing to the Fighting Illini 65-55.  The Cougars shot only two free throws in the entire game. This game was U-G-L-Y from start to finish.  The halftime score was Illinois 24, Houston 22.  Coach Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars again failed to bring the school and their long-time coach a first national championship trophy in men’s basketball. And, yes, ol’ SwampSwami picked Houston’s Cougars to win it all this year.  Drat! Congratulations to Illinois and coach Brad Underwood!   After knocking off Houston, the Fighting Illini downed upstart #9 seed Iowa 71-59 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four on Saturday in Indianapolis.  It will be Illinois’ first trip to the Final Four in 21 seasons. The 62-year old coach Underwood was a longtime assistant coach who received his first Division I coaching job at Stephen F. Austin. He took the Lumberjacks into the NCAA March Madness field twice in three seasons while in Nacogdoches, Texas prior to joining Illinois in 2017. Yet another head-scratching game in this weekend’s NCAA March Madness men’s tournament was Sunday afternoon’s massive collapse by #1 East seed Duke in losing at the buzzer to #2 UConn 73-72.  Duke led by as many as 19 points in this game before committing a turnover and allowing a 30 foot 3-pointer by Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (his only made 3-point basket of the day) with less than one second remaining. Duke’s first three games in the NCAA tournament were closer than most of us expected.  The Blue Devils struggled against #16-seed Sienna (71-65).  Third round foe and #5 seed St. Johns kept Duke off balance until a final minute surge lifted the Devils to an 80-75 win. Duke had no shortage of high school All-Americans on its team again this season.  A few of these “rentals” move onto the NBA later in the spring.  Duke’s starting five featured one senior, one sophomore, and three freshmen. Contrast that to UConn’s starting five which included two seniors, two juniors and just one freshman. When Duke had Connecticut down by 19 points, the Huskies played like a veteran group and kept fighting hard until the end of Sunday’s game. As for the Dukees, the coach’s inability to keep his team together from one year to the next has kept this fading basketball powerhouse out of the winner’s circle for ten straight seasons. Regional furniture seller could lose a millions soon! Both the Connecticut Huskies men’s and women’s teams have advanced to their respective Final Four national semifinal games at the end of this week. Jordan’s Furniture (a New England based chain) stands to lose millions of dollars if both Huskies teams should win their Final Four opening games later this week. The regional furniture retailer offered customers a full rebate for merchandise purchased between January 20 through February 16 if both University of Connecticut basketball teams advance to play in this year’s NCAA title games. A representative for the furniture store said the company had purchased some form of risk insurance in the event the company needs to pay off millions to its customers soon. No matter how they “couch” it, Jordan’s Furniture may want reconsider promotions which involve “bedding” against the state’s favorite college basketball teams! The post Baseball returned, Tiger was jailed, and my NCAA Picks are toast (again) appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Fighting Illini Today 03-31-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is the NBA selectively enforcing its moral code? In this episode, Dan pulls no punches regarding the Chicago Bulls' decision to waive Jaden Ivey. After the Bulls cited "conduct detrimental to the team" following Ivey's comments on religion and the LGBTQ+ community. Plus, Dan is joined by Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood as the Fighting Illini prepare for their first Final Four appearance since 2005. After a physical Elite Eight win over Iowa, Underwood reflects on a coaching career that began in 1986 and has finally led him to the biggest stage in college basketball. The Illini are set to face a familiar foe in UConn this Saturday, looking to avenge an early-season loss and punch their ticket to the National Championship. "(0:00) Christianity: Where the NBA Draws the Line" "(0:42) The Chicago Bulls Waive Jaden Ivey" "(1:15) Comparing Ivey to Miles Bridges & League Conduct" "(2:08) The "Pride Month" vs. "Unrighteousness" Debate" "(3:18) Is Having an Opinion Now "Conduct Detrimental"?" "(4:30) Billy Donovan and the "Standard" of the Bulls" "(5:10) The Truth About Jordan, Pippen, and the 90s Bulls" "(6:20) Michael Jordan's Journey: Addiction, Fame, and Faith" "(7:35) Dealing with the "Insecure" Outrage Culture" "(25:59) Illinois Basketball Head Coach, BradUnderwood" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Golf's Preeminent Victory Monday Podcast! Andy and Brendan went LIVE on YouTube for this recording, with Brendan calling it a Victory Monday for everyone in the golf world after Gary Woodland's win in Houston. Andy is celebrating a Victory Monday for other reasons as the Fighting Illini are Final Four bound for the first time in 21 years. After some technical hiccups and debate about whether Andy is headed to Indianapolis ahead of the Masters, the two recap an emotional win for Gary Woodland at the Texas Children's Houston Open. The 2019 U.S. Open winner blitzed the field, winning by five shots at the conclusion of Sunday's round and setting the new scoring record for the tournament. Brendan declares Woodland's win the "Story of the Year" given the context surrounding his struggles with PTSD following brain surgery. Andy gives Woodland praise for going public with his diagnosis and commends him on helping not only himself but others in doing so. The two also discuss standout performances from Min Woo Lee, Johnny Keefer, Chris Gotterup, and Sudarshan Yellamaraju. Brendan shares some Substantiated Rumors from the Indian Open at DLF, where it seems as if the DP World Tour may be faking weather reports in order to ensure a fair course setup. Alex Fitzpatrick secured his first win on the DP World Tour, joining his brother, Matt, in the winner's circle following last week's Valspar Championship. In other results, the LPGA has its first repeat winner of 2026, Stew Cink is coming for a playing Ryder Cup captaincy, and the "Davis Zone" has hit the Korn Ferry Tour. Things wrap up with some news about the new player facilities at Augusta National and a brief bit of Tiger Woods discussion as more comes out about Friday's car accident and his ensuing arrest for DUI.

ESPN's Andraya Carter and Rich break down the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament including UCLA's return to the Final Four with a comeback win over Duke, what UConn proved in earning their Final Four berth, why Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma is 100% right in criticizing the NCAA's tournament scheduling hours, previews Texas vs Michigan and South Carolina vs TCU, and pays off a bet by singing the Wolverines' fight song to UM alum Rich.   Illinois Head Basketball Coach Brad Underwood and Rich discuss the Fighting Illini's trip to the Final Four to cap off his wild ride of a coaching career, his penchant for luring top European players to Champaign, what's in store for the Fighting Illini vs UConn in the Final Four, and more.    Rich reacts to the Browns rescinding their proposed rule change that would have allowed NFL teams to trade draft picks five years out, and to the possibility of Cleveland trading NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Mulligan and David Haugh opened their show by celebrating Illinois advancing to the Final Four and by breaking down the rough weekends for the Cubs and White Sox. Later, they conducted the Pick 6 segment, where they debated the top sports stories of the day.

The Fighting Illini are headed to the Final Four after a huge win over Iowa. Dave Wischnowsky joins the show to break down how Illinois got it done. He highlights the key moments and standout performances that fueled the victory. Plus, a preview of the Illini's upcoming matchup against UConn as they chase a national title. Follow The Drive on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Fighting Illini Today 03-30-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get Up with the Big Ten matchup of the week! The Hawkeyes take on the Fighting Illini for a Final Four birth! Wait a minute... is it week 8 of college football or the NCAA Tournament??? What are they putting in the water at these Big Ten Schools??? (0:00) Meanwhile - Andraya Carter previews an electric round of Sweet 16 matchups on the Women's side! Can anyone beat Uconn? (14:00) Next - the Jets are holding a private workout for Alabama QB Ty Simpson. Jordan Rodgers shares some major concerns about the potential first round pick! (24:30) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We learn more about the home the Fighting Illini, the team Huskers fans should be rooting to win in the Elite Eight.

Fighting Illini Today 03-27-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fighting Illini Today 03-26-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second hour of the show, Matt Pauley talks with Jeremy Werner, publisher of Illini Inquirer, to preview Illinois vs. Houston as the Fighting Illini look to advance to the Elite 8. Then, hear audio from Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, and President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom, on the left field competition and final roster decisions.

In the first hour of Sports Open Line, Matt Pauley is joined by Lynn Worthy, columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, as we near Cardinals Opening Day, and we welcome on Amy Marxkors, or "Hockey Amy," to discuss the Blues possibly playing their way out of a top draft pick. In the second hour of the show, Matt talks with Jeremy Werner, publisher of Illini Inquirer, to preview Illinois vs. Houston as the Fighting Illini look to advance to the Elite 8. Then, hear audio from Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, and President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom, on the left field competition and final roster decisions.

Fighting Illini Today 03-25-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fighting Illini Today 03-24-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fighting Illini Today 03-23-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second hour, Gabe Ramirez and Marshall Harris reacted to the action in the opening day of the NCAA Tournament. After that, CBS 2 anchor Ryan Baker joined the show to break down third-seeded Illinois' 105-70 rout of 14th-seeded Penn on Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

I share my favorite story from the Big Ten Tournament (5:00), recap the Fighting Illini's stunning loss to Wisconsin (12:51), discuss the post-game remarks from players & Brad Underwood (24:55), and analyze the team's seeming lack of a killer instinct (36:27). Finally, I also briefly preview Selection Sunday and the possible pairings for the Illini (42:41) and wonder if Illinois will have a better chance to succeed after escaping the Big Ten gauntlet (52:04). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A man from a not-so surprising state has a surprising amount of alcohol in his system, the Fighting Illini are making a big investment in their football program, Parker learns about Scooby-Doo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man from a not-so surprising state has a surprising amount of alcohol in his system, the Fighting Illini are making a big investment in their football program, Parker learns about Scooby-Doo