Latest Illinois Fighting Illini News
Bret Bielema Clears Stance on 4,872-YD Luke Altmyer Backup as Illinois QB Faces Fall Camp Pressure
1 week ago
CBS Names Non-Powerhouse Big 10 QB to Surprise College Football Fraternity
1 week ago
Luke Altmyer Reminded of Tough Illinois Reality That Could Jeopardize Bret Bielema’s CFP Ambitions
2 weeks ago
Illinois Football News: Bret Bielema Drops Massive Injury Update in Sad Fall Camp Announcement
2 weeks ago
Bret Bielema Receives Harsh Illinois Reality Check With an Ultimatum for Luke Altmyer
2 weeks ago
More Illinois Fighting Illini News
Bret Bielema Still Haunted by Illinois’ Twin Trouble Even After Luke Altmyer’s 1,025-Yard Assurance
Bret Bielema finds no solace in a prominent analysts' take as he gives a harsh verdict after Luke Altmyer tries to douse the fire
Bret Bielema Confronts Strong Ultimatum as Illinois’ CFP Hope Draws National Media Pushback
Illinois HC Bret Bielema given a major ultimatum on the protection of the Locker room as CFP hopes loom large with one rival in the mix.
Bret Bielema Learns Surprising Illinois Projection That Could Shake Up College Football Playoff
Bret Bielema's Illinois finds itself to be dreaming about their first ever CFP party as optimism takes over in Champaign.
Luke Altmyer Receives Illinois Legend’s Honest Verdict as Strong Ultimatum Hits Bret Bielema
Luke Altmyer’s rise sparks a strong statement from an Illinois great, adding pressure on Bret Bielema ahead of 2025.
Who Is Bret Bielema’s Wife? Everything to Know About Jen Hielsberg
Bret Bielema’s on-field story is well known, but his personal life is just as headline-worthy. Get to know the man beyond the playbook.
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer Announces Trusted WR1 After Losing Pat Bryant & Zakhari Franklin
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer discusses wide receivers emerging after the departures of Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin.
Bret Bielema Reveals Luke Altmyer’s True Character as QB Admits Tough Illinois Reality
Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema opens up about his quarterback Luke Altmyer and what makes him count on him in 2025.
Jaguars’ Shad Khan Provides Private Jet to College Football Program as HC Turns Grateful at Big 10 Media Day
Jacksonville Jaguars' Shahid Khan provides private jet and champagne crew for a college football program ahead of Media days
Illinois’ Luke Altmyer Gets Real on Ditching $2M Offer & NFL Shot in Honest Bret Bielema Admission
Luke Altmyer opens up about rejecting $2 million SEC offers to stay at Illinois, and Bielema's role in it.
Luke Altmyer Forced to Confront Harsh Illinois Reality After Bret Bielema Issues Statement on QB
Luke Altmyer's third season with Illinois is nothing but more things to accomplish in his part with the Big 10 sword still hanging.
Who Are Aidan Laughery’s Parents? All About His Mother Mary and Father Greg Laughery
Explore Illinois Fighting Illini running back Aidan Laughery’s parents, the biggest supporters who shaped his football journey
Bret Bielema Receives Surprising CFP Verdict as FOX Analyst Reveals Illinois’ Major Advantage
CFB analyst Joel Klatt sees big things ahead for Bret Bielema and Illinois as they emerge as unexpected College Football Playoff contenders.
Is Luke Altmyer Dating? Current Relationship Status, Past Rumors & Personal Life
Curious about Luke Altmyer love life? Explore Illinois QB dating life, his past rumors & what’s known about his personal life off the field.
Everything Bret Bielema Said In Recent Big Ten Interview
Here's everything Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said in conversation about the program, going into the 2025 season,
Illinois’ Bret Bielema Names Legendary Coach Who Changed B1G Forever After Bill Belichick Confession
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema talks about the crucial turning point in Big 10 history that changed the conference's fortunes...
Josh McCray’s Move Drags Kirby Smart into Hot Water as Tampering Allegations Ignite Georgia Debate
In Bret Bielema’s eyes, it doesn’t smell right. But unless receipts surface, McCray will keep running — maybe now in red and black.
After Recalling a Special Favor, Bret Bielema Reveals Two Unseen Sides of Bill Belichick’s Personality
When Bret Bielema sat to recall his NFL days with the GOAT, he couldn't help but share the lessons and an interesting car ride.
Illinois OL Issues Damage Control for Bret Bielema After Jim Harbaugh Beef Turned Heads
Bret Bielema's recent comments on Jim Harbaugh have left players to work on preventing backlash, as the feud continues.
3 Years After Losing Mother to Cancer, Bret Bielema Reflects on Grief, Mental Health & How It Shaped His Career
Bret Bielema's emotional reflection after three years of losing his mother to cancer and coping grief and navigating mental health
Bret Bielema Drops Big Luke Altmyer Statement After Unthinkable Move in Illinois QB’s Favor
Bret Bielama drops a major revelation about Luke Altmyer as the head coach opens up on how he withstood the NIL storms.
Looking to End 35-Year Drought, Bret Bielema Learns Illinois’ Surprising College Football Verdict
As Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema preps for a blockbuster 2025 season, he receives a big verdict from an analyst.
Sam Pittman’s Arkansas Forced to Face Tough Bret Bielema Reality as National Analyst Reveals Razorbacks’ True Calling
A national analyst ignites debate as Sam Pittman’s Arkansas is forced to confront the haunting past of Bret Bielema.
Luke Altmyer’s Strong Message on Illinois Disrespect as QB Clears Stance on Bret Bielema
Luke Altmyer addresses public disrespect towards Illinois football and clarifies his stance on Head Coach Bret Bielema.
Bret Bielema Gets Major Recruitment Update on 2-Sport Athlete as Matt Rhule’s Nebraska Refuse to Give Up Hope
Bret Bielema and Underwood didn’t just get a football player or a guard. They got a culture driver. Nebraska fought hard.
Bret Bielema’s Mega Reward Comes at Hefty Cost as Illinois Sets CFP Expectations Straight
Bret Bielema lands a major reward, but Illinois pays a steep price while resetting its College Football Playoff goals.
Nebraska Reporter Warns Matt Rhule’s QB of Dire Consequences After Luke Altmyer’s Blunt Message on Fake Commitment
A bold hat toss, a fiery response, and a rising QB caught in the crossfire — college football just got personal.
About Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini 2021: News, Schedule, Roster, Scores, Injury Report
The Illinois Fighting Illini compete in NCAA Men’s Basketball as a part of the Big Ten Conference. Some notable opponents from the conference include Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. They were founded in 1906.
The name Illini emerged when the University's student newspaper changed its name from 'The Student' to 'The Illini' in 1874. Over 40 years later in the 1910s, the word 'Fighting' was used initially as an adjective for the team, but later it became part of the name. It was officially adopted as the nickname by the University in the 1920s.
The current logo of the Fighting Illini is a bold letter I, which is orange with a blue border. When the university first introduced a logo in 1947, it was the face of a Native American. It was completely dropped in 2004 when the bold letter I was launched.
History
| Founded | 1906 |
| Conference | Big 10 Conference |
| Athletic Director | Josh Whitman |
| Head Coach | Brad Underwood |
| Arena | State Farm Center |
| Championships (0) | - |
| Conference Tournament Titles (2) | 2003, 2005 |
| Conference Regular Season Titles (17) | 1915, 1917, 1924, 1935, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1984, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 |
| Website | https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball |
Who is the coach of the Fighting Illini?
The current coach of the Fighting Illini is Brad Underwood. He was appointed in 2017 after he won three consecutive Southland Conference Tournaments.
Underwood signed a six-year deal worth $18 million, before getting an extension for up to 2026. After two underwhelming seasons, Underwood led the Fighting Illini to an impressive 21-10 record last season.
Who is the Athletic Director of the Fighting Illini?
The current athletic director of the Fighting Illini is Josh Whitman. He was appointed in 2016.
Whitman is an alumnus of the college and is also a former NFL player who became a lawyer after retirement. He was in charge of hiring Underwood as the head coach.
Achievements and Championships
The early 2000s and the 1980s were the most successful periods for the Fighting Illini. From 2001 to 2005, they won four out of the five regular-season championships.
In 2005, they reached the National Final with a brilliant record of 37-2. But they lost by 5 points in the Final to UNC. That remains as their best finish in the NCAA tournament.
The Fighting Illini haven't won the NCAA Division 1 title yet.
Greatest NBA Players
It has been almost eight years since a former Fighting Illini was drafted in the NBA. But earlier, Illinois had many young prospects making it into the big league.
Some of the greatest NBA players from Illinois include Deron Williams, Don Ohl, Nick Anderson, and Jerry Sloan. Williams was part of the team that finished as the runner-up in 2005. Sloan was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a coach in 2009.
Currently, Kendrick Nunn and Meyers Leonard are the only former Fighting Illini playing in the NBA.
Mascot and Uniform
The Fighting Illini had Chief Illiniwek as their mascot until it was retired by the University back in 2007 due to a lot of criticism around the stereotypes promoted by it.
In September 2020, the belted kingfisher was voted as the new mascot for the University. Spencer Hulsey, an alumnus of the University of Illinois, is the one who came up with the idea for the kingfisher.
The team colors of the Illinois Fighting Illini are navy blue and orange.
Current Roster
The Illinois Fighting Illini roster for the 2020-21 season has 17 players.
| Position | JerseyNumber | Name | Height | Weight |
| G | 1 | Trent Frazier | 6-2 | 175 |
| F | 2 | Connor Serven | 6-9 | 215 |
| G/F | 3 | Jacob Grandison | 6-6 | 205 |
| F | 4 | Zach Griffith | 6-6 | 220 |
| G | 5 | Andre Curbelo | 6-1 | 175 |
| G | 10 | Edgar Padilla Jr. | 6-1 | 165 |
| G | 11 | Ayo Dosunmu | 6-5 | 200 |
| C | 12 | Brandon Lieb | 7-0 | 210 |
| F | 13 | Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk | 6-8 | 235 |
| F | 15 | Giorgi Bezhanishvili | 6-9 | 245 |
| G | 20 | Da'Monte Williams | 6-3 | 215 |
| C | 21 | Kofi Cockburn | 7-0 | 285 |
| G | 22 | Austin Hutcherson | 6-6 | 180 |
| G | 32 | Tyler Underwood | 6-2 | 180 |
| F | 33 | Coleman Hawkins | 6-10 | 215 |
| C | 34 | Jermaine Hamlin | 6-10 | 235 |
| G | 44 | Adam Miller | 6-3 | 180 |
Schedule
The Fighting Illini began their 2020-21 season with a huge 122-60 win against North Carolina A&T on November 25. They have a 27-game regular season that ends with an away game against Iowa on March 5, 2021. Currently, their record is 3-0.
The full schedule is available on the college website.
How to contact Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball?
Illinois Fighting Illini on Twitter: @IlliniMBB
Illinois Fighting Illini on Instagram: @illinimbb
