IlliniHQ.com Updates

[Podcast] SportsTalk with Steve Kelly: 11-20-09

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:16:15 CST

Steve Kelly and Loren Tate get you ready for the weekend.

[News] Weber on his daughter, Bertrand's injury, Tuesday's late start

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:03:54 CST

— Bruce Weber spent part of Friday at Winnetka New Trier. He wasn't recruiting, but watching his daughter Emily represent Centennial at the IHSA diving championships. The senior's score of 282.40 made her one of 12 divers to qualify for Saturday's state final.

— Weber anticipates "another two or three weeks" before Joseph Bertrand (knee) can return to practice.

[News] Destiny Williams will ...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:24:04 CST

Destiny Williams will ...

[News] Asmussen's All-Big Ten thoughts

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:16:24 CST

College football beat writer Bob Asmussen's best Illini bets for the All-Big Ten team, which will be announced Monday.

[News] 5 O'Clock Shadow

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:51:21 CST

News you can't leave work without:

An Erin Andrews update.

[Chat] Illinois women's basketball chat: 1 p.m., Friday

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 CST

Talk to Illinois women's basketball beat writer Tony Bleill.

[News] For UI basketball fans, waiting is the hardest part

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 CST

After routs of SIUE and NIU, Illinois on Saturday hosts ... Presbyterian College. But there are a few challenges awaiting the Illini. Beat writer Paul Klee examines when Illinois will dive into the deep end of its pre-Big Ten schedule

Utah: Losing money at the blackjack tables is a bigger concern.

[News] Langley in All-American Classic

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:22:51 CST

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois junior Scott Langley will become the first Illini golfer to compete in the Western Refining All-American Golf Classic. The tournament, which includes 32 All-Americans from the 2008-09 season, begins Sunday at the El Paso (Texas) Country Club. The event began in 1974, and past champions include Tiger Woods, Davis Love III and David Duval.

[News] Tate: Getting in early pays for Weber

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:32:20 CST

CHAMPAIGN – Recruiting down to the wire against national basketball powerhouses hasn't proven beneficial for Illini coach Bruce Weber.

Sometimes it almost seems like drawing to a four-card flush against a pat hand. Imagine the lost hours in the futile quests – just to name a few – for Jon Scheyer, Julian Wright, Iman Shumpert, Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, Evan Turner, Sherron Collins, Darius Miller and Dar Tucker.

[Podcast] SportsTalk with Steve Kelly: 11-19-09

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:15:56 CST

Steve Kelly is joined by Marcus Jackson from the News-Gazette to talk High School Football and Jim Sheppard is in studio as well.

[News] 5 O'Clock Shadow

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:59:38 CST

News you can't leave work without:

Illinois is in danger of failing to place a player on the All-Big Ten first team for the first time since 2005.

[News] Last call for Presbyterian tickets

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:42:27 CST

We've got two to give away to Saturday's men's basketball game against Presbyterian. I'll draw a winner first thing in the morning.

[News] Media notes: Destiny Williams and All-Big Ten teams

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:12:41 CST

— With both the Illinois men's basketball team and the football team playing Friday, Voice of the Illini BRIAN BARNHART won't be able to broadcast both events. Barnhart will work the Illinois-Cincinnati football game with KURT KITTNER and STEVE KELLY. DAVE LOANE will work the Illinois men's basketball games in Las Vegas with JERRY HESTER.

[Chat] Fred Kroner's prep sports chat: 12:30 p.m. Thursday

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:00 CST

Talk to News-Gazette prep sports coordinator Fred Kroner

[Chat] Voice of the Illini chat: 11 a.m. Thursday

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:00 CST

Talk to the Voice of the Illini Brian Barnhart

[News] Cincy quarterback in hot water

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:45:00 CST

CINCINNATI — A judge is warning Cincinnati sophomore quarterback Zach Collaros that he could be spending the postseason on the bench — in jail.

Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bochard told Collaros he must complete a court-ordered program on the dangers of underage drinking by Dec. 7. Or he could face up to 180 days in jail.

[News] Wacaser indicted

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:37:12 CST

PEORIA — A once-popular basketball talent analyst with a history of robbery and theft has been indicted by a federal grand jury for bank robbery again.

Stephen D. Wacaser, 57, no address available, was indicted Wednesday for the Oct. 19 robbery of the Regions Bank in Decatur and the Oct. 20 robbery of the Illini Bank in Sherman.

[News] Branden Dawson on the rise

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:29:00 CST

Branden Dawson is now a consensus top-25 player in his class (No. 16 on Rivals.com and No. 21 on Scout.com). He averaged 16.7 points and 15.5 rebounds as a sophomore.

Dawson's blend of size and what what his coach calls "extreme" athleticism has high-majors constantly dialing his number. Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota, Georgetown and UCLA have extended scholarship offers, while Illinois, Butler, Ohio State, USC, Xavier and Butler have also shown high interest.

[News] YouTube and the Illini

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:00 CST

Twice a week, we'll spotlight an Illini-related video on YouTube.

Today: Jim Heffernan

[News] Replacement Blinn steps out, steps up

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:45:11 CST

CHAMPAIGN – With injured freshman Amber Moore out for the season, Illinois sophomore Macie Blinn's perimeter shooting will be squarely in the spotlight for the UI's women's basketball team.

Blinn made the most of Moore's absence in Wednesday's lopsided win against Central Michigan, hitting her first three shots from beyond the three-point arc and finishing with 12 points. She was 4 of 7 on threes.