News you can't leave work without:

Cubs rookie pitcher Randy Wells grew up an Illinois fan. On Feb. 6, the Belleville native will be surrounded by orange and blue as the marquee speaker at UI baseball's annual Hot Stove Banquet in C-U.

News you can't leave work without:

Former Central star Hope Elam shines at Indiana

Billy Gillispie guilty of driving under the influence

CHAMPAIGN – Shaun Pruitt wants to leap into the fire. Calvin Brock is content to simmer a while longer.

Illinois whipped Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 78-58 in Friday's exhibition opener at the Assembly Hall, but the story of the night was the divergent paths chosen by the Illini's freshman duo.

Each Monday, we'll introduce a team participating in the IlliniHQ Shootout at the Hall presented by State Farm Insurance, our annual boys' basketball extravaganza which this year takes place Dec. 12 at the Assembly Hall. Today: Champaign Central and recent Purdue recruit Jay Simpson

When was the last time the UI women's basketball team was ranked, and will it happen this season?

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Angela Bizzarri finished a career-high second at the Big Ten cross-country meet Sunday, leading a pack of four All-Big Ten runners and helping the Illini women to a runner-up finish.

Bizzarri, who became Illinois' first four-time All-Big Ten first-teamer, ran the 6-kilometer course in 20 minutes, 10 seconds.

Wes Haagensen is the latest former Illini gymnast to take his place on the sport's international stage. Following in the footsteps of 2008 Olympian and ex-teammate Justin Spring, Haagensen made his World Championships debut last month in London. One of six men's gymnasts to represent the U.S., Haagensen competed in two events. Although the six-time All-American did not advance to the finals – in the qualifying round, he placed 20th in still rings and 34th in pommel horse – Haagensen came away encouraged by the experience. News-Gazette staff writer Jeff Huth contacted Haagensen via e-mail while the two-time Big Ten champion was returning to the United States. Their question-and-answer exchange follows:

A football team that began the season firmly in the Top 25 conversation is limping along at 2-6.

A perennial NCAA tournament men's basketball program, infused with an exciting class of freshman talent, still is 12 days away from playing a game that actually counts.

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Top-seeded Marek Czerwinski of Illinois advanced to the third round of the Big Ten Indoor Championships tennis tournament with a pair of straight-set victories Saturday.
Czerwinski opened with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Michael Sicora of Minnesota. In the second round, the Illini senior defeated Gullaume St. Maurice of Penn State 6-3, 6-4. Czerwinski will face 14th-seeded Steven Williams of Ohio State today.
Illini junior Abe Souza also reached the third round, remaining in the winners’ bracket by rallying for an 0-6, 6-2, 6-1 win against Ronnie Hulewicz of Michigan State in the second round.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – No. 6 Illinois extended its winning streak to nine – its longest during the Big Ten race since 1992 – with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-14 victory against Purdue on Saturday.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Laura DeBruler had 20 kills and 10 digs, leading No. 6 Illinois to a 25-18, 25-17, 13-25, 26-28, 15-11 Big Ten volleyball victory against Indiana on Friday night.

The Illini (17-3 overall, 9-2 Big Ten) received 50 assists and 15 digs from Hillary Haen. Kylie McCulley chipped in with 16 kills and 10 digs, and teammate Ashley Edinger had 16 digs. Michelle Bartsch recorded 12 kills.

Proviso West receiver rated nation's No. 2 player by Rivals.com

AUGSBURG, Germany — Abby Wambach’s goal led the United States to a 1-0 victory against world champion Germany on Thursday in a women’s soccer friendly.
Wambach scored for the Olympic gold medalists in the 34th minute after capitalizing on a defensive mistake by the Germans.

Jenna Smith a unanimous preseason All-Big Ten pick

Staff writer Jeff Huth's review and preview of all things Illini:

The Philadelphia Phillies. That's what former Illini Darrin Fletcher is thinking. The pride of Oakwood High School, who played for the Phillies during a 14-year major league career, weighed in on the World Series, which starts Wednesday night:

Georgia small forward gives oral commitment to Illini

WINDERMERE, Fla. — Sixth-ranked Illinois finished ninth in the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational men’s golf tournament Tuesday.
The Illini shot a 10-over-par 298 in the final round for a 54-hole total of 901. Illinois finished 20 strokes behind team champion and top-ranked Oklahoma State but was within 5 strokes of fifth place.

The Illinois volleyball team rose two spots, to No. 6, in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll on Monday