MEN'S BASKETBALL: Michael Orris granted release from Illini

Crete-Monee senior guard Michael Orris was granted release of his letter of intent to the University of Illinois on Friday, according to his AAU coach Scott Lidskin.

Illini add assistants but short at back for bowl

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. | Illinois may be thin at running back for its New Year's Eve bowl game against UCLA.

UCLA women beat Illinois for NCAA volleyball title

SAN ANTONIO | Outside hitter Rachael Kidder had 20 kills and UCLA beat Illinois in the NCAA women's volleyball championship to give the Bruins their first title in two decades Saturday night.

Badgers refuse to look past faltering Illini

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. | Less than a month after a pair of losses scrambled their national title plans, No. 15 Wisconsin now is in line for a nice consolation prize: The Badgers have to win two games to make it to the first Big Ten title game.

Illini LB out for regular season with wounded hand

CHAMPAIGN |Illinois linebacker Trulon Henry will miss the rest of the regular season after he was shot in the hand during a shooting at a large house party near campus hours.

Marve scores in OT as Purdue knocks off Ohio State

Ohio State entered its game at Purdue on Saturday favored and on a hot streak, just like in 2009.

Wildcats set records in rout at Indiana

Northwestern played pinball with Indiana's defense on Saturday.

Illini's A.J. Jenkins leading U.S. in receiving

CHAMPAIGN | By the time the dark days of December 2009 rolled around, A.J. Jenkins had all but said goodbye to Illinois.

Illinois basketball starting over with young roster

CHAMPAIGN | Demetri McCamey is in Turkey, and Mike Davis is playing ball in the Ukraine. Illinois is figuring out how to replace the two key players from last year's team.

Munster grad helping to pace undefeated Illini

Anna Dorn has played for top-ranked club volleyball teams, on USA Volleyball teams that were ranked at the top in the world and on the Munster High School team when it was ranked No. 1 in the region.

VCU takes Smart approach in NCAA tournament against Purdue

Shaka Smart could have been an Ivy Leaguer. He was accepted at Harvard before deciding he'd be more comfortable at a small college in Ohio. Like most of his choices, it turned out to be a wise one.

Davis leads dominant Illini past UNLV

TULSA, Okla. | All those late-season struggles are behind Mike Davis and Illinois. The NCAA tournament is all that matters now.

Chesterton's Zack Novak sends Michigan to Big Ten semis with win over Illinois

INDIANAPOLIS | All week Zack Novak split his 1-and-1 free throws in practice.

Johnson, Moore lead No. 6 Purdue past Illinois in last home game

WEST LAFAYETTE | Minutes after No. 6 Purdue's 75-67 victory over Illinois, the band played a version of DJ Khaled's "All I Do is Win" before the school honored JaJuan Johnson and E.C. Central grad E'Twaun Moore on Senior Night.

Illinois holds off Iowa

CHAMPAIGN | Coming to Illinois on Saturday, Iowa couldn't have known what sort of secret weapon it would face as it tried to end a four-game losing streak and pop the Illini's NCAA tournament bubble.

Lighty, Buford take turns for Buckeyes in win

COLUMBUS, Ohio | For a half, David Lighty was almost invisible.

Illinois holds off Michigan charge

CHAMPAIGN | When the ball left Stu Douglass' hand, Illinois' Mike Davis was already dreading seeing where the Wolverine's shot would wind up.

Steelers' RB Mendenhall keeps 'em chuckling

PITTSBURGH | Rashard Mendenhall walks through the locker room singing out loud, stops to poke fun at a teammate, shares a few laughs with a team employee and settles near his locker.