Illini learning to 'feed the studs'

CHAMPAIGN | When Paul Petrino arrived nine months ago as Illinois' new offensive coordinator, he said his overriding philosophy hinged on a concept he calls, "feed the studs."

Koenning feeling like the right guy for Illini

CHAMPAIGN | Illinois has spent a good deal of time trying to find stability and success with its defensive coordinator position and perhaps only now -- when pushed into a corner to locate a solution -- have they got it right.

Illini wary of MAC power

CHAMPAIGN | If you're watching the NCAA Tournament this weekend, you're well aware that on Thursday, an amazing day of basketball, 14th-seeded Ohio made No. 3 seed Georgetown look literally defenseless.

Burst bubble

CHAMPAIGN | Illinois' basketball bubble burst Sunday evening when it failed to get one of the 65 invitations issued for the NCAA tournament.

The Illini finally show some fight in win over Michigan

CHAMPAIGN | Juice Williams said without hesitation it was the play of the game.

Illini fired up day after rallying past NU

CHAMPAIGN | Normally, after a mid-winter basketball game in Evanston, the Illini basketball team would be lulled to sleep rather quickly on the late-night bus ride back to Champaign.

Illini's Davis tops Big Ten rebounding list

Back when he was still part of the big picture, those of us watching early Illini basketball practices came away shaking our heads.

Little explanation for terrible Illini outing

CHAMPAIGN | The Illini basketball analysts and over-analysts were hard at work Friday, acting like the investigators from CSI who sort through the bloody evidence looking to find a bone fragment, stray fingerprint or broken jump shot.

Illini coach Zook finds generals for his trenches

CHAMPAIGN | It didn't take Illini football coach Ron Zook long to fill out the rest of his coaching staff.

Illini face tough road challenge in East Lansing

EAST LANSING, Mich. | Once Michigan State won the national championship in 2000, that set the gold standard for any Tom Izzo-coached basketball team.

Illinois simply clobbers Indiana in men's hoops

CHAMPAIGN | Through the years, fans have come to expect tense, emotional Illinois-Indiana basketball games, some of which aren't decided until the last shot is in the air.

Illini to honor 1984 Big Ten champs

CHAMPAIGN | If the Illini basketball team needs any extra motivation for today's game against Indiana, coach Bruce Weber hopes it's the presence of former stars like Derek Harper, Efrem Winters and Bruce Douglas.

New Illini coach has a full plate

CHAMPAIGN | If it happened one year ago, there might be a feeling of panic surrounding the Illini football program.

Illini's Davis declares for NFL Draft

CHAMPAIGN | Vontae Davis spent the past three years chasing receivers, ball carries and Illini football success.

Illini hoping to spoil Hawaii's trip

CHAMPAIGN | Ah, Hawaii.

Illini head to United Center to face Georgia

CHICAGO | Illinois and Georgia, two teams trying to climb back up the college basketball mountain, meet today at the United Center.

Tough shot better than none at all

CHAMPAIGN | The more you watch the final play in Illinois' 76-74 loss to Clemson on Tuesday, the more you wonder what thoughts were ricocheting through the noggin of point guard Demetri McCamey.

Illini fail to get a shot against Clemson

CHAMPAIGN | Down by two and the outcome of an exciting, emotional game hanging in the balance, a number of last-second plays could have given an Assembly Hall crowd one final, gut-wrenching explosion

Illini football team scrambling to go bowling

CHAMPAIGN | Given all the frustration, disappointment and regret this fall, it hardly seems possible this Illini football team could be rewarded with a trip to a bowl game.

Illini football team continues to give games away

CHAMPAIGN | When the post-mortem for this 2008 Illini football team is written, a slew factors will be blamed for its rather disappointing journey.

Weber puts his stamp on Illini recruiting

CHAMPAIGN | The public perception is that the resuscitation of Illinois' basketball recruiting efforts began the minute Jerrance Howard was hired as an assistant basketball coach.

Injury to H-F's Fulton adds to Illini offensive line's issues

CHAMPAIGN | Many teams would dread thinking about ways to stop Ohio State running back Beanie Wells and ever-improving freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Illinois players being challenged already

CHAMPAIGN | Many fans might not think crispness of play in exhibition games is all that important.

Illini delivering hits, even to themselves

CHAMPAIGN | Illini safety Donsay Hardeman's vicious hit that sprawled Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki was so wicked it already has its own place on youtube.com.

Western Michigan up next for Illinois football team

CHAMPAIGN | While preparing for Iowa, the Illini football players talked about a bitter, long-standing rivalry that automatically inspires motivation.

Illini's Zook not a happy man

CHAMPAIGN | In his four seasons as head football coach at Illinois, the most shaken I've ever seen Ron Zook was on Nov. 19, 2005.

Zook frustrated with recent loss

CHAMPAIGN | If you're forming a fan club of honked off Illinois football fans, you might give Ron Zook a call.

Illini head to tough Madison environment

CHAMPAIGN | The way Ron Zook sees it, the University of Wisconsin football team is a wounded animal that would like nothing more than to take a giant bite out of anyone in an enemy uniform.

Illinois' Benn can take a hit

A stubborn unwillingness to be tackled is about the finest trait a football player can have.

Illini need to regroup after giving away game to Gophers

CHAMPAIGN | In the course of a football game, think about the value of an offensive possession.

Illini hope to rebound after loss to Gophers

CHAMPAIGN | Before the season began, coach Ron Zook said he felt Illinois would be a better football team than the one that made it all the way to the Rose Bowl last season.

Zook makes a plea to Illini fans

CHAMPAIGN | In case the Illini offense and defense are not enough for Saturday's homecoming football game against Minnesota, coach Ron Zook is asking for reinforcements.

Illinois football takes on Michigan at the Big House

CHAMPAIGN | When it's working the way Rich Rodriguez wants it to, Michigan's version of the spread offense will chew up the yards and spit out the points.

Big Ten title is for taking, but do Illini want it?

The way the Big Ten Conference football season started Saturday, there's no telling who might win the title.

Illini's goals still within reach

CHAMPAIGN | If you walked through the Illini football schedule before the season began, it wouldn't have been difficult to circle games against Missouri and Penn State as likely losses.

Illini football prepares for a most-important game

The Illini football players are calling it "The Big Stage," as though they'll be sharing the spotlight with rock legend Bruce Springsteen tonight in Central Pennsylvania.

Illini need to improve, in a hurry

CHAMPAIGN | It would have been a useful gesture if the University of Illinois had given snooze alarms to the first 20,000 fans entering Memorial Stadium last Saturday.

Illini have 'state of the union' talk

CHAMPAIGN | In trying to figure out where minor misfires have cost the Illini football team crisp play the past two weeks, coach Ron Zook has gone to his team with the simplest of pleas: Give us your best and we'll ask for no more.

Cajuns on schedule to face Illini

CHAMPAIGN | Feeling that the threat of Hurricane Ike has lessened, the Louisiana-Lafayette football team will stick to its normal travel routine and depart for Illinois on Friday.

Illini to play in 'new' Memorial Stadium today

CHAMPAIGN | To be honest, the place is still a mess.

Signs point toward a 9-3 Illini record this season

CHAMPAIGN | Historically, guessing how the University of Illinois football team might perform has been a matter of expecting the unexpected.

Guenther's state of the Illini address

CHAMPAIGN | He sometimes finds himself staring at Memorial Stadium, consumed by the proud feeling that a an exciting product on the field has finally converged with a stunning stadium renovation, fulfilling the long-standing dream of a man who 42 years ago was the University of Illinois foot…

In Illini country, people want a winner

RANTOUL | Young people with big dreams are trudging through football practices around the country right now, some of them pros, some in college, others dreaming of becoming a hero in the halls of their high school.

Illini's Mendenhall in a 'good fit'

The ESPN cameras showed Rashard Mendenhall jammed into a booth at the House of Blues in Chicago's Loop looking alternately giddy and concerned.

Zook sees signs of progress with Illini

COLLEGE FOOTBALL | COMMENTARY

Interest in Illini football is growing

CHAMPAIGN | For years, March and April were months to talk about the University of Illinois basketball season just concluded and dream about Illini basketball seasons to come.

Juice Williams is growing up

CHAMPAIGN | Exciting new recruits have arrived. Veteran players are bigger and stronger. Some have switched positions. An Illini football team fresh off its Rose Bowl appearance is getting ready again.

Illini head to a critical offseason

CHAMPAIGN | As the Bruce Weber plots a comeback from a dismal University of Illinois men's basketball season, he is looking for a no-nonsense, crack-the-whip mentality in the gym this summer.