Published by Champaign Multimedia Group
College basketball beat writer and AP voter Scott Richey weighs in on the sports he loves with insight on Illini basketball.
Listen on Apple Podcasts34 min
Illinois will close out its summer workouts this week. With the new school year is just around the corner we quizzed beat writer Scott Richey on all things Illinois basketball, including the state of this year's team, what's next for some former players and a diversion into the music world with a Meyers Leonard concert coming to Champaign next month. All that and more highlights this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
32 min
Brad Underwood has plenty going on to make him happy as summer nears its unofficial end. Stefan Vaaks is back and getting reacclimated with his teammates. Andrej Stojakovic is healthy again. Important steps toward locking in on the court. Off the court, Illinois is bringing in more money courtesy of a $30 million jersey sponsorship deal that could help Underwood pay for future rosters. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses all that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
30 min
The dean of Big Ten sportswriters and a U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Famer, News-Gazette columnist Loren Tate is as high on Brad Underwood's program as anyone around. The man behind 'Tatelines' joins Inside Illini Basketball to explain his optimism — and revisit the aftermath of the Illini's three most recent Final Four appearances.
35 min
Las Vegas has become the center of the basketball world. Particularly this past weekend with NBA Summer League ongoing and Nike taking its EBYL circuit to the desert. Both had plenty of Illinois-centric storylines between a dozen former Illinois standouts (short timers included) playing in Summer League and several recruiting targets to watch among Nike's best. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses all that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
33 min
That's "slam dunk" in Estonian, and adding the Tabasalu native out of the transfer portal was exactly that for Illinois this offseason. Vaaks fits the mold Brad Underwood prefers with positional size and shooting and no glaring gap in his overall skill set. A combination that's worked well for the Estonian national team this month and projects to be a big deal in Champaign for the 2026-27 season. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses Vaaks, NBA Summer League and recruiting in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
34 min
Workouts continue for Illinois, with the whole team save for Stefan Vaaks (back in Estonia for World Cup qualifiers) on campus and putting in the summer grind. David Mirkovic has been among the summer standouts — both on the court and for his work with strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses the goings on at Ubben, the NBA draft and Summer League opportunities in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
34 min
This is a big week for Illinois with Keaton Wagler (and maybe Kylan Boswell) in the 2026 NBA Draft and the second week of summer workouts underway at Ubben Basketball Complex. Lottery pick. Reports of an impressive 2026-27 team in Champaign. Things really are coming up Illinois. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more, including some recruting tidbits, in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
35 min
Roster retention put Illinois in position to be considered one of the top teams in the country heading into the 2026-27 season. But there are still roles to fill in the rotation, including a rather notable Keaton Wagler-sized hole. Figuring out a familiar, but still semi-new look roster and rotation will be priority No. 1 with summer workouts underway this month. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
35 min
Quentin Coleman was the most consistent player on the court for Team USA during its entire FIBA U18 AmeriCup run and the only American to make the All-Star Five. The one nitpick? It only came with a silver medal. But Coleman's performance in Leon, Mexico, further strengthened the idea he can be an impact player for Illinois as a true freshman in 2026-27. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
34 min
Illinois was a clear winner following the NBA draft early entrant withdrawal deadline. Andrej Stojakovic's return to Champaign for the 2026-27 season — full retention — raises Illinois' floor and ceiling. It's not crazy to think about Detroit and another Final Four. Maybe even that elusive national championship. Even in June. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball.
38 min
Illinois coach Brad Underwood joins our Scott Richey for another milestone episode of Inside Illini Basketball and a wide-ranging conversation that hit on the Final Four run, building the 2026-27 roster, Underwood's contract extension and the growth of college basketball.
32 min
The NBA draft is less than two months away, with Keaton Wagler still projected as a high lottery pick. Brad Underwood is in line for a contract extension and raise (and so is his coaching staff). Several Illinois players could have national team opportunities around the world. Everything's coming up Illinois, and beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
33 min
This week is an important one for Illinois' Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic with the NBA draft combine . Beat writer Scott Richey will eventually join them in Chicago, but until then he breaks down all things draft related to the likely lottery pick and the other two trying to improve their stock in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
33 min
Beat writer Scott Richey answers a series of questions during this week's Inside Illini Basketball, including the NBA draft future for a trio of Illinois standouts, where David Mirkovic ranks among the best players in the Big Ten heading into the 2026-27 season and just how may two-pointers Jake Davis might make next year.
31 min
Keaton Wagler projects as a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Kylan Boswell could go from Champaign to the league if his second-round projection holds. Andrej Stojakovic is testing the draft waters. Illinois sending guards to the NBA has become a trend, and Ayo Dosunmu is making an even bigger name for himself this month in the playoffs. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses the draft, recruiting and what's next for the 2026-27 team in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
32 min
Last week solidified Illinois as legitimate contender as the preseason No. 1 team in the country. Retention was the offseason priority in Champaign, and Brad Underwood and Co. were able to follow through by bringing back everyone possible from last season's Final Four rotation except for NBA-bound Keaton Wagler. Add in Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks and an intriguing five-man freshman class, and Illinois is in as good a position as its been as a program in decades. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
33 min
A newsworthy weekend jumpstarted Illinois' offseason, with one expected goodbye (Keaton Wagler to the NBA), a major transfer addition (Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks) and two Balkans hitting the portal (Mihailo Petrovic and Toni Bilic). Brad Underwood and Co. are still waiting for the most important offseason news, however, with retention still priority No. 1 in running back as much of the Final Four roster as possible. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
32 min
The transfer portal officially opens April 7 even if hundreds of players have already made their intentions to leave their current college basketball home clear. The better to be tampered with, of course. But the best case scenario for Illinois might be to only have to dabble in the portal. Retention is at the top of Brad Underwood and Co.'s to do list, starting with a guy like David Mirkovic and including several rotation players. Mix in some intriguing incoming freshmen, a portal addition and perhaps another international player, and the 2026-27 roster could be set. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
31 min
Illinois is back in the Final Four for the first time in 21 years with a team that has as good a chance to win the whole thing as any that will make their way to Indianapolis this weekend. An All-American point guard. Multiple stretch bigs. A couple of slashers. Not to mention a defense improving at exactly the right time. Beat writer Scott Richey, who has chronicled every moment of the NCAA tournament so far, recaps the trip to Houston and looks ahead to what Illinois has to do leave Indianapolis a champion in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.
31 min
Illinois is back in the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years after romping its way through two rounds in Greenville, S.C. Next up? A Sweet 16 showdown with Houston ... in Houston. A challenge for Kylan Boswell and Co., but one that can be cleared as one of the best offenses in the country squares off against one of the best defenses. Exactly the kind of matchup you want at this stage of the NCAA tournament. And with a win? Illinois has a real path to Indianapolis. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.