Latest news with #FightingIllini
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin football loses top class of 2026 target to a familiar Big Ten rival
Wisconsin football top class of 2026 target, defensive lineman King Liggins, committed to play for Bret Bielema and Illinois on Wednesday. Liggins chose the Fighting Illini over the Badgers, who were his only other finalist. Advertisement 247Sports lists the Chicago, Illinois, native as a three-star recruit, ranked specifically as the No. 910 player in the class of 2026, the No. 92 defensive lineman and the No. 21 recruit from his home state. The service lists a busy official visit schedule, with completed trips to Iowa on April 4, Illinois on April 11 and Wisconsin on April 23, plus upcoming trips to Purdue on May 23, Rutgers on June 6 and Virginia on June 12. Of course, that schedule may now change after his pledge to the Illini. Liggins joins an Illinois class of 2026 that sat No. 12 nationally before his commitment. That ranking is sure to rise once his addition is accounted for. Wisconsin's class of 2026, meanwhile, is down at No. 43 nationally with seven players committed. The class is far below Illinois' at this stage of the recruiting cycle, though much can still change with the official visit season set to heat up at the end of the month. In a vacuum, Wisconsin saw one of its high-priority targets commit to a Big Ten rival. Not only that, but he chose a neighboring program that is currently led by one of the program's former coaches. Advertisement That program, Illinois, is projected to continue its historic run in 2025. The team returns most of its production from a 2024 group that finished a program-best 10-3, plus it is set to face the easiest schedule in the conference. Bielema has done well in capitalizing on that on-field momentum on the recruiting trail. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is looking for a bounce-back campaign after a disappointing 5-7 finish to the 2024 season. It is also still in search of much-needed momentum on the class of 2026 recruiting trail. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football recruiting target King Liggins commits to Illinois
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football loses top class of 2026 target to a familiar Big Ten rival
Wisconsin football loses top class of 2026 target to a familiar Big Ten rival Wisconsin football top class of 2026 target, defensive lineman King Liggins, committed to play for Bret Bielema and Illinois on Wednesday. Liggins chose the Fighting Illini over the Badgers, who were his only other finalist. 247Sports lists the Chicago, Illinois, native as a three-star recruit, ranked specifically as the No. 910 player in the class of 2026, the No. 92 defensive lineman and the No. 21 recruit from his home state. The service lists a busy official visit schedule, with completed trips to Iowa on April 4, Illinois on April 11 and Wisconsin on April 23, plus upcoming trips to Purdue on May 23, Rutgers on June 6 and Virginia on June 12. Of course, that schedule may now change after his pledge to the Illini. Liggins joins an Illinois class of 2026 that sat No. 12 nationally before his commitment. That ranking is sure to rise once his addition is accounted for. Wisconsin's class of 2026, meanwhile, is down at No. 43 nationally with seven players committed. The class is far below Illinois' at this stage of the recruiting cycle, though much can still change with the official visit season set to heat up at the end of the month. In a vacuum, Wisconsin saw one of its high-priority targets commit to a Big Ten rival. Not only that, but he chose a neighboring program that is currently led by one of the program's former coaches. That program, Illinois, is projected to continue its historic run in 2025. The team returns most of its production from a 2024 group that finished a program-best 10-3, plus it is set to face the easiest schedule in the conference. Bielema has done well in capitalizing on that on-field momentum on the recruiting trail. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is looking for a bounce-back campaign after a disappointing 5-7 finish to the 2024 season. It is also still in search of much-needed momentum on the class of 2026 recruiting trail. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MEN'S COLLEGE GOLF: Illini extend lead
URBANA — Illinois men's golf coach Mike Small said on Monday a good team will have different players stepping up at different times. After senior Jackson Buchanan shot a course-record 8-under 63 in Monday's first round, the No. 14-rated Fighting Illini got a 4-under 67 on Tuesday from junior Ryan Voois as they extended their team lead to three shots over No. 2 Oklahoma State, who shot a 9-under 275 on Tuesday, and No. 35 UNLV at the Atkins Golf Club. Advertisement Illinois enters today's final round at 10-under 558, while Oklahoma State and UNLV are at 7-under 561 and rounding out the top-five are No. 23 Texas Tech at 2-under 566 and Troy at 1-under 567. But even with a lead, the Danville native Small wants to see more from his Fighting Illini. "We need tp continue to get some depth,'' he said. "Jackson was 8-under on Monday and our team was 7-under. Ryan shot 4-under and as a team we were 3-under. We need to be deeper and more steady if we are going to do something next week.'' While Illinois hasn't exactly secured a spot in the NCAA Championship beginning May 23 at La Costa Golf Club in Carlsbad, Calif., his team is 14 shots ahead of sixth-place Marquette at 4-over 572. Advertisement Small isn't even thinking about that. He wants the NCAA Regional title. "We are here to win this thing. There is a chance that we may not qualify. There is a chance that we may win it. Our goal is to go out tomorrow and play from strength and move up the leaderboard,'' he said. "This program never looks behind us on the leaderboard. We never look down. We talk about that the first day of practice, the first week in the fall — we always look up. We are always chasing something. "If we are in the front, we are going after the lead. We are not looking behind us and playing scared, timid golf. I don't like that. Fearful golf is the most unpleasant way to play this game.'' Caden Fioroni of UNLV holds the individual lead after 36 holes with a score of 7-under 135, while Buchanan and Michigan's Hunter Thompson are tied for second at 6-under 136. Advertisement A big boost in the Illinois score on Tuesday came from freshman Trey Marrion, who was subbed into the lineup after the first round to post a 1-under 70. "We are a team of six,'' said Small, as Illinois can only play five golfers in a round. "Sometimes, a change just arises. He played solid all day. "Tournaments are not just one round.'' The third and final round will begin at 8 a.m. today with Illinois, Oklahoma State and UNLV paired together for the first five tee times off the first hole.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Illinois' Brad Underwood agrees to contract extension through 2031
Illinois has rewarded men's basketball coach Brad Underwood for five consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and six straight 20-win seasons with a three-year contract extension that takes him through the 2030-31 season. Athletic director Josh Whitman announced Tuesday that Underwood's new deal also boosts his salary to $4.4 million for the upcoming season. The extension, which must be approved by the school's Board of Trustees on May 22, also features annual retention bonuses (starting with $1.15 million on July 1, 2026), a one-time signing bonus and multiple performance bonuses. The 61-year-old Underwood has produced a 165-101 record (.620) in eight years at Illinois. The Fighting Illini are one of four Division I schools that enter the 2025-26 season with at least six consecutive 20-win regular seasons. The Illini also have won two Big Ten tournament titles (2021 and 2024) and the 2022 Big Ten regular-season crown during Underwood's tenure. The 2024 squad reached the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight - the program's deepest run since the 2005 team played in the NCAA championship game. "It remains an honor to serve as the head coach at the University of Illinois," Underwood said in a statement. "Every night when I walk out that State Farm Center tunnel and see the sold-out crowd and am greeted by the Orange Krush, I feel that I'm the most fortunate coach in all of college basketball. The tremendous passion of our fans is felt everywhere, both at home and on the road. The support we receive from our fans and donors is truly unmatched. I look forward to many more exciting years ahead as we all continue to work relentlessly in pursuing a national championship for the Fighting Illini." Once Underwood's new contract runs out in 2031, he'll have the opportunity to earn up to four one-year extensions based on the program's performance. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Illinois' Brad Underwood agrees to contract extension through 2031
May 14 - Illinois has rewarded men's basketball coach Brad Underwood for five consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and six straight 20-win seasons with a three-year contract extension that takes him through the 2030-31 season. Athletic director Josh Whitman announced Tuesday that Underwood's new deal also boosts his salary to $4.4 million for the upcoming season. The extension, which must be approved by the school's Board of Trustees on May 22, also features annual retention bonuses (starting with $1.15 million on July 1, 2026), a one-time signing bonus and multiple performance bonuses. The 61-year-old Underwood has produced a 165-101 record (.620) in eight years at Illinois. The Fighting Illini are one of four Division I schools that enter the 2025-26 season with at least six consecutive 20-win regular seasons. The Illini also have won two Big Ten tournament titles (2021 and 2024) and the 2022 Big Ten regular-season crown during Underwood's tenure. The 2024 squad reached the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight - the program's deepest run since the 2005 team played in the NCAA championship game. "It remains an honor to serve as the head coach at the University of Illinois," Underwood said in a statement. "Every night when I walk out that State Farm Center tunnel and see the sold-out crowd and am greeted by the Orange Krush, I feel that I'm the most fortunate coach in all of college basketball. The tremendous passion of our fans is felt everywhere, both at home and on the road. The support we receive from our fans and donors is truly unmatched. I look forward to many more exciting years ahead as we all continue to work relentlessly in pursuing a national championship for the Fighting Illini." Once Underwood's new contract runs out in 2031, he'll have the opportunity to earn up to four one-year extensions based on the program's performance. --Field Level Media
