Wisch: Who Are The Illini? We're About To Find Out
Over the next three weeks, Illinois faces five opponents with a combined record of 78-15. Four of them are currently ranked among the Top 15 teams in the country.
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Over the next three weeks, Illinois faces five opponents with a combined record of 78-15. Four of them are currently ranked among the Top 15 teams in the country.
For Cubs fans, it's time to convene. But for the Cubs? Well, apparently, it's time to count beans.
From the get-go, the names fit like a small-sized helmet on an XL-sized head. Awkwardly. And now, it's time for the Big Ten to send "Legends" and "Leaders" on their way. Mercifully.
The Fighting Illini are an imperfect basketball team.
But then there's the University of Illinois, the sadsack program of the prairie whose last three head football coaches can now be found at Florida International University (Ron Turner), the University of Buffalo (Lou Tepper) and, well, the coaching unemployment line (Ron Zook).
Is Nick Saban worth a look?
Keep your wits about yourself, Illini Nation.
This week, Ditka's comments about Smith's firing got me curious about how "Da Coach" fared against winning teams during his coaching career with the Bears. Additionally, I wondered how the coaches in between Ditka and Lovie – Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron – held against top competition during their time in Chicago.
Kirk Herbstreit might want to shoo them out of South Beach, but the Northern Illinois Huskies will nevertheless be playing in a BCS game tonight when they butt helmets with Florida State during the 2013 Orange Bowl.
There are more than 20,000 seats inside the United Center.
When it comes to college football, the state of Illinois has an attendance deficit.
asher and Dancer. Cookies and milk. Mistle and toe. The Bulls and the Knicks. Yes, some things just seem to go together on Christmas.
Come this evening in front of a rabid crowd in St. Louis, Illinois will defend its border against Missouri during the two schools' annual Braggin' Rights game.
Such is the Catch-22 of the situation that the Cubs have put themselves – and their overpaying, overly patient fans – in thanks to the path that Theo & Co. have embarked upon.
The future of Notre Dame's athletic programs – despite the football team's current success – has never been less stable, or clear.
With an 11-0 record and a Top 10 ranking, Illinois basketball appears to be back. But the Illinois basketball crowds? Well, they're not.
With no games scheduled until Monday, the Northwestern basketball team is taking a break this week. But here in the meantime, what I'm wondering is if the Northwestern basketball program will ever decide to break away from coach Bill Carmody.
Since the Bears traded for Cutler before the 2009 season, Lovie Smith's overall record is 34-27 for a winning percentage of .557, which is actually a drop off compared to his 45-35 record (.563) B.C. (Before Cutler).
Minnesota. The Chicago YMCA. Rose Polytechnic Institute. Minnesota again. The Evanston YMCA. Wisconsin. Millikin. Butler. DePaul. Wisconsin again. Houston. Arizona State. Furman. Louisville. North Carolina. … And Gonzaga?
How such numbers factor into the Bears' decision about whether to bring Smith back for 2013 isn't known, but what's clear is how Smith's career record looks under a magnifying glass. Not good.
Attendance certainly didn't improve markedly this past weekend. Rather, it sunk startlingly.
He's three inches shorter, five pounds lighter and unlikely to be named National Player of the Year (or go No. 2 in the NBA Draft), but that doesn't mean Brandon Paul can't still pull an Evan Turner this season.
When the Chicago Cubs, coming off their 104th year of championship futility topped by 101-loss cherry, probably inspire more hope and interest than your football program does, you know you have a problem.
Ex-Cub Ron Santo finally got into the Hall of Fame this past summer. Ex-Cub Greg Maddux will easily get into the Hall of Fame in the summer of 2014. And Ex-Cub Lee Smith will surely get into the Hall of Fame …
Last week, I canvassed a swath of Illini Nation via Twitter and Facebook, asking for suggestions about how the state's flagship school could better connect with fans – both existing and prospective ones – in the city.
It's looking increasingly likely that Illinois voters will not see an amendment about creating a "millionaire tax" on the ballot in November.
Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 for their third win in four games.
The CTA is halting trains on its Red, Yellow, and Purple lines on the North Side after a train derailed near the Howard terminal during the Thursday evening rush.
A Chicago area woman has turned her moments of sadness and joy into a one-person play that gives back to those battling dementia.
There are 22 city of Chicago crews out on our roads filling potholes across the city day in and day out.
It's looking increasingly likely that Illinois voters will not see an amendment about creating a "millionaire tax" on the ballot in November.
The Justice Department's internal watchdog said it will audit the department's compliance with the law that required the release of the Epstein files.
President Trump intends to nominate David Cummins to lead the Transportation Security Administration, according to a person familiar with the decision.
The order places FDA-approved products containing marijuana and state-regulated medical marijuana products at a lower drug classification.
The Senate adopted a budget resolution after a six-hour "vote-a-rama," with the GOP moving forward to fund ICE without Democrats.
In the legal venue of anti-trust enforcement, the state is not taking on the Trump administration, but rather filling a void that state officials say the Trump administration has vacated.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Chicago has been charged with making a false bomb threat that forced an emergency landing at Detroit Metro Airport last month, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Skyrocketing property taxes continue to be a hot-button issue in Cook County — particularly since last fall, when many residents saw their tax bills increase by 100% or more.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias this weekend issued a warning about a surge in text messages that falsely claim to come from his office or the DMV within it.
Tenants at a South Loop luxury high-rise that has been plagued with problems like broken elevators are vowing to fight five-day eviction notices.
A new $48 million wellness center opened Thursday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. The goal is to improve the health and quality of life for people on the West Side of Chicago.
La Rabida Children's Hospital went all out for Earth Day on Wednesday, with volunteer cleanup efforts by staffers and activities for patients and families.
It has been several weeks since West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois, abruptly shut down — and then on Wednesday, it just as swiftly partially reopened, with some services available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 80% of deaths related to pregnancy are preventable, and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
The United States has long struggled with understanding and finding ways to help treat mental illness. A new documentary, which is screening Saturday in Chicago, examines the reality of living with mental illness in America.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Lincolnwood Village Board approved a pre-development agreement with the mall, providing a roadmap with the property owner for further preparations and government approvals for redevelopment.
The only remaining location of Pal Joey's pizzeria in Batavia, Illinois, will soon be going out of business, its owner announced this week.
Investment research firm Morningstar could move into the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago once Google is done renovating the former Illinois state government building.
Trader Joe's is planning to open a new location at the Lincoln Village Shopping Center in Chicago's North Park neighborhood, the office of Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) recently announced.
The satirical news outlet The Onion has a new plan to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars platforms and turn them into parodies.
Tickets for the 2026 Ravinia Festival season went on sale Thursday morning.
The satirical news outlet The Onion has a new plan to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars platforms and turn them into parodies.
Emily Saliers, one-half of the Atlanta folk duo The Indigo Girls, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with two incurable movement disorders that will forever change the way that she sings.
Blues icon and world music pioneer Taj Mahal will be headlining the Chicago Blues Festival this June.
The United States has long struggled with understanding and finding ways to help treat mental illness. A new documentary, which is screening Saturday in Chicago, examines the reality of living with mental illness in America.
The CTA is halting trains on its Red, Yellow, and Purple lines on the North Side after a train derailed near the Howard terminal during the Thursday evening rush.
Hyde Park is one of Chicago's most iconic neighborhoods. Nestled on the city's South Side, it's the birthplace of improv comedy and the company now known as The Second City, is home to Promontory Point, is the neighborhood where Barack Obama got his political start (and where the rock commemorating his and Michelle's first kiss can be found), and where the Atomic Age was birthed under the University of Chicago football stadium. And of course, its crown jewel is the University of Chicago itself, one of the country's most prestigious and storied universities. U of C isn't just known for its stellar academics and the dozens of notable figures its produced; it's also a founding Big 10 school and the "Monsters of the Midway" nickname? Yeah, the Bears stole that from them.
Scattered showers and storms overnight Thursday into Friday. Lows in the low 60s.
The National Guard is sending 150 troops to southeast Georgia to help with raging wildfires.
Following a second round of peace talks at the White House, the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by three weeks. Meantime, peace talks between Iran and the U.S. remain stalled, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
The man killed in a Little Village shooting Wednesday was a well-known neighborhood fruit vendor with a wife and baby who were just steps away when gunfire erupted, neighbors said.
The CTA is halting trains on its Red, Yellow, and Purple lines on the North Side after a train derailed near the Howard terminal during the Thursday evening rush.
A man was injured Thursday morning in an apparent road rage shooting near Union Station in Chicago.
It's looking increasingly likely that Illinois voters will not see an amendment about creating a "millionaire tax" on the ballot in November.
Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 for their third win in four games.
There are 22 city of Chicago crews out on our roads filling potholes across the city day in and day out.
Michaels spent years as an advocate for sexual assault survivors, putting pressure on Congress and speaking out on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein survivors, like herself.
Residents in one part of Chicago's Noble Square neighborhood say they've been dealing with cars careening off the Kennedy Expressway and crashing into their front yard for decades, and the state won't help.
Madeline Morgan said she was repeatedly stalked and abused, even though the man responsible was forced to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, which was cut off.
Chicago deals with the worst traffic congestion in the U.S., according to the 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard from INRIX, a transportation analytics company.
Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Chicago White Sox over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 for their third win in four games.
Dansby Swanson had his first game-ending hit in five years, and the Chicago Cubs rebounded from a pair of blown leads to beat Philadelphia 8-7 in 10 innings for their ninth straight win and the Phillies' ninth loss in a row.
A year after his passing, the late Chicago Bears legend Steve "Mongo" McMichael is being honored for advancing CTE research.
Here is what to know about where and when to watch the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cubs have outscored their opponents 58-20 during the franchise's longest win streak since it also won eight in a row from July 21-29, 2023.
The family of a 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed while waiting for the bus near Hyde Park Academy High School said they believe the shooting was sparked by a minor argument earlier in the day at school.
A woman was ordered detained Thursday on charges that she shot and wounded three men on busy Irving Park Road in the Chicago neighborhood of the same name earlier this month.
A lockdown was lifted at Evanston Township High School on Thursday afternoon, after shots were fired at a park near the school.
Matthew Keirans used William Woods's identity for decades, then manipulated police into prosecuting Woods, who spent 428 days in jail and 147 days in a mental hospital before DNA evidence proved his innocence.
Chicago police are searching for a man wanted in an act of public indecency on a CTA 'L' train in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
