Thompson: Illinois Is Missing 'It'
That 'it' is the toughness, leadership and fight that has been absent all season for the Fighting Illini. Tuesday night's 89-70 loss to Ohio State was another example of 'it' not being there.
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That 'it' is the toughness, leadership and fight that has been absent all season for the Fighting Illini. Tuesday night's 89-70 loss to Ohio State was another example of 'it' not being there.
The Fighting Illini still haven't secured a spot in the field of 68, and time is starting to become their enemy. A win over the No. 3 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes would definitely give them a boost they desperately need.
Illinois and Michigan State kept head-to-head from the moment the ball touched the court. That is until the final minutes. The Spartans broke away to defeat Illinois.
Come 8 p.m. on Sunday night, the Big Ten Network will unveil who's No. 2 in its months-long countdown of the Big Ten's 50 Greatest Icons – Illinois' Harold "Red" Grange or Michigan State's Earvin "Magic" Johnson – and, in turn, we'll also find out who's No. 1.
Illinois started strong when facing Michigan Wednesday night. When it came to the second half, coach Bruce Weber was getting nervous. Michigan had a strong push and the Illini only barely won.
The Illini aren't quite living up to expectations but coach Bruce Weber has a plan to fix the team's problems. The Athletic Director has confidence in Weber too.
WBBM Newsradio 780's John Cody talked with University of Illinois veterinary professor Tom Graves about the Scottish deerhound.
Illinois was just starting to turn things around after a slump and was dominating Purdue Sunday. The Boilermakers blew up the court scoring almost twice they did in the first half to shut Illinois down.
Illinois needed something to happen to turn their slump around. Coach Weber realized this and pushed his team to work on strengthening their weaknesses.
So, maybe this Bruce Weber guy can coach a little, after all. And perhaps Illini basketball isn't dead just yet.
Illinois has been struggling lately and coach Bruce Weber tried to correct that with a new lineup. Though it didn't seem to give the Illini much of an edge, it did launch them into a victory over Minnesota.
The Illinois Fighting Illini started the season strong, but has recently lost their edge. Coach Bruce Weber knows the talent is their, all that seems to be missing is some leadership and toughness in his players.
Well, tonight is it for Illinois basketball. At least, if you ask Mike Tisdale.
The Fighting Illini's Demetri McCamey has been named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award for the nation's best point guard.
The Northwestern Wildcats snapped a three-game losing streak, taking a big early lead over Illinois and then holding on for a narrow victory in Evanston on Saturday.
The State of Illinois is caught in a blizzard. And the state of Illinois basketball is caught in a bind. So … which one digs itself out first?
Illinois had a strong push to beat Indiana Thursday night, leading the first half and holding their own during the second. The Indiana Hoosiers took the lead and held Illinois in their place during the final 40 seconds.
The No. 22 Fighting Illini made a game of it, but couldn't pull out the win against the No. 1 Buckeyes on Saturday, commiting a late turnover as Ohio State pulled out the 73-68 win over Illinois.
To rush, or not to rush…Is that the question? Well, for Illinois basketball fans, the answer is: Only if the Fighting Illini topple No. 1 Ohio State from its lofty perch on Saturday in Champaign and make it one.
A new report from the University of Illinois on Wednesday said that the income tax hike recently approved by Gov. Pat Quinn and the General Assembly is not enough of a solution to the state's $15 billion deficit.
Caked in ice and covered by tundra that's at least as frozen as anything you'll find at Lambeau Field, there isn't a whole lot that becomes ripe in Illinois during January.
Illinois was hoping to get their third straight win over Wisconsin Saturday, but the Badgers stayed ahead. Illinois lost by ten points in their second loss in a row.
Yesterday, the news broke that linebacker Martez Wilson would be declaring for the NFL Draft. Now it appears his teammate Mikel Leshoure will be joining him.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are ranked in the top ten, in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time since 2009. The Irish rose five spots to No. 9, their highest rank since No. 7 back in 2009. Click for full Top 25 poll.
According to a report, Illinois junior line backer Martez Wilson will declare for the NFL Draft.
Don Cooper, a former longtime Chicago White Sox pitching coach and 2005 World Series champion, has died at the age of 70.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is one of several zoos taking part in an ongoing effort to restore the population of a bird that went extinct in the wild in Guam.
A woman was struck by a cement truck in the west Chicago suburb of Oak Park on Wednesday morning, and went on to die.
Boise police have identified a man known as the "Unknown Wanderer" who was found dead in a church in 1982, and revealed a possible link to the Chicago Tylenol murders.
Bartlett High School was evacuated on Wednesday as police investigated a threat.
Chicago U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez announced she is introducing a new bill that proposes dismantling the Department of Homeland Security and abolishing ICE and redirecting their funding to more social services.
Sendhil Revuluri is running for Board of Education president because, in his words, "we need to put our students at the center of everything we're doing.
The Justice Department claimed that reporting from CNN, MS NOW and Politico raises national security concerns and accused their journalists of failing to act with "professionalism and decorum."
Chicago mayoral candidate Bill Quinlan has filed a lawsuit seeking to keep three rivals off the ballot, arguing they shouldn't be allowed to run for mayor while also running for re-election to their current positions.
The U.S., Denmark and Greenland signed a new security agreement bolstering the United States' military and security presence on the island.
Fuel prices continue to climb across the country, and that has U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) pointing the finger at President Trump.
Nicor customers will get a break on their bills this fall after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Roul reached an agreement with the utility to cut $140 million from its requested rate hike.
Drivers in Chicago and beyond were paying the highest gas prices ever recorded for the Labor Day holiday as millions of Americans were making their way home on Monday.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit Thursday against ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric Inc., alleging deceptive business practices.
A new Illinois law lets terminally ill patients request a lethal prescription to end their lives, making the state the 13th in the U.S. — and the first in the Midwest — to permit it.
Nearly half of Americans with medical debt owe at least $2,000, forcing them to make tough choices, new research shows.
A judge on Tuesday was expected to place two shuttered Chicago-area safety-net hospitals into receivership.
Cardinal Blase Cupich and a group of Catholic nuns have joined a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois' Medical Aid in Dying law, which is set to take effect in just over a week.
Flies have been everywhere this summer in the Chicago area, and some of them bite. But why is this happening?
The future of Rate Field was back in the spotlight on Wednesday.
Plans for a new Chicago White Sox stadium in the South Loop have residents near the existing ballpark in Bridgeport concerned, not just because the team might be leaving, but also what might be coming nearby.
A new report from the University of Illinois Chicago said federal immigration enforcement led to $1.26 billion in unspent money at retail establishments and restaurants in Cook County.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
A new Whole Foods Market is coming to Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.
An autopsy by the Greenville County Coroner's Office determined Hayden Panettiere's death was due to an accidental overdose of several drugs, including fentanyl.
Nike-owned Converse acknowledged that an ad for its Chuck Taylor sneaker is "deeply upsetting."
Presley Gerber, the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, has died at 27, a family spokesperson has confirmed.
Duncan Sheik died on Thursday night, his family said.
Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas all released statements Tuesday on Instagram saying they were withdrawing from Ed Sheeran's tour.
The Ada County Sheriff's Office and Boise police revealed the identity of the "Unknown Wanderer" after 43 years Wednesday, and revealed what they think could be a link to the Chicago Tylenol murders in 1982.
Meteorologist David Yeomans has your 11 a.m. First Alert Weather forecast for Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.
Evanston-Skokie School District 65 in Chicago’s north suburbs is poised to shut down two more schools amid a financial crisis. Lauren Victory reports.
Jackie Kostek jumpstarts your day with a first look inside Northwestern's new Ryan Field.
Chicago nonprofit Stirdes for Peace is hosting its fourth gun violence prevention expo this week.
Boise police have identified a man known as the "Unknown Wanderer" who was found dead in a church in 1982, and revealed a possible link to the Chicago Tylenol murders.
A third person stood charged Wednesday in an incident in which a man was shoved off a Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train and killed.
Don Cooper, a former longtime Chicago White Sox pitching coach and 2005 World Series champion, has died at the age of 70.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago is one of several zoos taking part in an ongoing effort to restore the population of a bird that went extinct in the wild in Guam.
A woman was struck by a cement truck in the west Chicago suburb of Oak Park on Wednesday morning, and went on to die.
Crown Point native Chris Payne was arrested for the 2018 sexual assault of a woman, which he has adamantly claimed from the beginning that he had nothing to do with.
A Chicago nonprofit is suing its former president, accusing him of illegally diverting millions of dollars in charitable funds and jeopardizing the charity's future in fighting homelessness.
They're not regular donuts, they're quantum donuts. That's the pitch from a business hoping to get more dough as a massive new quantum computing campus continues construction in South Chicago.
The village of Grayslake is touting a new massive data center, but neighbors say they weren't given an opportunity to make their voices heard before the project was approved.
A Cicero woman is suing Uber and a driver after the driver allegedly sexually assaulted her. She and her boyfriend said Uber hired him despite the driver having a criminal background.
Don Cooper, a former longtime Chicago White Sox pitching coach and 2005 World Series champion, has died at the age of 70.
The Cubs (87-70) could have clinched a playoff berth with a win or an Arizona loss, but the Diamondbacks won 7-2 at Colorado.
Gabriela Jaquez and Sydney Taylor scored 18 points apiece and Kamilla Cardoso added 17.
Brenton Doyle and Munetaka Murakami added home runs for the White Sox, who also helped their wild-card cause should they fail to catch Cleveland.
The Medinah County Club has been transformed into a massive international sporting venue as 24 pro golfers will compete in two teams.
Boise police have identified a man known as the "Unknown Wanderer" who was found dead in a church in 1982, and revealed a possible link to the Chicago Tylenol murders.
A Mundelein, Illinois, high school teacher and volleyball coach appeared in court Wednesday morning on charges of making an unauthorized video recording of a minor.
A third person stood charged Wednesday in an incident in which a man was shoved off a Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train and killed.
Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul, was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday morning for sexually assaulting Miriam Haley at his Manhattan apartment in 2006.
A driver has been charged with murder after police said he intentionally hit two pedestrians on Sunday in southwest suburban Yorkville, killing one of them.
