Big Ten will host its 1st women’s volleyball conference tournament in 2026 in Indiana The Big Ten looks to capitalize on and promote the growth of women’s volleyball with its first conference tournament in 2026.

The Big Ten will host its first women’s volleyball conference tournament in 2026 in Indiana. Here are the details:

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/16/b...

Early story on the Bulls cleaning house (lots more to come):

Illinois freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirković garner national attention on road to Final Four Keaton Wagler and David Mirković have been the revelations that have cemented this team as one of the best in Illinois history ahead of the Final Four.

The whole country is getting to witness the joys of Illinois freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirković during the Final Four run. On their viral moments on and off the court, their connection and how they have risen to the occasion for the Illini:

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/01/i...

Illinois AD Josh Whitman’s patience with Brad Underwood pays off in 1st Final Four since 2005 Illinois’ journey back to the Final Four required patience from coach Brad Underwood and athletic director Josh Whitman.

“He and I have been on this journey for a long time together, stood in a lot of tunnels and had a lot of high moments and some hard ones.”

Josh Whitman had patience with Brad Underwood as he revived Illini basketball. Now they’re going to the Final Four.

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/30/i...

Illinois earns trip to Final Four for 1st time in 21 years with win over Iowa: ‘We knew we had something special’ Illinois beat Iowa 71-59 in the South Region final of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, earning a spot in the Final Four for the first time since 2005.

Tomislav Ivisic saw the arena mic after the win over Iowa and decided to go for the I-L-L cheer.

“I thought, ‘Let’s try it. It’s my time.’”

After 21 years, it’s the Illini’s time again. They are headed to the Final Four. The story from the celebration:

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/28/i...

Elite Eight notes: A better Bennett Stirtz, Illinois letdown watch and Iowa’s Cinderella status

Elite Eight notes: A better Bennett Stirtz, Illinois letdown watch and Iowa’s Cinderella status

The beauty of the Illinois-Iowa Elite Eight matchup is the paths the players and coaches took to get there

The beauty of the Illinois-Iowa Elite Eight matchup is the paths the players and coaches took to get there

Illinois big men rediscover their nastiness in advancing to the Sweet 16: ‘That’s a recipe to win for us’ Whether it was their size advantage against the lower-seeded teams or Brad Underwood’s challenge in the days after, Illinois — particularly its big men — showed the nastiness is still there.

Illinois big men rediscover their nastiness in advancing to the Sweet 16: "That’s a recipe to win for us"

On a good showing for David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic in the Illini's first two NCAA Tournament games:

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/23/i...

NCAA Tournament: Illinois puts on a show in 76-55 win over VCU to advance to Sweet 16 Andrej Stojaković scored 21 points, helping No. 3 seed Illinois beat No. 11 seed VCU on Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini advance to play Houston in the Sweet 16.

Andrej Stojaković scored 21 points, helping No. 3 seed Illinois beat No. 11 seed VCU on Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament.

The Illini advance to play Houston in the Sweet 16.

@colleenkane.bsky.social reporting from Greenville, S.C.

For Illinois’ Andrej Stojaković, a season of change — and winning — results in his 1st NCAA Tournament Illinois has asked Andrej Stojaković to be more than just a scorer in his first season on an NCAA Tournament team.

For Illinois’ Andrej Stojaković, a season of change — and winning — results in his 1st NCAA Tournament

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/21/a...

How the NCAA tries to ensure game integrity amid a sports betting boom and the latest point-shaving scandal Two months before Selection Sunday, a widespread college basketball game-fixing scandal was revealed. How can the NCAA stop it from happening again?

Two months before Selection Sunday, a widespread college basketball game-fixing scandal was revealed.

How can the NCAA stop it from happening again?

📝 @colleenkane.bsky.social

David Mirković has record night for Illinois. ‘He just wants to rip your head off,’ coach Brad Underwood says. David Mirković set an Illinois freshman NCAA Tournament record with 29 points and an overall Illinois tournament record with 17 rebounds in Thursday’s first-round win.

David Mirković set an Illinois freshman NCAA Tournament record with 29 points and an overall Illinois tournament record with 17 rebounds to lead the No. 3 seed Illini to a 105-70 win over No. 14 seed Penn.

"He just wants to rip your head off,” coach Brad Underwood said.

📝 @colleenkane.bsky.social

NCAA Tournament: Illinois routs Penn 105-70 behind David Mirković’s big night to advance to 2nd round Illinois turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 105-70 rout, wearing Penn down with its powerful, deep offense to advance to Saturday’s second round against No. 11 seed VCU.

Illinois turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 105-70 rout, wearing Penn down with its powerful, deep offense to advance to Saturday’s second round against No. 11 seed VCU.

@colleenkane.bsky.social reporting from Greenville, S.C.

Illinois NCAA Tournament notes: Penn’s TJ Power sits out practice with illness; Ethan Roberts out for the year Penn coach Fran McCaffery said TJ Power wasn’t up for practicing Wednesday as he deals with an illness ahead of the NCAA Tournament game against Illinois.

Penn coach Fran McCaffery said TJ Power wasn’t up for practicing Wednesday as he deals with an illness ahead of the NCAA Tournament game against Illinois.

📝 @colleenkane.bsky.social

For Illinois guard Kylan Boswell, an NCAA Tournament veteran, the time for leadership is now On an Illinois team headlined by freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirković, Kylan Boswell is the voice of experience in this NCAA Tournament.

“The sense of urgency has to be there. You can’t come out lackadaisical and not being mentally prepared.”

On a team headlined by freshmen, Kylan Boswell is Illinois’ voice of experience in this NCAA Tournament.

📝 @colleenkane.bsky.social

Can Illinois make a deep NCAA Tournament run? 4 potential pitfalls to avoid to prevent another early exit. Illinois has lost five of its last nine and has some clear issues. Can the talented Illini fix them and make a deep NCAA Tournament run?

Illinois has lost 5 of its last 9 games and has some clear issues.

Can the talented Illini fix them to make a deep NCAA Tournament run?

David Mirković — Illinois’ other breakout freshman — brings a fiery personality and a high basketball IQ If Keaton Wagler is ice, then David Mirković — Illinois’ other breakout freshman — is fire.

If Keaton Wagler is ice, David Mirković — Illinois' other breakout freshman — is fire.

Mirković and his Illini coaches on his path from Montenegro to Champaign, his mom’s influence, his mental game and that big personality: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/13/i...

Big Ten Tournament run for Northwestern and Nick Martinelli comes to emotional end: ‘It’s been such a great ride’ Purdue topped Northwestern 81-68 in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, marking an end to Nick Martinelli’s Wildcats career.

Purdue topped Northwestern 81-68 in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, marking an end to Nick Martinelli’s Wildcats career.

@colleenkane.bsky.social reporting from the United Center.

What has led to Northwestern’s success in women’s sports the last 20 years? ‘Winning can be contagious.’ When it comes to women’s sports, Northwestern has had a special run over the last 20 years, including five NCAA team championships in the last five years.

Northwestern’s women’s sports teams have had remarkable success over the last two decades. What’s behind the winning, according to three NU national championship-winning head coaches:

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/08/n...

Big Ten Tournament preview: Have the Illinois women locked up an NCAA bid? Can anyone stop UCLA? Coach Shauna Green has no doubts Illinois is an NCAA Tournament team — but the Illini can help their case with a couple of Big Ten Tournament wins.

The Big Ten women's basketball tournament starts this afternoon. Here's a look at the (obvious) favorite, the contenders, the players to watch and Illinois' path.

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/b...

Jadarian Price stuck out playing alongside Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame. Will both RBs be 1st-round picks? NFL teams asked Jadarian Price at the combine: Why didn’t he transfer to a different school instead of playing alongside Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame?

Jadarian Price decided to stay at Notre Dame and play alongside Jeremiyah Love. Will Price join Love as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft next month? What the RBs had to say at the combine: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/j...

Nick Martinelli feels ‘grateful’ — while eyeing a few more wins — as his record Northwestern career winds down Nick Martinelli said he has “a little bit of angst” as he closes out his Northwestern career and looks to the future.

Nick Martinelli feels 'grateful' — while eyeing a few more wins — as his record Northwestern career winds down. Reflections from the Big Ten scoring leader ahead of his last home game tomorrow: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/03/n...

Is Chicago native Carnell Tate the latest in Ohio State’s unprecedented line of 1st-round receivers? Carnell Tate is projected to become the sixth Ohio State wide receiver in five years to be drafted in the first round — possibly in the top five picks.

Chicago native Carnell Tate looks to be the latest in Ohio State’s unprecedented line of 1st-round receivers. He embraces the expectations, saying he is the best WR in this draft class “no question.”

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/01/c...

Morez Johnson Jr. ignores noise to help No. 3 Michigan beat No. 10 Illinois 84-70 and clinch Big Ten title Morez Johnson Jr. had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 3 Michigan clinched the Big Ten regular-season title Friday night with a convincing 84-70 win over No. 10 Illinois.

Morez Johnson Jr. returned to Champaign on Friday night, facing his former team for the first time. The 6-foot-9 sophomore out of Thornton had 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading No. 3 Michigan to a convincing win over No. 10 Illinois.

📝 @colleenkane.bsky.social
📷 @jkimpictures.bsky.social

How Chicago’s Destiny Jackson — a 5-foot-6 freshman — has grown into a crucial role for a young Illinois team Illinois point guard Destiny Jackson’s ability to take critiques with a level head has helped the freshman from Young navigate a big workload.

Illinois' Destiny Jackson had a season-high 19 points Sun. vs. Northwestern and 7 assists to break the Illini freshman assists record. Here's how a "growth mindset" has helped the guard out of Whitney Young in her first year. W/video from @staceywescott.bsky.social.

How Chicago’s Destiny Jackson — a 5-foot-6 freshman — has grown into a crucial role for a young Illinois team Illinois point guard Destiny Jackson’s ability to take critiques with a level head has helped the freshman from Young navigate a big workload.

Illinois coaches call it the “growth mindset,” the key quality that has allowed Destiny Jackson to keep improving as the starting point guard.

Jackson is able to take critiques with a level head, a skill she developed as the state’s top-ranked recruit out of Young.

It originated with her mom.

Thomas Hammock leaving Northern Illinois after 7 seasons for assistant job with Seattle Seahawks Thomas Hammock is leaving Northern Illinois after seven seasons as head coach to return to the NFL for an assistant coach job with the Seattle Seahawks.

Thomas Hammock leaving Northern Illinois after 7 seasons for assistant job with Seattle Seahawks

www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/18/t...

Wisconsin, behind veteran guard tandem, upsets short-handed No. 8 Illinois in overtime Wisconsin held on for a 92-90 overtime win over No. 8 Illinois on Tuesday at State Farm Center.

Wisconsin held on for a 92-90 overtime win over No. 8 Illinois on Tuesday in Champaign. It was the Illini's second straight overtime loss after losing at No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday. Before that, Illinois hadn’t lost since Dec. 13.

📝 @colleenkane.bsky.social

Jake Davis wig night in Champaign.

How Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler rose from No. 261 recruit to Big Ten Player of the Year candidate Even Keaton Wagler is a little surprised to hear the NBA draft projections after his rapid rise in his first season at Illinois.

“I don’t think anyone thought I would come in here and by this time of the season be projected as a lottery pick.”

Keaton Wagler on his family’s basketball influence, his rapid rise at Illinois and keeping a level head in the middle of all this attention: