Tomorrow night, the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini hit the road to take on the Northwestern Wildcats in a BIG Big Ten showdown! Illinois comes into this matchup riding a season-best five-game win streak and looking to extend their momentum against a familiar rival.The Illini boast one of the best offenses in the conference and are clicking on both ends of the floor, eager to add another chapter to their rivalry with Northwestern. Will Illinois continue their surge and keep the streak alive, or will Northwestern pull off a home upset? Let’s break this one down!Cody breaks down the last two wins for Illinois over Rutgers and Iowa and the growth they've displayed in January in this edition of From Beyond Champaign.

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Illinois basketball is turning the page to a new year with big expectations and even bigger questions. After a strong start and plenty of national buzz, the Illini are stepping into the heart of the season where hype turns into reality.In this episode, Cody breaks down where Illinois stands right now after straight wins to close out 2025, what’s working, what needs to improve, and the biggest storylines to watch as Big Ten conference play heats up. Can this team stay consistent, handle the pressure, and prove they belong among the elite?

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Illinois went into the matchup as the favorite, but Nebraska had other plans. In a shocking Big Ten showdown, the Cornhuskers pulled off a huge upset over the Illini 83-80, flipping expectations and shaking up the conference picture.From clutch plays to momentum-shifting moments, this game had everything — and Illinois couldn’t recover when it mattered most. Was this Nebraska’s statement win, or a major missed opportunity for Illinois?Cody reacts to the loss and more on this edition of From Beyond Champaign.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini

The Illinois Fighting Illini pull off a huge road win at the Ohio State Buckeyes — final score 88-80 — to kick off Big Ten play with a statement.Keaton Wagler leads Illinois with 23 points and big plays down the stretch. David Mirkovic steps up with 22 points and 8 rebounds, fueling the Illini starting lineup. Balanced scoring from the Illini — including Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivisic — proves clutch in a hostile environment. Despite a monster night from Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (34 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists), Illinois’ composure at the free-throw line and late-game execution sealed the win.This marks Illinois’ first Big Ten win of the season and another important road victory — their 35th in conference play since 2019-20, the most in the league.Tune in with Cody as he gives his takeaways on the Illini win.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini

What. A. Win. The Illinois Fighting Illini came through in a huge way, knocking off Tennessee Volunteers 75-62 in a physical, hard-fought battle at Music City Madness. Balanced scoring paced the Illini: Tomislav Ivisic and Keaton Wagler dropped 16 points each, while Kylan Boswell added 15 and David Mirkovic put up 10. The Illini’s defense stood firm — holding the Vols to just 62 points, the fewest allowed by Illinois in a top-25 nonconference win in nearly two decades.Ohio State will is the next test. They’ve looked sharp early in conference play with a win over Northwestern, and this will be Illinois' first true road-game challenge of the season. Can Illinois keep this momentum going?Cody digs into it all on this episode of From Beyond Champaign.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini

The UConn Huskies dominated Illinois Fighting Illini in a wire-to-wire win, but Illinois showed flashes — here’s what stood out.The Huskies held the Illini to just 32.1% shooting overall and a brutal 20.7% from three. Illinois just couldn’t find rhythm or consistency from deep.Illinois’ offense lacked creativity & adjustments — Even when their big men (like Tomislav Ivišić) got opportunities inside, Illinois reverted back to low-percentage, stagnant three-point attempts instead of attacking the mismatches. That choice undermined their comeback attempts.Illinois showed grit with a 16-2 second-half run and some fight, but poor shot selection and lack of discipline made their comeback attempt too little, too late.In this episode, Cody Delmendo gives his biggest takeaways from the loss a few days later and offers some perspective headed into Tennessee next weekend.

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Tomorrow, Illinois takes on Alabama at the United Center in Chicago in what promises to be one of the most electric non-conference showdowns of the season. The Illini bring their gritty defense and veteran leadership to the big stage, while the Crimson Tide roll in with high-powered scoring and up-tempo energy.

We’ll break down the key players, matchups to watch, and what each team needs to do to walk out of Chicago with a statement win.

Make sure to leave a five star rating and subscribe to this podcast for more takes on Illinois Basketball the rest of the season!

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FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: https://x.com/cody_illiniA huge non-conference win for the Illini! No. 14 Illinois took down No. 11 Texas Tech 81-77 in a nail-biter. Andrej Stojaković exploded for 23 points and sealed the win with a block on a potential tying three-pointer in the final seconds. Kylan Boswell chipped in 22 points, helping take the momentum and push Illinois when it mattered most. Illinois jumped out early with a 45-32 halftime lead. Texas Tech stormed back in the second half, cutting it close, but Illinois held on. This win is a statement for Illinois — showing they can close out tight games and beat ranked opponents at home. For Stojaković, it’s a breakout two-way performance and a welcoming to Illini Nation. For Boswell, a veteran guard stepping up big in the clutch and showing that Year 2 at Illinois can be even better than last season.Tune in with Cody Delmendo as he reacts to the win and asks the question - is Illinois now a Top 5 team in college basketball after this win without Tomislav Ivisic, Mihailo Petrovic, Brandon Lee, and Ty Rodgers?SUPPORT CODY: https://linktr.ee/cody_cubs