Illinois basketball is BACK 🏀

Sunny Verma previews the 2025–26 Illinois season opener vs. Jackson State, highlighting what Illini fans should look for as Brad Underwood’s team officially tips off the year. With Mihailo Petrovic out and Andrej Stojaković a game-time decision, Illinois will already test its depth early. 🏀 In this episode: Injury updates: Petrovic OUT, Stojaković questionable, Ty Rodgers still sidelined How Brad Underwood might handle a shortened rotation Why this game matters less for the score and more for chemistry and conditioning Early Big Ten outlook and how Illinois stacks up nationally Football side note: Illinois’ back-to-back bowl eligibility and why Bielema’s program is in a historic stretch

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Welcome to Locked On Illini, your one-stop show for all things Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball! Join host Sunny Verma as he brings you in-depth analysis, game previews, post-game breakdowns, and exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and insiders. Whether you're a die-hard Illini fan or just looking to stay updated on the latest in college sports, this is the podcast for you. Tune in on YouTube and your favorite audio platforms for fresh episodes and all the insights you need to stay ahead of the game. Get ready to be Locked On Illini! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball and football! Email us at: talkillini@gmail.com FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564192637267 TALK ILLINI DISCORD: https://discord.gg/cN9XCg9S Follow Sunny's personal account: @theSunnyV Follow us on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedonillini.bsky.social Article Referenced: For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron! Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s officially Illinois Basketball Season Preview time! 🏀 Sunny Verma is joined by Greg Waddell from Sleepers Media to break down everything Illini fans need to know heading into the 2025–26 season — from roster strengths and potential pitfalls to how Brad Underwood’s new look team stacks up in the Big Ten and nationally.

🎙 In this episode: Greg Waddell’s national perspective on the 2025–26 Illini Why Illinois’ international core (Ivišić, Petrovic, Mirkovic, Stojaković) might be the best frontcourt in the Big Ten How Kylan Boswell’s leadership sets the tone for the offense Keaton Wagler’s development and what he brings defensively Can Illinois’ depth finally match its talent? What the analytics say vs. what the eye test shows Waddell’s bold prediction for Illinois’ Big Ten finish Why the Illini have one of the highest ceilings in the nation — if healthy And what Brad Underwood has learned from past tournament exits

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Welcome to Locked On Illini, your one-stop show for all things Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball! Join host Sunny Verma as he brings you in-depth analysis, game previews, post-game breakdowns, and exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and insiders. Whether you're a die-hard Illini fan or just looking to stay updated on the latest in college sports, this is the podcast for you. Tune in on YouTube and your favorite audio platforms for fresh episodes and all the insights you need to stay ahead of the game. Get ready to be Locked On Illini! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball and football!

Email us at: talkillini@gmail.com

FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564192637267

TALK ILLINI DISCORD: https://discord.gg/cN9XCg9S

Follow Sunny's personal account: @theSunnyV

Follow us on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedonillini.bsky.social

Article Referenced:

For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron! Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Illinois Football is Bowl Eligible once again! 🎉 Sunny Verma reacts live as the Fighting Illini take down Rutgers 35–13 in Champaign, marking their third bowl appearance in four years under Bret Bielema. This postgame episode captures the emotion, the turnaround, and the growth of this program — from Illinois’ efficient offensive execution to Barry Lunney Jr.’s play-calling masterclass and Aaron Henry’s bounce-back performance on defense. 🏈 In this episode: What Illinois’ 6th win means in the big picture Why Luke Altmyer’s performance might be his best yet (235 passing yards, 4 TDs, 88 rushing yards) Hudson Clement’s breakout moment and WR chemistry developing Defensive adjustments finally showing results Why younger fans shouldn’t take bowl eligibility for granted Big-picture talk: What 9–3 or even back-to-back 10-win seasons would mean Fan expectations vs. reality — how good this Illinois team actually is 📈 Illinois is 6–3, 3–3 in the Big Ten, and still in control of its own destiny.

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Welcome to Locked On Illini, your one-stop show for all things Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball! Join host Sunny Verma as he brings you in-depth analysis, game previews, post-game breakdowns, and exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and insiders. Whether you're a die-hard Illini fan or just looking to stay updated on the latest in college sports, this is the podcast for you. Tune in on YouTube and your favorite audio platforms for fresh episodes and all the insights you need to stay ahead of the game. Get ready to be Locked On Illini! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball and football!

Email us at: talkillini@gmail.com

FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564192637267

TALK ILLINI DISCORD: https://discord.gg/cN9XCg9S

Follow Sunny's personal account: @theSunnyV

Follow us on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedonillini.bsky.social

Article Referenced:

For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron! Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brad Underwood is officially a Top 20 coach according to CBS Sports — but with a reloaded roster and sky-high expectations, is he also under more pressure than ever to deliver? Sunny Verma dives deep into the national perception of Brad Underwood, why CBS ranked him #19 among all college coaches, and how Illinois’ “Balkan experiment” could define his legacy. 🏀 Basketball Segment: Why Underwood is both respected and polarizing in the Illini fanbase The evolution of Brad’s recruiting model: from five-stars to seasoned internationals How Illinois’ Balkan core (Ivišić, Petrovic, Mirkovic, Stojaković) became a calculated risk Why this season carries more scrutiny than any other What happens if the “foreign experiment” fails — and what success looks like Why a Sweet 16 shouldn’t be the goal anymore — it should be the expectation 🏈 Football Segment: Sunny transitions to Illinois football, where Bret Bielema and the Illini look to rebound at home vs Rutgers. Bielema’s message to the team after Washington: “Don’t wash it away. Feel it.” Illinois’ defense at a crossroads — and why Aaron Henry’s unit needs a statement game Luke Altmyer’s warrior mentality and the chemistry with Cole Rusk Why the Rutgers matchup is a “temperature check” for the rest of the season Keys to victory: sustained drives, efficient play-action, and avoiding early mistakes

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Welcome to Locked On Illini, your one-stop show for all things Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball! Join host Sunny Verma as he brings you in-depth analysis, game previews, post-game breakdowns, and exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and insiders. Whether you're a die-hard Illini fan or just looking to stay updated on the latest in college sports, this is the podcast for you. Tune in on YouTube and your favorite audio platforms for fresh episodes and all the insights you need to stay ahead of the game. Get ready to be Locked On Illini! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball and football!

Email us at: talkillini@gmail.com

FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564192637267

TALK ILLINI DISCORD: https://discord.gg/cN9XCg9S

Follow Sunny's personal account: @theSunnyV

Follow us on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedonillini.bsky.social

Article Referenced:

For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron! Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

Peloton
Let yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com.

DoorDash
With DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18.

Mazda
It’s the small details that make the big plays. And just like there’s more to every player, there’s more to a Mazda vehicle.
Mazda. Move and Be Moved.

Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking News: Jeff Goodman reports that Illinois guard Mihailo Petrovic will miss the season opener vs Jackson State with a lingering hamstring injury and is out indefinitely.

Sunny Verma reacts live to the news, breaking down what Petrovic’s absence means for Brad Underwood’s backcourt rotation, chemistry concerns with key players still recovering, and how this impacts early matchups like Florida Gulf Coast and Texas Tech. 🏀 In this episode: Jeff Goodman’s report & what “indefinitely” really means How Petrovic’s hamstring setback affects Illinois’ guard depth The ripple effect: more minutes for Keaton Wagler, Kylan Boswell, and Brandon Lieb Why lack of practice time together could hurt early chemistry Sunny’s candid reaction to a mounting list of injuries: Ty Rodgers, Andrej Stojaković, and now Petrovic Early-season impact on Illinois’ rhythm before facing Texas Tech (Nov. 11) Why Sunny still believes in the roster’s depth long-term Full season preview episode tease for Sunday 👀

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Welcome to Locked On Illini, your one-stop show for all things Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball! Join host Sunny Verma as he brings you in-depth analysis, game previews, post-game breakdowns, and exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and insiders. Whether you're a die-hard Illini fan or just looking to stay updated on the latest in college sports, this is the podcast for you. Tune in on YouTube and your favorite audio platforms for fresh episodes and all the insights you need to stay ahead of the game. Get ready to be Locked On Illini! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball and football!

Email us at: talkillini@gmail.com

FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564192637267

TALK ILLINI DISCORD: https://discord.gg/cN9XCg9S

Follow Sunny's personal account: @theSunnyV

Follow us on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedonillini.bsky.social

Article Referenced:

For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron! Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Though this weekend is not as hectic as it could have a few weeks ago, on paper, there is still plenty to break down ahead of the Big 10's Week 10. The Ohio State Buckeyes will host the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Indiana Hoosiers are traveling to the DMV to take on the Maryland Terrapins. Our predictions for those games and more on the Big 10 Squad.

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/talkbig10

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Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More

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📢 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Peloton

Let yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com.

DoorDash

With DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18.

Mazda

It’s the small details that make the big plays. And just like there’s more to every player, there’s more to a Mazda vehicle.

Mazda. Move and Be Moved.

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#big10 #BIGTEN #CollegeFootball #CollegeBasketball #NCAA

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sunny Verma breaks down why the algorithms (KenPom, EvanMiya, and more) are all in agreement that Brad Underwood’s Illini are a Top-10 team in the country heading into the 2025–26 season.

🏀 In this episode: Illinois ranked #6 in KenPom and #9 in EvanMiya’s preseason rankings Why the numbers are higher on Illinois than the national media The hidden impact of new faces: Petrovic, Stojaković, Mirkovic, Wagler How the Illini’s spacing and European-style offense boost efficiency metrics Why Ivišić’s shooting and Petrovic’s playmaking fit the modern analytics model Comparing analytics vs. AP Poll: why computers might be more accurate What a “Top-10 roster projection” really means for March Madness seeding Why fans should be more excited about Illinois basketball than ever before 🏈 Football Segment: Sunny also discusses Illinois football’s current state and why fans shouldn’t abandon ship — with a reminder that Bret Bielema’s rebuild still needs support to keep momentum strong.

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Welcome to Locked On Illini, your one-stop show for all things Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball! Join host Sunny Verma as he brings you in-depth analysis, game previews, post-game breakdowns, and exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and insiders. Whether you're a die-hard Illini fan or just looking to stay updated on the latest in college sports, this is the podcast for you. Tune in on YouTube and your favorite audio platforms for fresh episodes and all the insights you need to stay ahead of the game. Get ready to be Locked On Illini! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of Illini basketball and football!

Email us at: talkillini@gmail.com

FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564192637267

TALK ILLINI DISCORD: https://discord.gg/cN9XCg9S

Follow Sunny's personal account: @theSunnyV

Follow us on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedonillini.bsky.social

Article Referenced:

For your next listen, check out the Locked On College Football podcast! From NIL deals to never ending conference realignment rumors, Spencer McLaughlin gets you ready for an exciting season on the gridiron! Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peloton
Let yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com.

DoorDash
With DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18.

Mazda
It’s the small details that make the big plays. And just like there’s more to every player, there’s more to a Mazda vehicle.
Mazda. Move and Be Moved.

Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.