Colleen Kane

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.

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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.

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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:

Chip Kelly believes Northwestern is ‘an up-and-coming team.’ Why the coaching veteran became the Wildcats OC. Chip Kelly won a national title as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2024. Now he joins a Northwestern team that hasn’t won a Big Ten title since 2000.

Chip Kelly said today he believes Northwestern is “an up-and-coming team.” Here’s what the coaching veteran said about why he became the Wildcats offensive coordinator: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/04/c...

DePaul’s upset bid fizzles out late in loss to St. John’s, its third straight defeat No. 22 St. John’s won its eighth straight game, topping DePaul 68-56, as the Red Storm turn their attention to UConn.

No. 22 St. John’s won its eighth straight game, topping DePaul 68-56, as the Red Storm turn their attention to UConn.

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Rod Strickland, 59, ‘honored’ to have DePaul jersey retired. ‘It means more now as an older gentleman.’ Rod Strickland became one of just five DePaul men’s basketball players to have his jersey retired.

Rod Strickland became one of just five DePaul men’s basketball players to have his jersey retired.

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DePaul will add another banner to this group tonight when they retire Rod Strickland’s jersey at halftime of the game vs. St. John’s

Northwestern will open the new Ryan Field on Oct. 2 vs. Penn State — its 3rd home game of the season Northwestern will play five home games at the new $862 million Ryan Field in 2026, with the first two played at Martin Stadium on the lakefront.

Northwestern announced it will open the new $862 million Ryan Field on Oct. 2 against Penn State — after two more games at Martin Stadium, its temporary lakefront home the last two seasons.

More details from @colleenkane.bsky.social.

Chicago basketball report: No Bulls All-Stars for 3rd straight year — and a viral play from Illinois’ last win The Chicago Bulls will go another season without an All-Star. And the Illinois men and women have another big week after ranked road wins.

Chicago basketball report:

- No Bulls All-Stars for a 3rd straight year
- "Money" play for Illinois men
- WNBA owners and players' union meet in NYC
- Super Bowl Sunday push for Illinois women

And much more from @juliapoe.bsky.social and @colleenkane.bsky.social.

Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler on the win over Nebraska and scoring 23 of his 28 points in the second half.

No. 9 Illinois beats No. 5 Nebraska 78-69, its second win over a Top 5 team in 9 days No. 9 Illinois rode the performances of 7-foot Croatian twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivišić in the first half, and Keaton Wagler came through in the second half to beat Nebraska.

No. 9 Illinois rode the performances of 7-foot Croatian twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivišić in the first half, and Keaton Wagler came through in the second half to beat No. 5 Nebraska on Sunday.

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How coach Chris Holtmann is attacking the challenge of ‘overcoming the perception’ at DePaul The colossal challenge of Chris Holtmann’s coaching career is to get DePaul men’s basketball back to renown.

The challenge was what drew Chris Holtmann to the DePaul coaching job in 2024. And one of the biggest obstacles, he said, has been "overcoming the perception, the stigma." On how he and the Blue Demons are attacking that challenge: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/30/c...

4 takeaways from No. 2 UCLA’s win over Illinois, including Bruins’ Betts duo and Illini freshmen taking charge UCLA’s bench picked up the slack for a quarter without senior center Lauren Betts, but she came up big in the second half for a win over Illinois.

4 takeaways from No. 2 UCLA’s win over Illinois, including Bruins' Betts duo and Illini freshmen taking charge: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/28/u...

Freshman Keaton Wagler’s record 46-point game has No. 11 Illinois thinking big after upset of No. 4 Purdue Keaton Wagler scored a Mackey Arena opponent and Illinois freshman record 46 points in the No. 11 Illini’s 88-82 victory over No. 4 Purdue on Saturday.

Freshman Keaton Wagler's record 46-point game has No. 11 Illinois thinking big after 88-82 upset of No. 4 Purdue. On the best individual opponent performance in Mackey Arena history: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/24/i...

Freshman Keaton Wagler’s record 46-point game has No. 11 Illinois thinking big after 88-82 upset of No. 4 Purdue Keaton Wagler scored a Mackey Arena opponent and Illinois freshman record 46 points in the No. 11 Illini’s 88-82 victory over No. 4 Purdue on Saturday.

Keaton Wagler scored a Mackey Arena opponent and Illinois freshman record 46 points in the No. 11 Illini’s 88-82 victory over No. 4 Purdue on Saturday.

📝 @colleenkane.bsky.social reporting from West Lafayette, Ind.

With College Football Playoff not growing, Notre Dame needs to be Top 12 for a bid. Here’s its path in 2026. Notre Dame knows what it has to do to get into the 2026 College Football Playoff — be ranked in the Top 12.

The College Football Playoff is staying at 12 teams in 2026. That means if Notre Dame is ranked in the Top 12, the Irish are in. Here’s their path to get in after their schedule release this morning: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/n...

Illinois guard Kylan Boswell is out until mid-February with a fractured right hand The loss of Kylan Boswell, Illinois’ senior leader, is a blow to the No. 11 Illini just as their Big Ten schedule begins to ramp up.

Illinois guard Kylan Boswell is out until mid-February with a fractured right hand. The Illini will need to adjust quickly to playing without their leader. They have three Top 10 road tests coming up in the next three weeks: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/20/i...

Former DePaul players alleged to have fixed 3 Big East games in 20-person basketball gambling indictment Former DePaul guard Jalen Terry and forward Da’Sean Nelson are accused of fixing the first halves by underperforming in three Big East games in February and March 2024.

Former DePaul men's basketball players are alleged to have fixed 3 Big East games during the 23-24 season. Details from the 20-person basketball gambling indictment released Thursday, including players taking $40,000 in bribes and texting fixers mid-game: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/15/d...

‘Nonchalant’ Keaton Wagler and Tomislav Ivišić fuel No. 13 Illinois to drop Northwestern to 0-6 in Big Ten Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 16 of Illinois’ first 24 points of the second half despite battling back spasms, leading the No. 13 Illini to a 79-68 win over Northwestern.

Illinois’ two attention-grabbing freshmen — Keaton Wagler and David Mirković — were struggling pregame last night. Wagler had back spasms. Mirković had the flu. But they and the Illini powered through to top Northwestern for their sixth straight win. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/15/i...

Keaton Wagler and Tomislav Ivišić fuel No. 13 Illinois’ 79-68 win, dropping Northwestern to 0-6 in Big Ten Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler scored 16 of Illinois’ first 24 points of the second half despite battling back spasms, leading the Illini to a 79-68 win over Northwestern on Wednesday.

Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler scored 16 of Illinois’ first 24 points of the second half despite battling back spasms, leading the 13th-ranked Illini to a 79-68 win over Northwestern on Wednesday.

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Illinois-Northwestern tonight at 7:30.

Marcus Freeman says Notre Dame must ‘leave no doubt’ in future CFP discussions — and addresses NFL rumors Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman is preaching to his players that they need to “leave no doubt” when it comes to the College Football Playoff.

Marcus Freeman says Notre Dame must ‘leave no doubt’ in future CFP discussions — and addresses interest from NFL teams. Takeaways from his press conference today: www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/n...