Recent content by Champaign Toast

My guess this evening is: Destiny Brown-Hagger Wallace Parchment Alves I feel most confident in Destiny, Wallace, and Parchment starting. I have a really hard time guessing the first three off the bench because I think we have a solid 10-deep rotation, including Guyton, Bourrage, Dolan, Webber...

"An average of 5,766 fans took in each regular season outing in SFC last season, which ranked as the third-best mark in Illinois women's basketball history. Home crowds for the Illini were the fifth largest in the Big Ten and ranked 14th across the NCAA." (FightingIllini.com) Average home...

(I'm get the sense there is not much NIL for low-profile women. Maybe what there is, is comparable or above what is available at mid-majors. I really don't know.) I imagine the decision comes down to environment and career benefits versus playing time and role. Begin your career at a mid-major...

Replaces Jackie Alexander, who was an assistant coach under Simon Harris at East Tennessee State in 2021-22.

Brenjo's teammate at ZKK Art Basket, guard Jovana Popovic who was the club's and the league's top scorer, will be a freshman at UCONN in the fall.

Lana Brenjo turns 19 years old this summer. During the 2025-6 season, was a regular contributor on the ZKK Art Basket team that finished fourth in Serbia's top women's basketball league. Per game averages: 27.8 minutes 7.2 points 5.4 rebounds 1.5 assists 0.5 blocks 1.0 steals 49% field goal %...

A center that can score and rebound inside would, I think, start over Lety. Vasconcelos averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds last season. I hope that a full healthy off-season will allow Lety to develop into a dominant player, or at least a solid 5 who stays on the floor and reliably does the...

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48397419/five-star-clemson-signee-trinity-jones-released-nli

I wonder if Divine Bourrage follows Gary Redus II to Rutgers. Redus was an assistant at LSU who was hired last month as the new Rutgers head coach.

(She hasn't entered the transfer portal yet, which probably answers my question, but...) I wonder whether Alyssa Koerkenmeier, 6'6" center from southern Illinois who just completed her freshman season with the Saint Louis Billikens--earning A10 newcomer of the year honors--will explore...

At least was nice seeing Benson battling in the paint. She's got some bulldog in her. I too am hopeful that Alves will be a beast with a little more mass and power than Parchment has right now. I don't want to say Alves' power game to Parchment's finesse, because it could undersell both what...

Today's game against Northwestern, as far as I'm concerned, is a big one. It's a great opportunity to lock up 9 wins and a .500 or above record in conference. I didn't expect this before the season. I was prepared for a lot of hard knocks in conference play. I'm thrilled with where we are at...

I remember last season being surprised how competently Hayven Smith defended Lauren Betts. Hope we defend her well tonight, though she of course isn't UCLA's only weapon.

Julian Griffin has a link to Barry Lunney from Arkansas and UTSA and is in his 30s; meanwhile, I wonder whether John Settle is another that will be looked at for the RB coach position. Settle coached RBs at Wisconsin 2006-10 with Bielema, then again 2015-20 including the college years of...

South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers may enter the portal. Entered the 2025 season as one of the nation's top QB's, then he and the Gamecocks had a down year. Threw for 260 yards and a TD against us in the 2024 Citrus Bowl.