Illini Women's Basketball 2024-2025

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#26      
uofi7477
JKR said:
Former coach Grentz attended the Rutgers game and spoke to the team. Not a big surprise since she coached both programs in the past. She also followed the Illini to Maryland and again spent time with the team.
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KB & Coach Grentz at Maryland game.

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#27      
Champaign Toast
Future Illini Destiny Jackson hits 2,000 point milestone.

From the Sun-Times: "[Whitney] Young guard Destiny Jackson surpassed the 2,000-point milestone in an 83-26 victory against Morgan Park. Jackson, an Illinois commit, also was impressive in the Dolphins’ loss to Kenwood [one of the state's top teams]. She scored 21 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out four assists. Her ability to get to a pull-up jumper is vital to Young’s offense. The Dolphins’ offense runs primarily through Jackson out of ball screens. Her ability to create for herself and others is one of Young’s strengths."

For those who haven't followed, Jackson is #25 in ESPN's national recruiting rankings for the class of 2025.

Unfortunately, none of the signees in our terrific 2025 recruiting class were selected to play in the McDonald's All American game.

chicago.suntimes.com

Kyle Williams' Super 25 high school girls basketball rankings for Feb. 2

Kenwood remains No. 1, but there's movement throughout the top 10.
chicago.suntimes.com chicago.suntimes.com
 
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#33      
The Galloping Ghost
The difference in how much I care about the men's and women's teams right now is pretty darn stark. With the men, we have almost an entirely new roster. It feels like they're mercenaries, just a bunch of guys making a one-year pit stop on their basketball journeys. Nothing about the way they play feels like it's for the culture, let alone the school. At times, it looks and feels like a pickup game where winning is optional.

Meanwhile, the women's team feels like a team. When you're watching them, you see them fighting like heII for their teammates and coaches. You see how much every game means to them. They embody what's great about college athletics—the chance to watch the same players for a brief time growing and becoming better players and people. And the thing is, this roster is also mostly transfers. Out of our starters, 4 of 5 didn't start here. Only two players on the whole roster, KB and Dal, were here before Shuana got here. And yet, they're every bit as connected as you could possibly have hoped for. That's a testament to the program Coach Green is running and the players who have so thoroughly bought into what's happening here.

After last night, I'm excited to watch a team that represents the best of the University of Illinois. Last time we played NW, we beat them by 25 in Evanston. Take care of business tonight. No let up after the big win this past weekend.
 
#34      
uofi7477
The Galloping Ghost said:
The difference in how much I care about the men's and women's teams right now is pretty darn stark. With the men, we have almost an entirely new roster. It feels like they're mercenaries, just a bunch of guys making a one-year pit stop on their basketball journeys. Nothing about the way they play feels like it's for the culture, let alone the school. At times, it looks and feels like a pickup game where winning is optional.

Meanwhile, the women's team feels like a team. When you're watching them, you see them fighting like heII for their teammates and coaches. You see how much every game means to them. They embody what's great about college athletics—the chance to watch the same players for a brief time growing and becoming better players and people. And the thing is, this roster is also mostly transfers. Out of our starters, 4 of 5 didn't start here. Only two players on the whole roster, KB and Dal, were here before Shuana got here. And yet, they're every bit as connected as you could possibly have hoped for. That's a testament to the program Coach Green is running and the players who have so thoroughly bought into what's happening here.

After last night, I'm excited to watch a team that represents the best of the University of Illinois. Last time we played NW, we beat them by 25 in Evanston. Take care of business tonight. No let up after the big win this past weekend.
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Well-stated and you said what I have been afraid to express & admit for some time. I might add that the Women Illini enjoy playing the game win or lose - they smile, they laugh and they cheer for each other. They follow Coach Green and in sum, they play as a TEAM, which is so much more fun as a spectator.


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#36      
The Galloping Ghost
uofi7477 said:
Well-stated and you said what I have been afraid to express & admit for some time. I might add that the Women Illini enjoy playing the game win or lose - they smile, they laugh and they cheer for each other. They follow Coach Green and in sum, they play as a TEAM, which is so much more fun as a spectator.


View attachment 39448
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Exactly. My seats for the Terps game were behind our bench. The vibes, from the starters to the walk-ons, were locked in when needed, but having fun doing it. In the huddle, every player was focused, listening, and talking each other up. When the huddle broke, the bench was dancing to the music in the arena and cheering on their teammates. My UMD alum friends I went to the game with were surprised by how much fun our bench was having the entire way. Especially with the injuries, we play an incredibly short bench. Even still, the player's joy is infectious.
 
#38      
ptgrd23
Way to go Kendall. When was the last time we had WBB player nominated for national award?

I am hopeful she will be all big 10 as well. If we go 4-3 rest of regular season that will put us at 21-8 pre B10 tourney.

Kiki Iriafen 17 ppg 8 rbg from USC will be tough to beat out as they are #7 team in country. Kendall is 16 ppg 11 rbg.
 
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#39      
JKR
ptgrd23 said:
Way to go Kendall. When was the last time we had WBB player nominated for national award?

I am hopeful she will be all big 10 as well. If we go 4-3 rest of regular season that will put us at 21-8 pre B10 tourney.

Kiki Iriafen 17 ppg 8 rbg from USC will be tough to beat out as they are #7 team in country. Kendall is 16 ppg 11 rbg.
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Cook was nominated for the Nancy Lieberman Watch List, Naismith Player of the Year Watch List, and Wooden Top 50 Watch List last year.
 
#44      
Capt.Illini1975
The Galloping Ghost said:
Exactly. My seats for the Terps game were behind our bench. The vibes, from the starters to the walk-ons, were locked in when needed, but having fun doing it. In the huddle, every player was focused, listening, and talking each other up. When the huddle broke, the bench was dancing to the music in the arena and cheering on their teammates. My UMD alum friends I went to the game with were surprised by how much fun our bench was having the entire way. Especially with the injuries, we play an incredibly short bench. Even still, the player's joy is infectious.
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Did you catch Gen's session with the media yesterday? How she was moved to tears when talking about what it has meant to her to find her way to Illinois and how much she appreciates the opportunity to play for her coaches and with her teammates? Right from the heart.
 
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