Brad Underwood is still searching for the last piece to the 2024-25 roster

— a wing scorer is the focus — while looking ahead to 2025, 2026 and 2027 recruits for future rosters. Coleman Hawkins is still searching for

clarity with his NBA draft future. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that

and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

This week's milestone episode of "Inside Illini Basketball" features

special guest Brad Underwood. Beat writer Scott Richey went 1-on-1 with

the Illinois coach to discuss what last season's success means for the

continued development of the program, staying nimble in the transfer

portal era and much more.

Illinois' roster reconstruction continued Monday with the addition of

7-foot-1 center Tomislav Ivisic. The eighth newcomer ahead of the 2024-25

season. With three open scholarships still remaining. Beat writer Scott

Richey discusses the Croatian big man, the potential impact of all the

newcomers (with Kylan Boswell leading that group) and what next season's roster still needs in this week's episode of Inside Illini Basketball.

The transfer portal closes Wednesday, but that doesn't mean the near

complete roster overhaul will be a finished product. That process will

assuredly consume the month of May (and maybe beyond, although that can't be Brad Underwood's wish). What's clear, though, is there's still work to be done to field a roster to compete at the top of the Big Ten. Beat

writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini

Basketball.

Illinois now has just three scholarship players set to return from last

year's 29-win team that reached the Elite Eight. Only one of them played a

significant role in the rotation. Only Ty Rodgers' continued presence (so

far) makes it a complete and total roster reload for Brad Underwood.

Otherwise known as college basketball in 2024. Beat writer Scott Richey

discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

If there's one truth about college basketball in 2024, it's that rosters

are going to change. Maybe coaching staffs, too. Illinois is in the thick

of another roster reload, which got a weekend boost with a commitment from

Arizona transfer Kylan Boswell. But Brad Underwood still has more to do.

Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's Inside Illini

Basketball.

Jase Butler reopening his recruitment. Constant portal activity. Brad

Underwood a candidate at Kentucky? This April is turning out to be even

wilder than expected for an Illinois team that has plenty of work to do

before the 2024-25 season. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses it all in

this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

The 2023-24 Illinois basketball season ended Saturday in Boston. The

upside? It was in the Elite Eight. The downside? It was a brutal loss to

UConn. But there's no time to dwell on that. The 2024-25 season is already

underway, with a transfer commitment getting things started. Beat writer

Scott Richey discusses it all in this week's Inside Illini Basketball.

Illinois is back in the Sweet 16. For the first time since 2005. March

success had evaded Illinois for nearly two decades. A spot in the Sweet 16

was all the fan base wanted. Now that it's been secured? Might as well win

the whole thing. The challenge gets stiffer — Iowa State for sure, then

probably reigning champions UConn — but Illinois has proven in the last

two weeks it's also one of the best teams in the country. Beat writer

Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's Inside Illini

Basketball.

Illinois won three games in three days in Minneapolis to claim its second

Big Ten tournament championship in four years. The next goal? Chasing down

a national title in the NCAA tournament, which would be the program's

first. It all starts Thursday with a first-round game against Morehead

State. Beat writer Scott Richey discusses that and more in this week's

Inside Illini Basketball.