The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast

Bad opponent, close game, late heroics . . . rinse and repeat. Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose react during an Illini win over Northwestern in which Ayo Dosunmu saved the day late and moved their conference record to 11-3.

Bad opponent, close game, late heroics . . . rinse and repeat. Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose react during an Illini win over Northwestern in which Ayo Dosunmu saved the day late and moved their conference record to 11-3.

After a close call in Nebraska, Illini basketball finds themselves as the top 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Mike Carpenter discusses the near-miss on Friday, if Ayo is having the best individual season in program history, diminishing chances of a Big Ten crown, and a social media spat with Michigan fans.

After a close call in Nebraska, Illini basketball finds themselves as the top 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Mike Carpenter discusses the near-miss on Friday, if Ayo is having the best individual season in program history, diminishing chances of a Big Ten crown, and a social media spat with Michigan fans.

That . . . was close. Illinois survives in overtime against Nebraska thanks to another Herculean effort by Ayo Dosunmu. Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose try to maintain their composure during a frustrating (yet ultimately relieving) win.

That . . . was close. Illinois survives in overtime against Nebraska thanks to another Herculean effort by Ayo Dosunmu. Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose try to maintain their composure during a frustrating (yet ultimately relieving) win.

Mike Carpenter is giddy. Illini basketball is peaking at the right time thanks to program building by Brad Underwood, and two guys who are fast becoming all-time greats in Ayo and Kofi. As the schedule takes shape and brackets put Illinois as a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Carp is relishing every detail of this impressive turnaround.

Mike Carpenter is giddy. Illini basketball is peaking at the right time thanks to program building by Brad Underwood, and two guys who are fast becoming all-time greats in Ayo and Kofi. As the schedule takes shape and brackets put Illinois as a 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Carp is relishing every detail of this impressive turnaround.

The Illini put together their best 40-minute performance of the year thanks to Ayo Dosunmu's triple-double and Kofi's countless dunks. Mike Carpenter and Trevor Vallese react to a big-time win over the always-annoying Wisconsin Badgers, and start to dream big for the rest of the year.

The Illini put together their best 40-minute performance of the year thanks to Ayo Dosunmu's triple-double and Kofi's countless dunks. Mike Carpenter and Trevor Vallese react to a big-time win over the always-annoying Wisconsin Badgers, and start to dream big for the rest of the year.