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

Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose flip on the mics for the ENTIRE Illini vs. Nebraska game, and ride the wave from despair to relief.  Illinois improves to 10-6 in the Big Ten (18-9 overall) with a 12-point win against a short-handed Nebraska team, and sets up another "please, don't lose this stupid game" scenario at Northwestern on Thursday.

HE DID IT!  Ayo Dosunmu drops 24 points in his triumphant return, helping Illinois to a massive 62-56 win at #9 Penn State.  Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Isaac Ambrose brought back the good mojo with another second-half/postgame podcast, and react to a win that likely punches the tournament ticket for the Illini.

In a whirlwind 24 hours, Illini fans went from the lowest of lows . . . to the highest of highs . . . back down, and then up again.  Mike Carpenter reacts live to the news of Ayo's diagnosis of "no structural damage" and how it will impact the rest of the season, beginning with a possible upset bid at Rutgers.

So . . . Friday didn't go how we all wanted it to.  Fortunately, Brad Underwood and the Illini get a mulligan with Michigan State coming to town Tuesday night.  Mike Carpenter picks up the pieces and tries to get back his fanboy mojo in anticipation of another big home game at the State Farm Center.

19 years ago, Illinois beat Michigan State at the first "Paint the Hall Orange" and announced their arrival on the national stage.  In the next five days, Brad Underwood's Illini team has an opportunity to announce their return to national relevance. Mike Carpenter reflects on this moment and his own journey as an Illini fan.  For a long-starved fan base, these two games mean everything.