Illinois basketball notches their first quality win of the season with a 90-77 victory over #19 Arkansas. On this Thanksgiving Day, Mike Carpenter is feeling grateful for the current state of Brad Underwood's program, and they took full advantage of a nationally televised opportunity in Kansas City. Kasparas Jakucionis, Tomislav Ivisic, and Kylan B…

Illinois football is 8-3 after a miraculous Pat Bryant touchdown with four seconds left, lifting them to a 38-31 victory at Rutgers. Mike Carpenter discusses the importance of the win, as it helps Bielema's program avoid another "November Swoon" and all but punches their ticket to the Citrus Bowl. There are concerns, from the overall team sloppines…

Sloppy play on both sides of the ball dooms Illinois against red-hot Alabama in a 100-87 loss in Birmingham. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half as the Illini twice get it within eight, only to see the Tide respond each time. Will Riley dropped 18 points, Kylan Boswell another 17, and Kasparas Jakucionis another 15. But, it wasn't enough a…

Illinois football improves to 7-3 on the season with a 38-16 win over Michigan State. Mike Carpenter discusses the importance of the bounce-back victory, not just for the team but for a nervous fan base. He also reflects on how Bielema has raised the floor of the program in his four seasons and seemingly put Illinois on a sustainable path forward. …

Illinois football is 6-3 during their second bye week, yet a bit of momentum feels lost after two straight losses. Mike Carpenter hits the reset button and looks ahead to the last three games of the year, and discusses where Bret Bielema's team stands entering the home stretch. Later, he opens the listener mailbag and reads how fans are feeling ahe…

Illinois basketball starts off the 2024-25 season with a 112-67 blowout win over Eastern Illinois. Mike Carpenter discusses the debut of many new faces, including 5-star freshman Will Riley's record-setting 31-point performance, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn's 21 off the bench, and Tomislav Ivisic and Kasparas Jakucionis' impressive debuts. Meanwhile, Ty Rodge…

Humbled after a blowout loss at Oregon, Illinois football returns home to face PJ Fleck's Minnesota team. Mike Carpenter discusses the takeaways from Saturday's loss (including a few positives), and what it means for Bret Bielema's team as they enter a winnable home stretch of the season. Later, he opens up the listener mailbag to see how fans thin…

Fresh off a memorable home win against Michigan, #20 Illinois hits the road to take on top-ranked Oregon. Mike Carpenter discusses the tall task ahead of Bret Bielema's squad, currently 21.5-point underdogs, as they head to the West Coast. He also talks about how the 6-1 start eases the nerves heading into the marquee matchup, and opens the listene…

Illinois football celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Memorial Stadium in style, beating 24th-ranked Michigan 21-7 on a perfect Saturday afternoon in Champaign. Mike Carpenter reflects on the momentous win for Bret Bielema's squad, from the Red Grange-inspired throwback uniforms to the electric sold out crowd. He opens up the listener mailbag to di…

It's a big week for Illini football as Michigan comes to town for the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium. Mike Carpenter is chomping at the bit for Saturday and reflects on the journey through the Bret Bielema era to get to this point. He dives into reasons why both teams can come away with a win, but ultimately believes one has a few more advan…

Mike Carpenter returns after the bye week to preview Illinois football's matchup against Ryan Walters' struggling Purdue Boilermakers. He opens up the listener mailbag to see how Illini fans think their team will fare over the next four games, and discusses the different paths available for Bret Bielema's team to have a very good-to-great season. A…

Mike Carpenter welcomes old friend Lon Tay to help celebrate the release of The 200 Level book! They discuss the writing process, the last 30+ years of Illini basketball, and share memories and experiences along the way. Then, they are joined by an unplanned surprise guest - Dee Brown! - who helps to close things out. AVAILABLE NOW! The 200 Level: …

Illini football suffers their first loss of the season to 8th-ranked Penn State, 21-7. Mike Carpenter and Kenton Elmore react during the second half which saw Bret Bielema's squad hang around into the fourth quarter. Ultimately, too many ill-timed mistakes and Penn State's ability to run the ball doomed Illinois. Next up: lowly Purdue on October 12…

Illinois football is 4-0, ranked #19, and has a primetime matchup Saturday at #8 Penn State. Mike Carpenter is still basking in the glow, opening up the listener mailbag to see what excites fans the most following Friday's big road win. He discusses the micro and macro positives, and how Bret Bielema's program is positioning itself for success in 2…

Illinois football is 4-0 after a massive win at Nebraska! Mike Carpenter and Kenton Elmore react during the second half and overtime as Luke Altmeyer leads the Illini to victory. Bret Bielema's squad gets their second ranked W of the year, will head into Penn State with a top-20 ranking, and now have the nation's attention midway through September.…

Illinois football is 3-0 for the first time since 2011, and with it, halfway to bowl eligibility. Best of all? They appear to be just plain old good. Mike Carpenter discusses the team's fast start ahead of a tough pair of road games at Nebraska and Penn State, and opens up the listener mailbag to see how fans are feeling after the first quarter of …

Mike Carpenter is still basking in the glow of the Kansas win ahead of Saturday's Homecoming matchup against Central Michigan. He looks ahead at the rest of the season using Kelley Ford's predictive ratings, and discusses Illini football's chances at a winning season. Then, he opens up the listener mailbag to see if fans' expectations have changed …

Illini football gets a massive win in front of a sold-out crowd, beating #19 Kansas 23-17. Mike Carpenter reacts to a perfect day and night at Memorial Stadium, and how the win not only improves the prospects for this year's team, but for the direction of Bret Bielema's program. He also opens up the listener mailbag and discusses how big this victo…

This is it - the game we've been waiting for! Illinois welcomes in Kansas for a week two grudge match with an opportunity to jumpstart a run to a bowl game. Mike Carpenter discusses how this game is massive for Bret Bielema's program in his fourth year, and how its result will impact the fan base, recruits, and short-and-long-term success of Illini…

Illinois football gets their season off to a rollicking start with a 45-0 victory over EIU. Mike Carpenter recaps the dominating win led by a balanced offensive attack, with Luke Altmeyer throwing 4 TDs and Kaedin Feagin picking up where he left off at running back. Also, Aaron Henry's defense settles in after a shaky first possession, pitching a s…

The 2024 Illini Football season is days away from kicking off against Eastern Illinois! Mike Carpenter opens up the listener mailbag to see what fans think will be Illinois football's overall record, best win, worst loss, and the MVPs on each side of the ball. He makes his final predictions for the upcoming season, and explains why a "bowl game or …

Mike Carpenter is joined by longtime co-host Trevor Vallese to discuss the upcoming Illini football season. They rank the games in order of difficulty in an effort to find six or more wins and gauge their confidence level in each of the position groups. Finally, they talk about the ceiling and floor for Bret Bielema's team, and what the different r…

Longtime 200 Level co-host Isaac Ambrose hops on to discuss all things Illini Football with Mike Carpenter. They talk about the raised floor and potential high ceiling of Barry Lunney's offense, the need for Aaron Henry's defense to be merely serviceable, and what it will take for Bret Bielema's team to reach a bowl game in 2024.…

We're just over three weeks from the start of the 2024 Illini Football season! Mike Carpenter reflects on how a disappointing 2023 looms large entering Bret Bielema's fourth season. He also discusses reasons for concern and optimism on both sides of the ball, before looking ahead to the 12-game schedule and making a prediction on Illinois' overall …

Mike Carpenter announces the upcoming release of The 200 Level: An Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball Fan's Journey, available for pre-order now ahead of its general release in October. He details what inspired him to write the book, how the process began, and what he hopes readers will get from it. Also, a discussion of the start of fall football…

Terrence Shannon Jr. is found not guilty on the charges he faced in Lawrence, KS. Mike Carpenter reacts to the verdict and the trial itself, including a dearth of evidence from the prosecution and a strong defense from TSJ's attorneys. Also, he discusses Coleman Hawkins' huge NIL deal with Kansas State and Zakhari Franklin's commitment to Bielema's…

Brad Underwood rounds out his roster with the addition of Kasparas Jakucionis, an 18-year-old Lithuanian guard. Mike Carpenter reacts to the new commit and his impressive skill set, along with how it fits with Illinois' seven other additions. Later, he opens the listener mailbag to see how they would grade Illini basketball's offseason.…

Brad Underwood finds his rim-protecting, 3-point-shooting big after a trip to Europe, landing 7'1" Tomislav Ivisic from Croatia. Mike Carpenter reacts to the new commit which solidifies a revamped, versatile frontcourt with Ben Humichrous, Carey Booth, and Morez Johnson. He also reacts to the latest in the Terrence Shannon Jr. case, along with a lo…

Transfer portal season is fully underway, and Brad Underwood has already bolstered the 2024-25 Illini basketball roster. Mike Carpenter discusses the additions of Kylan Boswell, Jake Davis, Tre White, and Carey Booth, along with the needs for a scorer after Dante Maddox and AJ Storr go elsewhere. Also, he talks about the hot rumor of an assistant c…

Portal season has begun, and Illinois basketball has a lot of work ahead of them. Mike Carpenter reacts to the surprise commitment of Tre White, a sophomore wing from Louisville. He then discusses the biggest names circulating in the rumor mill, from hometown kid Kylan Boswell to AJ Storr, Dante Maddox, and Carey Booth. Over the next few weeks, how…

The 2024 Illinois basketball season is over, and what a memorable season it was. Mike Carpenter reflects on the 29-win team that grabbed a Big Ten Tournament Championship and made it to their first Elite Eight in 19 years. He discusses how this group of players and Brad Underwood injected fun back into the program, while setting it up for success i…

The Illinois Fighting Illini are Elite Eight Bound! They beat Iowa State 72-69 in a game they never trailed, landing counter-punches to every Cyclones run. Mike Carpenter, Isaac Ambrose, Kenton Elmore, and a crew of Illini fans react to the thrilling second half which included key contributions from Terrence Shannon Jr, Dain Dainja, Luke Goode, and…

Illini fans are reveling in their team's first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 19 years ahead of Thursday's marquee matchup against Iowa State. Mike Carpenter discusses Illinois' thrilling run through the month of March, and how this season has provided ultimate validation for Brad Underwood. He opens up the listener mailbag to see how fans are feeling…

Illinois is back in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in 19 seasons! Mike Carpenter and Kenton Elmore react during the second half of the Illini's 89-63 rout of Duquesne. Terrence Shannon Jr. scores 30 along with Marcus Domask's 22 points in a game that was never in doubt. Soak it in, Illini fans! It's been way too long, and it feels so damn goo…

The narrowest of halftime leads turns into an 85-69 Illinois rout of Morehead State. Mike Carpenter, Isaac Ambrose and Kenton Elmore react during the impressive second half. Dain Dainja scores 21 points while Marcus Domask gets an extremely-rare NCAA Tournament triple-double. Meanwhile, Terrence Shannon Jr. adds 26 points. Next up: Duquesne for a t…

It's tournament time! Mike Carpenter reflects on Illinois basketball's thrilling run to a Big Ten Tournament Title before switching gears to March Madness. He discusses this weekend's potential matchups, from the opener against 14-seed Morehead State to a second round tilt against BYU or Duquesne. Taking a dive into the data, Mike explains why he's…

Illinois grabs a 3 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament with a first round matchup against Moorehead State. Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose react to the unveiling of the brackets, which finds the Illini in a tough East region. A potential second round matchup against BYU or Duquense awaits, while UConn and Iowa State hold the 1st and 2nd seeds.…

The Illinois Fighting Illini are Big Ten Tournament Champs! They get a 93-87 win over the Wisconsin Badgers, earning their second BTT banner in four years. Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose react during a thrilling 2nd half. Terrence Shannon Jr's 34 and Marcus Domask's 26 lead the way, as Brad Underwood's squad plays a complete game against a red-ho…

Illinois turns a 15-point 2nd half deficit into a 98-87 win over Nebraska, securing their place in the Big Ten Tournament Final. Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose start off a bit despondent, but thanks to Terrence Shannon Jr.'s 40-point performance and an inspired half from the supporting cast, the Illini mount one of their most impressive halves in…

With the help of Dain Dainja's 18 point, 8 rebound performance and Terrence Shannon Jr.'s 28 points, Illinois survives and advances to the Big Ten Semifinal with a 77-74 win over Ohio State. Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose react during the second half as the Illini fall down by as many as 8. But, with inspired efforts from Dainja, Ty Rodgers, TSJ,…

The regular season is done and the postseason has begun! Mike Carpenter reflects on the 2023-24 season so far, and how this team exceeded preseason expectations and cleansed the palette from last year's disappointments. Also, he discusses Brad Underwood's performance as head coach, and how he has led Illinois basketball into its best stretch in two…

Illinois finishes the Big Ten season in style at Carver Hawkeye Arena, beating Fran McCaffery's Iowa Hawkeyes 73-61 behind Terrence Shannon Jr.'s 25 points and Quincy Guerrier's first double-double since January. Mike Carpenter reacts as Brad Underwood's team watches a 20-point lead dwindle to 4, only to close the game out strong. Next up: the winn…

Purdue was too much for Illinois yet again, pulling off an impressive 77-71 win at State Farm Center. Mike Carpenter reacts to the loss and opens up the listener mailbag to see if fans are more or less encouraged heading into the rest of March. With Iowa, the Big Ten Tournament, and March Madness looming, what are reasonable expectations for Brad U…

Illini basketball becomes the first program to win four games in a row at the Kohl Center, beating Wisconsin 91-83. Mike Carpenter reacts to the huge Quad 1 win, spurred on by Marcus Domask's 31-point performance in his home state. Terrence Shannon Jr. added 23 points, while Coleman Hawkins and Justin Harmon also score in double-digits. Next up: a …

Illinois beats Minnesota 105-97 in a historic offensive performance from both teams. As the defense continues to flounder but the points keep coming, Mike Carpenter embraces the weirdness that is the 2024 Illini. He discusses the remaining three game stretch in the Big Ten, expectations for a possible run in March, and an offense that is even more …

With the help of Coleman Hawkins 30 points, Illinois gets a much-needed bounce-back 95-85 victory against Iowa. Mike Carpenter reacts to the win which included Brad Underwood making a hockey substitution early in the second half. Illinois' defensive intensity improved, and they closed the game out strongly and provided some reasons for optimism. Ne…

Illinois chokes away another late lead in a 90-89 loss at Penn State as the same issues (bad defense, awful inbounds plays, lack of adjustments) come home to roost in brutal fashion. Mike Carpenter and Isaac Ambrose react as a 7-point lead with 40 seconds to go evaporates thanks to absolute boneheaded decision-making and execution from veteran play…

Illinois bounces back with a 97-68 shellacking of Michigan, as Brad Underwood improves to 8-0 over Juwan Howard. Terrence Shannon Jr. explodes for 31 points, and the Illini team defense shows some signs of life. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half, while also discussing what this Illinois team needs to do over the next five weeks in order …

Mike Carpenter reflects on the Illini basketball season so far, which has them at 17-5 overall and 8-3 in the Big Ten. He opens up the listener mailbag to see how satisfied fans are with Brad Underwood as Illinois' head coach, and what's been most impressive through seven years at the helm. Finally, he discusses Saturday's big game at Michigan Stat…

Illinois survives an overtime scare against Nebraska 86-83. Mike Carpenter reacts during a mostly-good second half until the final 3:28 when Nebraska erased a ten-point lead. Fortunately, Illinois made enough winning plays in OT to improve to 8-3 in the Big Ten and tie Wisconsin for second place. Finally, they get some extended time off before a hu…