Sports

“What a great surprise it was,” Guillen said. “Especially opening day, the way they did it.”

“I’ve said all along, you just have to keep knocking on the door and our opportunities were going to come,” Underwood said in Indianapolis when asked about the impact of the 2024 postseason loss.

Manager Craig Counsell said Horton will be placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday.

Parker won three titles in the WNBA with three teams: Los Angeles, Chicago and Las Vegas.

Illinois State shot 29.2%, made 3 of 17 from distance and 10 of 12 foul shots.

“It’s definitely crazy,” he said after Thursday’s practice at Lucas Oil Stadium. “Playing for a state championship (last year), like I thought that’d be like the biggest thing I’d ever play in. But getting to a Final Four is definitely a lot bigger.”

The Illini will be tested against Reed, a 6-foot-11, 265-pound senior whose scoring (21.8) and rebounding (13.5) averages in the tournament are the best of any player still standing.

All the Illinois players with European roots are allowed to play because their pro teams were more like club teams; they didn’t enter a draft or actually get drafted, the way a player might if he was looking to go to the NBA.

“In the first 24 hours, over 5,000 were ordered online and [for] pickup,” said Steven Farag, co-founder and CEO of Campus Ink and the NIL Store.

City officials cite public safety as Illini fans prepare for large gatherings this weekend..