Episodes

Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Nittany Lion Taming (01/09/25)
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
No Kasparas Jakucionis, no problem for Illini basketball as they rout Penn State 91-52. Mike Carpenter discusses the phenomenal team effort as three players score 20+ points (Ben Humrichous, Tre White, Morez Johnson) while the defensive side of the ball continues to stifle opponents. Of course, the status of Jakucionis looms large for the team going forward. But, it feels as if Brad Underwood's squad is starting to click at its highest level yet.

Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Citrus Bowl Reflections (01/07/25)
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
The 2024 Illinois Football season was one of the most memorable in program history, a 10-3 campaign capped off with a thrilling Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina. Mike Carpenter reflects on Bret Bielema's fourth year at the helm, and how the successes of this team fundamentally changed the perception of program. He discusses the signature moments of the year, and how the high expectations should be going into the 2025 season.

Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Defeat-less in Seattle (01/05/25)
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
By the skin of their teeth, Illinois basketball holds on for an 81-77 win at Washington. Mike Carpenter reacts (sometimes angrily) during a tense second half, which saw a double-digit Illini lead evaporate. But, clutch plays from the backcourt trio of Kasparas Jakucionis, Kylan Boswell, and Tre White help save the day. With the victory, Brad Underwood's team finishes their lone west coast trip with a perfect 2-0 record. Next up: Wednesday night vs. Penn State.

Friday Jan 03, 2025
Duck Season (01/03/25)
Friday Jan 03, 2025
Friday Jan 03, 2025
Illinois basketball makes history with a 109-77 win over #9 Oregon in Eugene. Mike Carpenter discusses the dominant performance, one of (if not the) best of the Brad Underwood era. The 32-point margin is the largest of any road opponent against an AP top ten team ever. Jake Davis and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn combined for 23 first half points to spur on the Illini, while Kasparas Jakucionis, Kylan Boswell, Tre White, and Ben Humrichous (no, seriously!) keyed on a 64-point second half outburst. Next up: at Washington on Sunday afternoon.

Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Citrus Bowl Champs! (12/31/24)
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Illinois football pulls off the upset against South Carolina with a thrilling 21-17 victory, notching the program's fifth-ever 10-win season. Mike Carpenter reacts from his hotel in Orlando after attending the game, an intense evening with some fireworks between Bret Bielema and Shane Beamer. A solid defensive game plan, effective offense, and yet another 4th quarter comeback propel the Illini to their biggest win yet in a 2024 season chock full of them.

Monday Dec 30, 2024
Live from Orlando with Harry Black (12/30/24)
Monday Dec 30, 2024
Monday Dec 30, 2024
Mike Carpenter is joined by The 200 Level co-host emeritus Harry Black ahead of Illinois football's appearance in the Citrus Bowl. They recap a memorable 9-3 regular season and discuss how this team's success alters expectations for the program going forward. Also, they ponder just how awesome it would be if Bret Bielema's squad pulled off the upset against South Carolina.

Monday Dec 23, 2024
A Very Kasparas Kristmas (12/23/24)
Monday Dec 23, 2024
Monday Dec 23, 2024
Illinois basketball wins their second-straight Braggin' Rights game 80-77 behind big shots from Kasparas Jakucionis and a gritty effort by Kylan Boswell. Mike Carpenter was in attendance for the first time since Rayvonte Rice's buzzer-beater in 2014, and recaps a wild game all-too-often interrupted by terrible officiation. Unlike the Northwestern and Tennessee losses, Brad Underwood's Illini find a way to close things out with timely shots and defensive stops.

Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Cool Hand Luke (12/18/24)
Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Wednesday Dec 18, 2024
Luke Altmyer will return to Illinois for his senior season, a bit of huge news ahead of the team's appearance in the Citrus Bowl. Mike Carpenter takes a quick break from basketball to discuss how Luke's return affects expectations going into 2025, raising the floor for Bret Bielema's program and giving them an even better chance of sustaining momentum.