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

Losers of three straight Braggin' Rights games, the Illini look for revenge against a lowly Missouri team. Mike Carpenter discusses why Brad Underwood's squad will win big, the importance of the rivalry, Illinois' offensive renaissance, and the looming specter of COVID interrupting the season.

Bret Bielema inked his first recruiting class at Illinois, a solid group firmly in the middle of the Big Ten West. Mike Carpenter reflects on the first calendar year under Bielema and reasons to be optimistic going forward. Also, a discussion on where Illini basketball fits in a wide-open Big Ten conference, and remembering the 2001 team ahead of their reunion this weekend.

In front of a raucous crowd at the State Farm Center, Illinois was unable to close things out in a 83-79 loss to Arizona. Mike Carpenter recaps the good (Trent Frazier), bad (turnovers), and the ugly (technical foul) in a thrilling game with an anti-climactic conclusion. As other Big Ten teams fail to impress, where do the Illini fit in to the conference title discussion?

Fresh off the heels of a big win at Iowa, Illinois basketball has a chance at a marquee win against #11 Arizona. Mike Carpenter recaps Monday's win and why this rivalry win means so much, and then reflects on the history between the Illini and Arizona Wildcats. Finally, Ayo Dosunmu gets his day to hang his jersey in the State Farm Center rafters.

Behind 21 points from Alfonso Plummer (including an and-1 and late 3) and Jacob Grandison, the Illini won in Iowa City for the first time since 2017. Mike Carpenter, Isaac Ambrose and Trevor Vallese react during a thrilling (and sometimes maddening) second half. Illinois basketball is now 2-0 in the Big Ten, with a marquee home matchup against Arizona on Saturday.

Illinois basketball starts off Big Ten play with an impressive 86-51 blowout of Rutgers at the State Farm Center. Mike Carpenter does an impromptu postgame podcast, heaping praise on a total team effort and the remarkable improvement in just a week's time. Alfonso Plummer scored 24, Kofi recorded a double-double, Hawkins shut down Ron Harper Jr., while most everyone added something on an eventful night in Champaign.

Mike Carpenter recaps Bret Bielema's first season at the helm of Illinois football, culminating in a dominant 47-14 win over Northwestern. Despite missing out on a bowl game, the 2021 season gave many reasons to be optimistic for the future. Also, he reflects on Illini basketball's win over Notre Dame, and how he's adjusted expectations for this team.

Illinois basketball gets a much-needed win in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, beating Notre Dame 82-72. Mike Carpenter reacts during the second half in a game where Kofi  Cockburn dominates with 28 points, Alfonso Plummer adds 21, and Frazier and Grandison return sooner than expected.