The daily pitch from Sports Editor Matt Daniels: Feb. 4, 2025

To subscribe, please click here Want a copy of today's edition? Here's a map of single-copy locations Sign up for our daily newsletters Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what's going on around the area: Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis, right, drives on Ohio State guard Ques Glover in Sundays Big Ten game at State Farm Center in Champaign, with Jakucionis netting eight points and also handing out seven assists as part of the 18th-ranked Illinis 87-79 comeback win.

Three reasons we love sports today 1.

Many thanks to former Illini baseball standout and 14-year MLB veteran Darrin Fletcher, along with Illinois baseball coach Dan Hartleb, for stopping by the Esquire for Monday Night SportsTalk.

Head right here to listen to a podcast of the WDWS radio show .

2.

Illinois mens basketball guard Kasparas Jakucionis is one of 50 players on the Oscar Robertson Trophy midseason watch list, the U.S.

Basketball Writers Association announced on Monday .

The winner will be revealed at the Final Four when it is held in San Antonio from April 5-7.

3.

Illinois football got a late addition to its 2025 class on Monday when Fenwick linebacker Jack Paris verbally committed .

He can sign with the Illini on Wednesday.

Illinois fifth-year senior guard Genesis Bryant lays up a shot on Sunday afternoon against No.

14 Maryland.

Bryant led the Illini with 20 points, as Illinois stunned Maryland, 66-65, for Illinois' first-ever win in program history against the Terrapins.

Numbers game: 101 free throws Illinois womens basketball guard Genesis Bryant has made this season.

Including two that sealed Sundays 66-65 upset at No.

14 Maryland for the Illini.

Bryant, who earned Big Ten womens basketball co-Player of the Week on Monday along with Iowa guard Lucy Olsen , needs to make 29 more to break into the Top 10 for most in a single season by an Illini.

Karisma Penn holds the record of 179 free throws made during the 2012-13 season.

Fabio Rocha (50) and the No.

7 Parkland men's basketball team hosts Danville Area Community College on Wednesday night in Champaign.

Crowd control Three events Im paying attention to 1.

No.

23 Illinois at Rutgers mens basketball .

The Illini (15-7, 7-5 Big Ten) will try to avoid a third straight Big Ten road loss, when Ace Bailey and the rest of the Scarlet Knights (11-11, 4-7) await at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday at Jersey Mikes Arena in Piscataway, N.J.

2.

Danville Area at Parkland womens basketball .

The host Cobras (14-9) aim for the season sweep of the Jaguars (16-7) when the two local programs tip at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday in Champaign.

3.

Danville Area at Parkland mens basketball .

DACC (13-7) handed No.

7 Parkland (20-2) a loss on Jan.

11.

Neither team has lost since ahead of Wednesday nights rematch at 7:30 p.m.

in Champaign.

Andy Hosch and his daughter, Scarlett.

Coachs corner Three questions with Danville boys swimming coach Andy Hosch: 1.

My favorite sports team is ...

the Chicago Cubs.

2.

Three coaches Id like to have dinner with are ...

Mike Ditka, Joe Maddon and Phil Jackson.

3.

My biggest pet peeve is ...

whining..

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