Izzy Randazzo

Yahoo Sports • 24th September 2026

Why Zvonimir Ivisic Could Be Illinois Basketball’s Sixth Man This Season

Illinois may not need Zvonimir Ivišić to become one of its stars this season.They may need something much more difficult to defend.At 7-foot-2, Ivišić can protect the rim, finish around the basket and stretch a defense beyond the paint. He showed flashes of all three during his first season as a junior with the Illini, but his biggest value may come from how quickly he can change a game when he checks in.That is what makes the idea of Ivišić becoming Illinois' sixth man so intriguing.He doesn't...

Yahoo Sports • 23rd September 2026

Breaking Down Illinois Men's Basketball's 2026-27 Schedule

After making its first Final Four appearance in 21 years, Illinois enters the 2026-27 season with expectations that are significantly higher than they were a year ago. The Illini return five rotation players from last season's team while adding a strong recruiting class and an impact transfer, giving Brad Underwood a roster capable of competing with some of the best teams in the country.The schedule will give Illinois plenty of opportunities to prove that.Rather than easing into the season, Illi...

Yahoo Sports • 22nd September 2026

David Mirković Is Poised for a Breakout Sophomore Season at Illinois

David Mirković does not need to prove that he belongs at Illinois. He already did that during his freshman season.The Montenegro native arrived in Champaign with plenty of intrigue, but by the end of the 2025-26 season, Mirković had established himself as one of the most important players on Illinois' roster. He started 36 of 37 games, averaged 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and helped the Illini make a run all the way to the Final Four.Now comes the interesting part.Mirković enters his...

Yahoo Sports • 22nd September 2026

The Next Chapter of Illinois Basketball

Last season changed the expectations around Illinois basketball.For the first time in 21 years, the Illini reached the Final Four. They won 28 games, established themselves as one of the best teams in the country and came within two wins of a national championship.Now comes the difficult part: doing it again.What makes this Illinois team so interesting is that it is not starting over. Five of the team's eight leading scorers from last season are returning, giving Brad Underwood something that ha...

RoundtableSports • 18th September 2026

2027 Five-Star Recruit AJ Williams Includes Illinois in Top 10

Illinois basketball is officially in the mix for one of the biggest names in the 2027 recruiting class.Five-star forward AJ Williams has cut his recruitment down to 10 schools, and the Illini made the list alongside Arkansas, Auburn, BYU, Duke, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Mississippi State and North Carolina. Williams announced the list Monday, with the news first reported by Rivals’ Joe Tipton.Williams is a 6-foot-7 small forward out of Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in Georgia and is r...

RoundtableSports • 17th September 2026

Illinois Basketball Set for Big Recruiting Weekend With Four Five-Star Visitors

The Illini are set to host four five-star prospects in Champaign this weekend, bringing together two of the top prospects in the 2027 class and two elite names from the 2028 class.Wabbington is ranked among the nation's top prospects in the 2027 class and is considered one of the top centers in the country. He's also a particularly intriguing fit for Illinois because of his versatility.For Illinois, though, getting him to Champaign earlier than originally planned is a significant opportunity, pa...

RoundtableSports • 16th September 2026

Top Five Plays from New Assistant Coach Taj Gibson's Chicago Bulls Career

That's why his return to the Bulls as an assistant coach feels bigger than simply adding another name to a coaching staff. Gibson knows what it means to wear a Bulls uniform. He knows what the expectations feel like in Chicago. He knows what it means to play in front of a United Center crowd, to grind through an 82-game season and to be asked to sacrifice parts of your own game for the sake of the team. Most importantly, he knows the standard.

That's why his return to the Bulls as an assistant...

No Ceilings • 15th September 2026

Five College Teams That Could Take Over the 2027 NBA Draft

Although I do wish I had a crystal ball, I’m not here to tell you which team is going to win the National Championship. I’m not trying to predict the Final Four in September. Give me about two months, and then we can get to my predictions about all of that.I’m more interested in something much more important: Which college teams are going to be appointment viewing for NBA Draft sickos?Which campuses have multiple legitimate prospects? Which rosters could produce three, four, maybe even five draf...

RoundtableSports • 25th August 2026

Bulls Fest Brings Chicago's Basketball Community Together

Across the United Center grounds on August 22, generations of Chicago basketball fans gathered to play, watch and celebrate the sport, giving the Bulls an opportunity to connect with their community in a way that extends beyond a typical game day.Young players competed in 3v3 tournaments, fans filled the courts surrounding the United Center and families participated in activities throughout the event. Fans also had opportunities to interact with current and former Bulls players, creating an expe...

RoundtableSports • 24th August 2026

Bulls Fest Shows Chicago's Excitement For 2026-2027 Season

Just a few months out before the Chicago Bulls take the floor for their first game of the 2026-27 season, Chicago fans already had a chance to show just how ready they are for basketball to return.All across the grounds, there were longtime Bulls fans who have been following the team for decades, parents bringing their kids out for the day and young fans wearing jerseys of the players they hope will lead the next era of Bulls basketball.Different courts around the United Center grounds were fill...

Yahoo Sports • 14th August 2026

The Bulls’ Most Anticipated Matchups of the 2026-27 Season

The Chicago Bulls finally know what their road to the 2026-27 season will look like.The NBA released its complete regular-season schedule on August 13, giving Chicago fans their first opportunity to circle the games that could define Tiago Splitter's first season as head coach.The Bulls will open the season on the road against the Toronto Raptors on October 21 before returning home for their United Center opener against No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards on October 24.But...

Yahoo Sports • 14th August 2026

Bulls Hire Jordan Brink as Assistant Coach, Director of Player Development

The Chicago Bulls are adding another intriguing piece to Tiago Splitter's coaching staff.The Bulls are hiring former New York Knicks assistant coach Jordan Brink as an assistant coach and director of player development, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto.Brink joins Chicago after spending the past three seasons with the Knicks, where he developed a reputation as one of the organization's most trusted behind-the-scenes coaches. His responsibilities included player development and special sit...

RoundtableSports • 10th August 2026

Bulls' Nic Claxton Trade Ranked Among Worst Offseason Moves

Yahoo Sports • 8th August 2026

Chicago Bulls’ Offseason Earns Positive Ranking After Strong Draft

The Chicago Bulls finally appear to have a direction.After years of hovering around the NBA's middle ground, Chicago entered the offseason with a new front office, a new head coach and, most importantly, a commitment to building around young talent.That approach earned the Bulls a respectable spot in The Athletic's offseason rankings, with veteran NBA reporter David Aldridge placing Chicago No. 13.The ranking comes after a 31-51 season in which the Bulls missed the playoffs, but their offseason...

RoundtableSports • 6th August 2026

Northwestern Joins Midseason Tournament in Charleston, South Carolina

Northwestern men's basketball will return to the Charleston Classic this fall, the program announced Thursday, August 6. The Wildcats will be competing on November 20 and November 22 at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina.The Wildcats are one of six teams in the tournament field, joining Dayton, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Utah and Virginia Tech. The event will feature three standalone games on each of the two competition days, with every team playing once on Friday and once on Sunday. Tournam...

Yahoo Sports • 5th August 2026

Should the Chicago Bulls Keep or Trade Big Man Jalen Smith?

After acquiring Nic Claxton this offseason and retaining Zach Collins on a new contract, the Bulls suddenly have an abundance of talent in the frontcourt. While depth is never a bad thing, it creates a difficult, key question heading into the 2026-27 season.Where does Jalen Smith fit?Smith quietly put together one of the most efficient seasons of his career in 2025-26. In 53 games, the 26-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and...

RoundtableSports • 21st July 2026

Four Biggest Takeaways from the Chicago Bulls' 2026 NBA Summer League

The Bulls saw encouraging performances from their newest franchise cornerstone, flashes of what first-year head coach Tiago Splitter wants this team to become and unexpected contributions from players fighting to earn an NBA opportunity. At the same time, a pair of first-round picks reminded everyone that development is rarely a straight line.Wilson rarely forced shots. He played within the flow of the offense, consistently made the right read and displayed the versatility that made him one of t...

RoundtableSports • 16th July 2026

Bulls vs. Lakers Summer League Preview: How to Watch, Lineups & Odds

After grabbing a win against the Washington Wizards in their previous game, the energy of the Bulls seems to be high. Tuesday night’s game highlighted impressive performances by Caleb Wilson and Jaylin Sellers, setting the tone for their fourth game vs. L.A.Tonight will be a test to see if Chicago can close out their time at Summer League on a high note prior to heading back to the Windy City for training camp.Wilson is averaging 24.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.3 steals per game thro...

RoundtableSports • 14th July 2026

Bulls Fall Short to Jazz, 80-63, in Their Second Game At Summer League

The first points on the board came from Noa Essengue, in an efficient drive to the basket for a tip into the hoop. The Bulls may have started off slower than they would have liked, but the momentum picked up shortly after the first half commenced. Chicago struggled from beyond the arc, missing many open threes, which made it difficult for them to capitalize on their defensive stops. Despite key players from the Jazz being out, including Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey, Chicago seemed to be fallin...

RoundtableSports • 13th July 2026

Caleb Wilson’s NBA Debut: 35 Points and a Glimpse of the Future

Wilson announced his arrival in his Summer League debut against the Memphis Grizzlies, attaining 35 points in a 97-96 loss. The former North Carolina forward set the tone from the opening tip, displaying the scoring ability, confidence and versatility that made him one of the most highly regarded prospects in the draft class.The performance was even more meaningful considering the road Wilson took to get there. After suffering a season-ending thumb injury during his freshman year at North Caroli...

RoundtableSports • 11th July 2026

Caleb Wilson Scores Record 35 Points as Bulls Fall to Grizzlies

All eyes were on Caleb Wilson — the Bulls' No. 4 overall draft pick — to show out in the first game in Las Vegas. Needless to say, he delivered. The former Tar Heel went into the game with a simple goal when asked by reporters a few days prior: to win. Although he didn't achieve that objective, Wilson had a performance that'll undoubtedly get Bulls fans excited about the future of their team. The 19-year-old forward scored 35 points on an efficient 12-of-21 shooting and an otherworldly 7-of-11 c...

RoundtableSports • 8th July 2026

Dailyn Swain Sees a Promising Future in Bulls' Talented Summer League Roster

The Chicago Bulls are heading to Las Vegas with one of the organization's most intriguing Summer League rosters in recent memory, and rookie Dailyn Swain has already noticed what sets this group apart.Headlining the group are lottery selections Caleb Wilson and Swain, while second-year forward Noa Essengue returns after a season-ending shoulder injury. The roster also includes two-way players like Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka, along with several young players looking to prove they belong at the...

RoundtableSports • 1st July 2026

How Norman Powell Fits Into the Bulls’ Roster

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Bulls agreed to a two-year, $45 million contract with veteran guard Norman Powell, adding one of the NBA's most efficient and explosive offensive players to a young, developing roster. Powell is coming off the best season of his career after averaging 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while earning his first All-Star selection.Few players in the league attack defenses as efficiently as the 33-year-old guard. He's capable of creating his own shot, t...

RoundtableSports • 27th June 2026

Bulls’ Caleb Wilson to Face Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer in Summer League

When the Bulls released their NBA Summer League schedule, one storyline immediately stood out: Chicago's No. 4 overall pick is set to face each of the three players selected ahead of him—AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer—in the team's first three games in Las Vegas.For Wilson, it's more than an opportunity to make his professional debut. It's an early measuring stick against the prospects who defined the top of this year's draft. For Bulls fans, it's the first chance to see how Chi...