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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Bret Bielema has Illinois football recruiting on a roll this offseason.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. The Illinois football program, with its 11 high school commits so far for the 2026 class, is ranked 11th nationally by 247sports and checks in 13th, according to Rivals. With still more than eight months to go before the early signing period starts in December.
➜ 2. The Illinois women’s basketball team didn’t land in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday, but the Illini did find themselves among teams receiving votes with three points.
➜ 3. It’s Masters week as the first major of the golf season tees off Thursday at iconic Augusta National. And two former Illini will make their Masters debuts when Thomas Detry and Brian Campbell are part of the 95-player field.
New Illini Zvonimir Ivisic played last season at Arkansas after starting his college basketball career at Kentucky.
Numbers game: 37.6
percent new Illinois men’s basketball player Zvonimir Ivisic shot from three-point range last season at Arkansas. The 7-foot-2, 245-pound twin brother of returning Illini center Tomislav Ivisic connected on 47 of 125 three-point attempts, the best three-point accuracy the Razorbacks had last season. On Sunday, Zvonimir became the first transfer to sign with the Illini this offseason, a day after the 7-1, 255-pound Tomislav announced he would come back to Champaign for a second season.
Carter Bleakney and the Champaign Central baseball team plays Normal Community in a Big 12 series this week.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois at Illinois State baseball. The Illini (18-11) try for a season sweep of the Redbirds (14-16) after earning an 8-2 win last Tuesday night in Champaign. And try for their fifth straight win when the first pitch is schedule for 5 p.m. Tuesday at Duffy Bass Field in Normal.
➜ 2. Champaign Central at Normal Community baseball. The Maroons (8-4-1) begin a two-game Big 12 series against the Ironmen (5-3) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday before the series concludes at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Spalding Park in Champaign.
➜ 3. Pleasant Plains at St. Joseph-Ogden baseball. Two small-school programs accustomed to success meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Meier Field in St. Joseph when the Spartans (8-2) host the Cardinals (7-0).
Jim Kestner and his wife, Tami, with grandchildren, from left, Judah, Amelia, Lenita and Hugo.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Villa Grove cross-country coach Jim Kestner:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Chicago Bears.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Brad Underwood, Phil Jackson and Tony Dungy.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … parents who raise their kids to believe they are better than others because of where they came from instead of appreciating their opportunities and taking responsibility for their own successes.
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