EARLY 2026-27 Illinois Preview with Tom Fornelli | '26 Summer Shootaround

On today's Summer Shootaround, Matt Norlander and Cover 3's Tom Fornelli talk Illinois after Brad Underwood's team broke through to the Final Four. How do the Illini replace Keaton Wagler? How good can this team be for an encore? Do they have a case to be the preseason No. 1 team? All that and more!

0:00 Intro
1:00 Tom Fornelli of Cover 3 fame joins the show to talk Illinois hoops!
6:30 The 2026 Final Four run + the Illinois fan experience
12:15 Roster Breakdown: big backcourt shoes to fill, lots of size coming back & more
14:00 Do Illinois teams usually deliver on this type of expectation?
16:00 Replacing Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell + all the size coming back
24:00 Is Brad Underwood already the second best coach in program history?
28:00 Non-conference schedule and predictions
32:30 Bears corner!

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CBS Sports’ official college basketball podcast is the most entertaining and informative of its kind. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander bring the sport into your ears at least three times per week with commentary, reporting, insider information and statistical analysis throughout college basketball all year long.

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We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.