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<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9/sitemap.xsd" xmlns:news="http://www.google.com/schemas/sitemap-news/0.9" xmlns:image="http://www.google.com/schemas/sitemap-image/1.1"><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/the-illinois-basketball-offseason-blueprint</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>The Illinois basketball offseason blueprint</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-07T20:28:44Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-07T20:30:10Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4224,h_2376,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kngqcxfy8vnqhbc5wx.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) and Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) walk off the court Saturday, April 4, 2026, following the UConn Huskies&#39; 71-62 Final Four victory at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/3-dream-transfers-brad-underwood-needs-to-target-with-the-portal-finally-open</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>3 dream transfers Brad Underwood needs to target with the portal finally open</news:title><news:keywords>Brad Underwood,Illinois Fighting Illini,Illinois basketball,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-07T19:00:18Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-07T19:00:18Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3696,h_2079,x_0,y_39/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01knmmy03wcs5hw21pkd.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25)</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/early-transfer-portal-wish-list-for-the-illinois-basketball-program</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Early transfer portal wish list for the Illinois basketball program</news:title><news:keywords>transfer portal,illinois basketball,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-07T10:19:43Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-07T10:21:22Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5806,h_3265,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01knjtcm262k6k0x24cj.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; VCU Rams guard Terrence Hill Jr. (6) shoots as Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) and forward Ben Humrichous (3) defend in the second half during a second round game of the men&#39;s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/illinois-basketball-guard-helps-put-on-a-show-during-final-four-opening-ceremony</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Illinois basketball guard helps put on a show during Final Four opening ceremony</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,ncaa tournament,Illinois fighting illini ,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-07T02:16:53Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-07T02:16:53Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4000,h_2250,x_0,y_162/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01knf8smr52ph71vd42h.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Illinois Fighting Illini fans listen Saturday, April 4, 2026, as the national anthem is sang during a Final Four game against the UConn Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/brad-underwood-has-illinois-basketball-fans-ready-to-run-through-a-brick-wall</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Brad Underwood has Illinois basketball fans ready to run through a brick wall</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,ncaa tournament,Brad Underwood,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-07T01:05:55Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-07T01:05:55Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4227,h_2377,x_0,y_152/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01knevcyttxe6kh9wh24.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the UConn Huskies during the first half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men&#39;s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/illinois-basketball-players-who-seem-destined-for-the-transfer-portal</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Illinois basketball players who seem destined for the transfer portal</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,transfer portal,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-07T00:54:36Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-07T00:54:36Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5074,h_2854,x_0,y_158/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01knjpwnfa3ar5q4bk7p.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood leads a team huddle Saturday, March 21, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament second round game against the VCU Rams at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/huge-transfer-portal-legacy-guard-could-put-illinois-basketball-over-the-top</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Huge transfer portal legacy guard could put Illinois basketball over the top</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,transfer portal,John Blackwell,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-07T00:20:59Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-07T00:20:59Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7922,h_4456,x_0,y_299/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01knjmyypw8xmpkdka7f.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Mar 13, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) defends Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25)during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/illinois-basketball-2026-transfer-portal-tracker-brad-underwoods-title-run-starts-now</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Illinois basketball 2026 Transfer Portal tracker: Brad Underwood&#39;s title run starts now</news:title><news:keywords>Illinois Fighting Illini,College basketball,NBA Draft,Brad Underwood</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-06T20:45:00Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-06T20:45:00Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2831,h_1592,x_0,y_41/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01knj5c11mtbgzs6twtz.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Apr 3, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood directs players during a practice session ahead of the Final Four of the men&#39;s 2026 NCAA Tournament.</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/former-top-recruit-could-be-excellent-transfer-portal-fit-for-illinois-basketball</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Former top recruit could be excellent transfer portal fit for Illinois basketball</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball,transfer portal,Acaden Lewis</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-06T10:01:28Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-06T10:01:28Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4002,h_2251,x_0,y_142/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kngdnct0177neywx4w.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the UConn Huskies during the first half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men&#39;s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/illinois-basketball-says-goodbye-to-another-transfer-portal-departure</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Illinois basketball says goodbye to another transfer portal departure </news:title><news:keywords>transfer portal,Naomi Benson,illinois basketball,Illinois fighting illini,women&#39;s college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-06T09:47:41Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-06T09:47:41Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3816,h_2146,x_0,y_63/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kn5yxwnv01nwa6j6xt.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Oregon forward Ehis Etute, right, is fouled by Illinois forward Naomi Benson as the Oregon Ducks host the Illinois Fighting Illini on Feb. 4, 2026, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon.</image:title></image:image></url></urlset>