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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/bret-bielema-still-clearly-salty-about-illinois-football-transfer-portal-departure</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Bret Bielema still clearly salty about Illinois football transfer portal departure</news:title><news:keywords>illinois football,Bret Bielema,transfer portal,Josh McCray,Illinois fighting illini,Georgia Football</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-28T02:02:55Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-28T02:02:55Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3248,h_1827,x_787,y_190/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kq8x4x11v991wp8122.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Josh McCray (6) celebrates winning the MVP after the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/projected-2026-27-rankings-have-illinois-basketball-coach-brad-underwood-in-rare-air</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Projected 2026-27 rankings have Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood in rare air</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,Brad Underwood,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-28T01:28:55Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-28T01:28:55Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_6054,h_3405,x_0,y_350/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kq8v70xdktnmv77j13.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood celebrates after cutting down the net after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men&#39;s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/detroit-lions-will-provide-luke-altmyer-some-of-the-best-teachers-in-the-motor-city</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Detroit Lions will provide Luke Altmyer some of the best teachers in the Motor City</news:title><news:keywords>Luke Altmyer,illinois football,Detroit Lions,nfl draft,nfl,Illinois fighting illini</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-28T00:51:10Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-28T00:51:10Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7105,h_3996,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kq5pqe5e0aardz6nz9.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (QB03) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/bret-bielema-has-rebuilt-illinois-football-last-5-nfl-drafts-prove-it</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Bret Bielema has rebuilt Illinois football and the last 5 NFL Drafts prove it</news:title><news:keywords>Illinois Fighting Illini,Bret Bielema,NFL Draft</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-27T17:00:00Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-27T17:00:00Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5272,h_2965,x_0,y_549/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kq7vg3cy9ht3yvrvjb.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Nov 15, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA;  Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema greets players.</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/former-illinois-basketball-star-puts-minnesota-timberwolves-on-back-in-nba-playoffs</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Former Illinois basketball star puts Minnesota Timberwolves on back in NBA Playoffs</news:title><news:keywords>Ayo Dosunmu,illinois basketball,Illinois fighting illini,Minnesota Timberwolves,NBA</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-27T00:30:50Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-27T00:30:50Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5550,h_3121,x_0,y_235/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kq65fr4e0nvtbv18hr.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) celebrates with fans after making a three-point shot against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/illinois-basketball-is-living-every-programs-dream-with-massive-offseason</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Illinois basketball is living every programs dream with massive offseason</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,Illinois fighting illini,women&#39;s college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-27T00:10:06Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-27T00:10:06Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5339,h_3003,x_0,y_117/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kpvr52f660m499vvsx.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Illinois guard Aaliyah Guyton (1) celebrates defeating Colorado with her team in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 21, 2026.</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/illinois-basketball-star-makes-second-best-decision-of-career-declaring-for-nba-draft</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Illinois basketball star makes second-best decision of career declaring for NBA Draft</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,Andrej Stojakovic,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball,nba</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-26T23:46:03Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-26T23:50:26Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4239,h_2384,x_0,y_594/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kq62wn1cg06r6y69y1.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) shoots against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men&#39;s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. 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