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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/top-10-illinois-basketball-freshman-seasons-in-the-brad-underwood-era</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>Top 10 Illinois basketball freshman seasons in the Brad Underwood era</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,Brad Underwood,Illinois fighting illini,college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-29T12:07:38Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-29T12:11:39Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5033,h_2831,x_0,y_101/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kqcj21j2mrzct0fzyp.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Mar 14, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Will Riley (7) shoots the ball while Maryland Terrapins guard DeShawn Harris-Smith (5) defends in the first half  at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><url><loc>https://writingillini.com/espn-analyst-gives-high-praise-to-illinois-basketball-for-next-season</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Writing Illini</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:title>ESPN analyst gives high praise to Illinois basketball for next season</news:title><news:keywords>illinois basketball,Illinois fighting illini,women&#39;s college basketball</news:keywords><news:publication_date>2026-04-29T10:08:23Z</news:publication_date></news:news><lastmod>2026-04-29T10:08:23Z</lastmod><image:image><image:loc>https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3608,h_2029,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_2880,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/140/01kqaz69k078avgfjak8.jpg</image:loc><image:title>Feb 25, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Shauna Green reacts against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images</image:title></image:image></url><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></urlset>