Shannon Ryan – Page 8

Kentucky associate head coach Kenny Payne looks on during practice for the NCAA Tournament's Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 3, 2015, in Indianapolis.

DePaul zeroing in on Kenny Payne — a current New York Knicks and former Kentucky assistant — to be its next basketball coach

March 23, 2021 at 9:49 p.m.

DePaul is zeroing in on New York Knicks assistant coach and former Kentucky associate head coach Kenny Payne as its next men's basketball coach, a source confirmed to the Tribune....

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn grabs a rebound against Loyola during the first half of a second-round NCAA Tournament game March 21, 2021, in Indianapolis.

Column: Racist messages sent to Illinois star Kofi Cockburn and Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell are another reminder how far we still need to go — in life and sports

March 23, 2021 at 7:26 p.m.

As Loyola revealed itself as a national power, beating team after team, mail addressed to specific dorms and specific players arrived. The letters were threatening, written to Black players and...

Illinois guard Jacob Grandison watches from the bench.

Column: Only 1 Big Ten team remains in the NCAA Tournament after a record 9 bids. What went wrong?

March 24, 2021 at 9:01 a.m.

All season, the Big Ten proclaimed itself the best conference in the country. It had the analytics, the talent and the wins to back up the claim. There's no denying...

Northwestern guard Lindsey Pulliam reacts after scoring and getting fouled during the second half against Central Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 22, 2021, in San Antonio.

Northwestern wins its 1st NCAA Tournament game since 1993 — and coach Joe McKeown busts a move: ‘I want to keep dancing’

March 23, 2021 at 7:07 a.m.

Senior guard Lindsey Pulliam pointed one finger to the rafters. Coach Joe McKeown shimmied on the sideline at the beginning and end of his postgame TV interview to oblige the...

Northwestern guard Veronica Burton (12) flashes a smile while going into a timeout after hitting a shot in the second half against Illinois at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Jan. 21, 2021.

Column: Sexism is designed to force women into accepting inequality — but NCAA Tournament athletes in 2021 aren’t having it and are demanding change

March 22, 2021 at 4:24 p.m.

After a few days of observing an embarrassment of gender inequities between the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments, fully displayed on social media by many female college players, Northwestern...

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, right, talks with teammate Ayo Dosunmu during the second half of a second-round NCAA Tournament game March 21, 2021, in Indianapolis.

Column: No. 1 Illinois leaves the NCAA Tournament with unfulfilled promises and a wasted opportunity. Ayo Dosunmu will be a legend — but this team will be remembered for a 2nd-round loss.

March 22, 2021 at 7:38 a.m.

In the closing seconds of an extinguished dream, Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu reached across the key at Bankers Life Fieldhouse to hug senior teammate Da'Monte Williams between Loyola free throws....

Loyola center Cameron Krutwig (25) and teammates celebrate after the Ramblers' victory against Georgia Tech in the first round game of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Which big man will dominate? 4 things to watch for when Illinois and Loyola play in the NCAA Tournament.

March 21, 2021 at 10:03 a.m.

The state will be divided Sunday. Champaign natives and most downstate fans will be pulling for Illinois. Chicagoans — the ones who didn't attend Illinois — will be wearing maroon...

Illinois guards Ayo Dosunmu (11), Andre Curbelo (5) and Trent Frazier celebrate the Illini's 91-88 overtime win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament championship game on March 14, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Column: Illinois-Loyola is the 1st in-state NCAA Tournament matchup since 1984. It could symbolize the start of a college basketball resurgence.

March 21, 2021 at 8:04 a.m.

When Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu and Loyola's Lucas Williamson were kids in Chicago, playing on the same Small Fry and AAU teams, they lived for basketball. But unlike kids in Kentucky...

Illinois coach Brad Underwood congratulates Kofi Cockburn during the second half of an NCAA Tournament first-round game at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis on Friday, March 19, 2021.

Column: No. 1 Illinois didn’t need a packed house or pep bands — ‘it was just about enjoying the moment’ in its 1st-round NCAA Tournament win

March 20, 2021 at 8:20 a.m.

The upbeat pep bands blaring when teams need a lift. Acrobatic cheerleaders flipping across the court during timeouts. Crowds roaring so loud it overwhelms the senses. None of that pomp...

Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell grabs the head of Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu in the first half.

El deslumbrante base Andre Curbelo ayudó a llevar a Illinois a la posición No. 1 en el Torneo de la NCAA. Motivado por la familia y Puerto Rico, ‘lo hago por mi familia y por mi isla’

March 18, 2021 at 4:17 p.m.

Antes de su primer partido de baloncesto, André Curbelo escribió cuidadosamente un mensaje con marcador en los Nike Dunks que le dio la escuela: "Para mi familia". Como un niño...

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