Matthew Stevens (@matthewcstevens) / X

Matthew Stevens

124.4K posts

Matthew Stevens

@matthewcstevens

Writer/Analyst at @Illini_Guys; @EIU alum; @OconHS grad; Illinois native; Hockey fan; Believer in wearing a tie on a game day. Please don't hack this account.

Illinois

Joined November 2009

Pinned
Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Apr 2
.@Illini_Guys: What shaped #Illini star Keaton Wagler into this quiet personality? Playing with older kids. "We’ve always just categorized it as ‘that’s just Keaton’ but I think playing against older kids set him up to be even-keeled emotionally."
How Keaton Wagler Became a Quiet Killer: Playing With Older Kids Early - IlliniGuys.com
From illiniguys.com
8.8K
Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Nov 9, 2023
#Illini head coach Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) was asked today about the Michigan investigation & if he's ever re-watched the 2022 game with a skeptical eye. Here is the full answer of what the Illinois third-year head coach had to say....
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Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Aug 28, 2021
On if Bielema was fighting emotions after this win: "No. I was just sweating." #Illini
Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Mar 28, 2024
.@Illini_Guys FEATURE: "For me to get up and leave Illinois would be not only disrespectful to the program but I’d also be disrespecting myself and the work I’ve put in here." - @DravynGibbs Why Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn isn't planning to enter transfer portal
Illini Guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn on Transfer Portal: ‘No thanks, I’m good’ - IlliniGuys.com
From illiniguys.com
32K
Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Mar 17, 2024
#Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. is the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player…
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Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Mar 24, 2025
When I asked Kylan Boswell (@BamBam_Boz) and Tre White (@TreWhite19) directly about their future in the @FiservForum locker room following the NCAA 2nd round loss to Kentucky, both players confirmed it is their intent to the #Illini roster.
57K
Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Dec 1, 2017
Kirby Smart just confirmed that something to this in post-game handshake after Auburn's 40-17 win: Gus: "I see ya in Atlanta" Kirby: "I'll tell Nick you said that." Gus: "You do that." Smart today: "Gus held up his end of the bargain. I didn't." Meaning he didn't tell Saban.
Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Mar 20, 2023
So...#Illini head coach Bret Bielema said something interesting in pre-spring media conference. Illinois is one of 14 schools to make a bowl game, qualify for the Men's NCAA Tournament & Women's NCAA Tournament. Bielema says @IlliniAD is only AD of the 14 to hire all three.
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Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Mar 16, 2023
#Illini guard R.J. Melenedez: "For future seasons, we can't make that many mistakes. We just have to stay connected as a team. We need to listen to our coach...it's our fault because he's calling them and we're not listening to him."
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Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Jan 19, 2024
One final note tonight from Crisler Center in Ann Arbor: Fmr. #Illini player and current @DetroitPistons assistant coach Brian Randle was in the stands wearing Illinois gear Thursday night to see @IlliniMBB defeat Michigan 88-73.
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Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Jan 1, 2025
Illinois WR Justin Stepp (@coachjstepp), who moved from Shane Beamer's coaching staff at South Carolina to @BretBielema's staff this past February, was in tears while hugging #Illini WR Collin Dixon during the post-game @CitrusBowl celebration in Orlando after #Illini won 21-17.
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Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Nov 28, 2021
I wasn't going to let #Illini QB Brandon Peters go w/o asking him about the school (Michigan) where he graduated in June 2019. BP: "Don’t get me wrong because I’ll always consider myself an Illini but yeah, I think I’m the only guy in that locker room that went 2-0 today."
Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Nov 28, 2021
.@Illini_Guys FEATURE: "You have to be able to have some maturity to realize not everything in your life is going to go as planned." If the 47-14 win on Saturday was the last we see of #Illini QB Brandon Peters, it was certainly his best in 2021. illiniguys.com/brandon-peters…
Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Mar 16, 2023
#Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr.: "We needed to follow the game plan better. There was times the coaches would tell us what is going to happen and then it would happen and it would be because of our mistakes. We needed to follow our coaches' game plan better this year."
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Matthew Stevens
@matthewcstevens
Jan 26, 2022
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo: "Frazier is a hell of a player. He's a credit to the league to come back (for his fifth year)."