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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Gabe Jacas returning in 2025 gives a boost for the Illinois defense.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Gabe Jacas will wreak havoc on opposing backfields for Illinois again in 2025. The standout outside linebacker, who led the Illini with eight sacks this past season, announced Monday afternoon he would return next season.
➜ 2. Illinois fans will get to cheer on the No. 13 men’s college basketball team in the country on Wednesday night when the Illini host Penn State at State Farm Center in Champaign. Based on the successful Pacific Northwest trip with wins against Oregon and Washington, Illinois jumped nine spots in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll released on Monday.
➜ 3. The Cola Wars resumes Tuesday night in Tuscola when the Warriors boys’ basketball team (14-1) hosts Arcola (12-2). Tip time is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. between two of the area’s top teams this winter.
Former Illinois star Thomas Detry fared well in his first PGA Tour event in 2025.
Numbers game: $744,167
is how much money former Illini Thomas Detry won this past weekend at The Sentry, the first PGA Tour event of 2025 held in Kapalua, Hawaii. The 31-year-old Detry, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Jan. 13, tied for fifth in the 60-player field, finishing his four rounds at 24-under 268. Detry will play again this week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, with former Illini Brian Campbell and Nick Hardy also teeing off at the tournament.
Genesis Bryant and the Illinois women’s basketball team hosts No. 23 Iowa on Thursday night at State Farm Center in Champaign.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Penn State at Illinois men’s basketball. The Illini (11-3, 3-1 Big Ten) will attempt to snap a four-game losing skid in the series against the Nittany Lions (12-3, 2-2), who have gone 9-4 against Brad Underwood during his time at Illinois.
➜ 2. Iowa at Illinois women’s basketball. The Illini (11-4, 1-3) will try to avoid their first three-game losing streak this season when the No. 23 Hawkeyes (12-3, 2-2) visit Champaign for a 6 p.m. tip on Thursday at State Farm Center.
➜ 3. Ohio State at Illinois wrestling. The 11th-ranked Illini (6-0, 1-0 Big Ten) host the fifth-ranked Buckeyes (8-0) in their first action since Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Friday at Huff Hall in Champaign.
Cerro Gordo/Bement boys’ track and field coach Dave Elder
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Cerro Gordo/Bement boys’ track and field coach Dave Elder:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Chicago Cubs.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … John Wooden, Vince Lombardi and Joe Maddon.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … people who are consumed by their phones (or what I like to call magic little distraction boxes) while missing what is going on around them at any given moment.