Get ready for an exciting basketball update from Chicago! We're about to dive into the world of hoops, where the action never stops. But first, let's address the elephant in the room: the Chicago Bulls' winless February. Ouch! That's a tough month to swallow, but fear not, sports fans, because we've got some other teams to talk about that are on a roll.
Notre Dame's Rising Stars
The Notre Dame women's basketball team is on fire! After a few bumps in the road this season, they've found their groove and won an impressive five games in a row to secure a sweet No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament. And guess who's leading the charge? Guard Hannah Hidalgo, who's been absolutely phenomenal, averaging a whopping 28.5 points per game, along with six steals, nine rebounds, and seven assists. She's on fire, breaking her own single-season steals record and earning the ACC Player of the Week title a record-breaking seventh time this season. Coach Niele Ivey sums it up perfectly: "She's our engine, and we go as she goes." The Irish are ready to take on the winner of Stanford-Miami in Duluth, Georgia, and we can't wait to see what they do next.
But here's where it gets controversial...
WNBA Strike Talk
The WNBA players and the league are in a bit of a standoff as they negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. The March 10 deadline is looming, and the players seem to be cooling on the idea of a strike. While there have been some concessions made by the league, including better player housing and higher salaries, the big issue of revenue sharing remains a sticking point. The players want their cut from the gross revenue, which is calculated before expenses, while the league is offering a share of the net revenue, which is the total sum after expenses. It's a tricky situation, and the union leadership is signaling that they might need to compromise to avoid a shortened WNBA season. WNBPA vice president Kelsey Plum said, "I want to play, and players want to play." Let's hope they can find a solution soon!
And this is the part most people miss...
The Sky's Roster Challenges
With the WNBA season set to start in May, teams are scrambling to finalize their rosters. The Chicago Sky, in particular, have their work cut out for them. They only have four players under contract for the 2026 season, and veteran Courtney Vandersloot is expected to re-sign. General manager Jeff Pagliocca will need to fill more than half the roster in just 18 days as they try to improve their position as a free-agent destination. It's a tall order, but we're rooting for them!
Mid-Major Tournament Action
While the major conference men's teams are wrapping up their regular seasons, the Missouri Valley Conference is about to kick off its tournament. Belmont has the top seed, but three Illinois teams are hot on their heels and will receive first-round byes. Keep an eye out for Bradley, led by Milwaukee native Jaquan Johnson, and Illinois State and UIC, who are also seeded in the top five. And don't forget about Valparaiso, coached by former player Roger Powell Jr., who's hoping to make a run in St. Louis. They've improved significantly, winning six out of their last eight games, and are ready to make some noise in the tournament.
Chicago Bulls' Rough Patch
The Chicago Bulls had a rough go of it in February, losing all 11 of their games. It's the worst month in franchise history, but they're not alone in their struggles. Other teams have had winless months, but no team has ever gone back-to-back months without a win. The Bulls snapped their losing streak with a blowout win over the Milwaukee Bucks to start March on a high note. Let's hope they can keep the momentum going!
Week Ahead: Games to Watch
- Tuesday: Oregon men at No. 11 Illinois, 8 p.m., NBCSN and Peacock
- Wednesday: Illinois women vs. Wisconsin at the Big Ten Tournament, 5 p.m., Big Ten Network
- Wednesday: Villanova men at DePaul, 7 p.m., Peacock
- Wednesday: No. 15 Purdue men at Northwestern, 7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
- Thursday: Notre Dame women vs. Stanford/Miami at the ACC Tournament, 12:30 p.m., ACC Network
- Sunday: No. 11 Illinois men at Maryland, 2 p.m., FOX
These games are sure to be thrilling, and we can't wait to see which teams come out on top!
Senior Night Honors
Illinois and Northwestern will be honoring some special seniors this week. Kylan Boswell, a Champaign native, has been a leader and defensive stalwart for the Illini, and they'll be recognizing his contributions against Oregon. Meanwhile, Northwestern will be honoring Big Ten scoring leader Nick Martinelli when they host Purdue. It's always a bittersweet moment to see these seniors play their last games, but we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
NCAA Tournament Prep
The Illinois and Notre Dame women's teams are gearing up for the conference tournaments with their sights set on improving their NCAA Tournament resumes. It's a crucial time for these teams, and we'll be watching to see how they perform under pressure.
What We're Reading
- Column: Chicago Bulls say goodbye to February and hello to the madness of March
- Big Ten Tournament: Illinois women are seeded 10th and will face Wisconsin on Wednesday
- Morez Johnson Jr. leads No. 3 Michigan to a win over No. 10 Illinois and the Big Ten title
- Anfernee Simons' wrist fracture is a concern for the Chicago Bulls' trade-deadline acquisition
- Coby White returns to Chicago with the Charlotte Hornets, reflecting on his time with the Bulls
And finally, a quote to inspire us all: "That physicality, that nastiness, that grit, that fight, that's on me." - Illinois coach Brad Underwood, on what his team needs to bring to the NCAA Tournament.
Stay tuned, basketball fans! There's so much more to come, and we'll keep you updated on all the latest news and developments.
