Quick hits: No. 23 Illinois 84, Detroit Mercy 50
James Nguyen
James Nguyen
Sports Reporter · Champaign, IL
James Nguyen has a background in journalism from Illinois State University and has spent the last six years covering collegiate sports for NPR Illinois and local sports blogs. His firsthand experience as a former college athlete gives him a unique perspective on the ups and downs of university sports in the region.
More from James →Sports Reporter · Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 3:13 AM · 1 min read
Beat writer Joe Vozzelli breaks down Illini's season-opening win that was far from straightforward after a poor first half by Shauna Green's team