Greater Austin Illini Club

It has been a week since our semifinal game against UConn, and I keep thinking about how much fun it was to watch the Illini this basketball season! We had what I think is the biggest turnout in our club history as 135 Illini fans packed into Jack & Ginger's at the Domain. We had 60 for the Elite 8 game against Iowa, but the Final Four was definitely meant to be watched with a crowd! We usually gather in the back area by the big tv, but we had fans at the bar, at the side room, in the back patio...if you were there, then you know that it was wall-to-wall Illini!

The game didn't have the outcome we hoped for, but I can't help but admire Brad and all of the players with how they have focused only on the positives - the accomplishments this season and the joy of playing together. Brad talked about how this basketball team brought people together all season, and it made me think about all the new friends I made during this game watch, along with seeing familiar faces from past game watches.

We had two former Illini quarterbacks with John and Kirkland; a table of Steves; the Rogers Park crowd; Rachel, a regular attendee who brought her dad; Brian and Morgan who were on vacation from Springfield...you would have won the award for traveling the farthest, but the couple that is relocating from Amsterdam takes that prize; Tim, who became a club member; Galen, Jaci, Laura and Kevin from the club's board; we could hear Barbara and George cheering loudly from home; Dustin, Matt, David, Pat and the guys I text with regularly during all Illini basketball games...and over a hundred more! It was great to see everyone!

I still think back to when I first found out about this club. It was March of 2020, and my family and I were looking for a place to watch the final game of the Big Ten hoops season between Illinois and Iowa. Everyone was really welcoming, and I joined the club on the spot. Little did anyone know that two days later, the world would come to a halt and we'd all be isolated. I've enjoyed organizing the game watches since then, it is always a joy cheering on the Illini with fellow fans!

In addition to getting together for game watches, we also get together each May for a dinner during which we award scholarships to some local area students who will be attending the great University of Illinois. If you're interested in joining the club, here is the link:
https://greateraustin.illiniclub.org/memsub.html

Let's hope we can keep the core of this hoops team together for next season and add a few players through the portal. Thanks again to everyone who came to the game watch, hope to see you next fall when football season kicks off, and most importantly...

GO ILLINI!!!

🏀🏀🏀 GAME WATCH!!! 🏀 🏀🏀

We're in the Final Four!!!

Saturday, April 4th at 5 p.m.

The Illini are in the Final Four for the first time since 2005...we face the Connecticut Huskies.

We had a great turnout for our game against Iowa with 50 people shouting ILL-INI as we knocked off Iowa. You'll want to watch this Final Four game with fellow Illini fans!

We'll meet at Jack & Ginger's in the Domain, on Rock Rose, at 5pm on Saturday, April 4th. There is free parking near Jack & Ginger's.

Alumni, family, friends - all are welcome! All ages welcome, but if you bring anyone under 21 after 6pm, you must let the server know.

Hope to see you there...and GO ILLINI!!!

🏀🏀🏀GAME WATCH!!! 🏀🏀🏀

Saturday, March 28th at 5 p.m.

The Illini are on to the Elite 8 of the NCAA tourney and face the Iowa Hawkeyes with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

We had a great turnout for our game against Houston. You'll want to watch this Elite 8 game with fellow Illini fans!

We'll meet at Jack & Ginger's in the Domain, on Rock Rose, at 5pm on Saturday, March 28th. There is free parking near Jack & Ginger's.

Alumni, family, friends - all are welcome! All ages welcome, but if you bring anyone under 21 after 6pm, you must let the server know.

Hope to see you there...and GO ILLINI!!!

In case any of our Austin area fans are lucky enough to have a ticket to the game on Thursday, the Houston Illini club is holding a pre-game get together! GO ILLINI!!!

Houston may have the hometown crowd, but we are bringing the Orange and Blue 🧡💙

Join the official Illini pregame at Tom’s Watch Bar before tipoff.

Tournament Central: https://fightingillini.com/feature/26mbb-tournament-central

🏀🏀🏀 GAME WATCH!!! 🏀🏀🏀

Thursday, March 26th at 9 p.m.

The Illini are in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tourney and face the Houston Cougars in the South region semifinals.

You'll want to watch this game with fellow Illini fans...

We'll meet at Jack & Ginger's in the Domain, on Rock Rose, at 9pm on Thursday, March 26th. There is parking in the Red garage and also at one end of Cherry Sage.

Alumni, family, friends - all are welcome! Must be 21 or over as the game is after 6pm. Hope to see you there...and GO ILLINI!!!

Solid regular seasons and consistent postseason results from football, men's basketball, and women's basketball! 🏀🏈🏀

Illinois Athletics is in rarified air with NCAA Tourney wins Something special is happening in Champaign.

🏀🏀🏀 GAME WATCH!!! 🏀🏀🏀

Friday, February 27th at 7pm

Keaton Wagler and the 10th-ranked Illini look to bounce back against the 3rd-ranked Michigan Wolverines in a huge Big Ten battle!

You'll want to watch this game with fellow Illini fans...

We'll meet at Jack & Ginger's in the Domain, on Rock Rose, at 7pm on Friday, February 27th. There is parking at either end of Cherry Sage.

Alumni, family, friends - all are welcome! Must be 21 or over as the game is after 6pm. Hope to see you there...and GO ILLINI!!!

It's nice to get back into the win column after the back-to-back overtime losses. We're currently projected as a 3 seed for the NCAA tourney. Thanks to everyone who joined us for the game watch at the Bon Aire last weekend!

GO ILLINI! 🏀🏀🏀

🏀🏀🏀 GAME WATCH!!! 🏀🏀🏀

Saturday, February 7th at 7pm

Coming off of our big wins at Nebraska and Purdue, Keaton Wagler and the 5th-ranked Illini look to take down the 10th-ranked Michigan State Spartans in another huge Big Ten battle!

You'll want to watch this game with fellow Illini fans...

We'll meet at The Bon Aire, at 9070 Research Blvd, at 7pm on Saturday, February 7th. There is a parking lot with free parking.

Alumni, family, friends - all are welcome! All ages are welcome. Hope to see you there...and GO ILLINI!!!

🏈🏈🏈 BOWL GAMEWATCH 🏈🏈🏈

The Illini face the Tennessee Volunteers in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday, December 30th at 4:30 p.m.

We'll meet in the back room at Plucker's at 3909 S. Lamar Blvd; Austin, TX 78704.

Plucker's is on the east side of Lamar, just north of 290/Ben White and a Target and south of the Broken Spoke.

Alumni, family, friends, kids - all are welcome! Hope to see you there...GO ILLINI!!!

🏈🏈🏈 GAME WATCH 🏈🏈🏈

The Illini look to become bowl-eligible as they prepare for a conference battle against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Champaign on Saturday, November 1st at 11am.

We'll meet in the back room at Plucker's at 3909 S. Lamar Blvd; Austin, TX 78704.

Plucker's is on the east side of Lamar, just north of 290/Ben White and a Target and south of the Broken Spoke.

Alumni, family, friends - all are welcome! Hope to see you there...GO ILLINI!!!