Remember Orlando Antigua? Kentucky‘s old friend with two separate coaching stints in Lexington — the first from 2009-14 and the second from 2021-24, both under John Calipari — is back on the Illinois bench after a previous run in Champaign from 2017–21. Both schools have been a massive part of his life for nearly two decades, and now, they’ll be facing off in the NCAA Tournament.

Now the associate head coach under Brad Underwood, Antigua caught up with KSR shortly after Illinois’ big win over Xavier to catch up on the Cats and his emotions going into the reunion on Sunday.

What are his thoughts on Mark Pope leading the program? How does he avoid distractions with a Sweet 16 on the line? Don’t forget his big-time recruiting win over Kentucky this past cycle, five-star wing Will Riley — he led the Illini with 22 points on 8-12 shooting on Friday. Antigua talked about that full-circle moment, as well.

It’s a must-see conversation that was admittedly a little awkward — everybody loves Coach O, but he’s an enemy on Sunday.

Take a look:

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.

Deerfield Public Schools District 109 has responded to a federal Title IX investigation that was launched over allegations of administrators forcing middle school girls to change in the same locker room as a transgender student. 

The district provided a statement to Fox News Digital insisting that its actions were rooted in Illinois state law.

“Deerfield Public Schools District 109 complies with state law. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits all public school districts from discriminating on the basis of sex, including gender identity, and mandates that students must be permitted access to the locker room and bathroom that aligns with their gender identity,” the statement read.

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“We are sensitive to the privacy needs of all of our middle school students and ensure that no student is required to change into a gym uniform for physical education class in front of others.  When both our middle schools were renovated in 2017, we added five private changing stations within each locker room that are available to all students. All students also have multiple options to change in a private location separate from the locker room if they wish.”

The district also says it will work with local families to determine next steps.

“The District and the Board are united with our leaders and educators on this issue and have a shared commitment to upholding the law,” the statement continued.

“The District and the Board call upon all of those expressing concerns or perspectives on this issue with our staff and educators to do so in a respectful and civil manner. We are glad to work with families to address any individual concerns and determine appropriate next steps to support your child’s well-being and participation.”

MAINE RESPONDS TO TRUMP ADMIN’S DECLARATION STATE VIOLATED TITLE IX BY ALLOWING TRANSGENDERS IN GIRLS SPORTS

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights announced on Thursday that it is launching an investigation into the Illinois Department of Education, the Chicago Public School District 299 and Deerfield Public Schools District 109 over reported Title IX violations. 

Illinois mother Nicole Georgas brought the situation to light when she filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice after alleging that school administrators had attempted to force her 13-year-old daughter to change in front of a transgender student in the girls’ locker room last month.

She revealed the complaint during a Board of Education meeting for Deerfield Public School District 109 last week, claiming the incident had taken place last month after her daughter had refused to change into her uniform during physical education because a biological male student had been present at the time.

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“The girls want their locker rooms and bathrooms back. They want their privacy back. This is why I’m here tonight. My 13-year-old daughter’s well-being, mental health and privacy are at stake,” Georgas said during her speech at the board meeting on Thursday.

Georgas then raised the issue to the school’s administration, noting to them that she believed it was a direct violation of President Donald Trump’s Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports executive order. She said in her speech that the school administration had informed her that, under the direction of its legal counsel, the transgender student was free to use both the girls’ bathroom and the girls’ locker room.

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The NCAA women’s basketball tournament begins in earnest on Friday.

The women’s March Madness field of 68 includes just one team from Illinois, with the Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference joining their men’s team in the NCAAs.

But what about those athletes who played high school hoops in Illinois? We have you covered.

Below are the at least 35 NCAA women’s tournament players who are from Illinois, listed by conference starting with the Big Ten and the Missouri Valley, followed by other major conferences and mid-majors.

March Madness 2025: 39 players from Illinois who are part of the NCAA men’s tournament

Big Ten

• Sydney Affolter, Iowa: 5-11 senior from Chicago Marist.
• Lenee Beaumont, Indiana: 6-1 sophomore from Lisle Benet.
• Jasmine Brown-Hagger, Illinois: 5-9 sophomore played part of her high school career at Joliet Catholic.
• Angela Dugalic, UCLA: 6-4 senior from Des Plaines Maine West.
• Kyle Feuerbach, Iowa: 6-0 senior from Sycamore.
• Emily Fisher, Maryland: 6-0 sophomore from Libertyville.
• Aaliyah Guyton, Iowa: 5-7 freshman from Peoria High.
• Amiah Hargrove, Nebraska: 6-2 freshman from Christopher
• Greta Kampschroeder, Michigan: 6-1 senior from Naperville North.
• Bri McDaniel, Maryland: 5-10 junior from Chicago Kenwood.
• Kendall Moriarty, Nebraska: 6-1 senior from Lisle Benet.
• Hayden Smith, Illinois: 6-6 freshman from Frankfort Lincoln-Way East.
• Mia Zenere, Illinois: 5-11 freshman played part of her high school career at Lincoln-Way Central.

Missouri Valley

• Katelyn Young, Murray State: 6-1 senior from Fithian Oakwood.

ACC

• Lorena Awou, NC State: 6-5 freshman from East Moline United.
• Sarah Cernugel, Notre Dame: 5-4 senior from Hinsdale Central.
• Jordan Wood, Duke: 6-4 sophomore from Mundelein Carmel.

Big 12

• Kenzie Hare, Iowa State: 5-9 junior from Bartlett.
• Sydney Harris, Iowa State: 6-1 junior from Edwardsville.

SEC

• Alyssa Latham, Tennessee: 6-2 sophomore from Homewood-Flossmoor.
• Aneesah Morrow, LSU: 5-1 senior from Chicago Simeon.

Mid-major

• Addie Budnik, Richmond: 6-2 senior from Highland Park.
• Taylor Charles, Princeton: 6-2 junior from Burlington Central.
• Peyton Gerdes, High Point: 6-0 freshman from Grayslake North.
• Anna Griffin, Arkansas State: 6-1 senior from Aurora Christian.
• Erin Houpt, San Diego State: 5-6 junior from Danville.
• Quincenia Jackson, Arkansas State: 6-1 junior from Decatur MacArthur.
• Lexi Kerstein, Vermont: 5-6 sophomore from Deerfield.
• Katie Krupa, Harvard: 6-1 junior from Morton.
• Annika Manthy, Richmond: 6-3 freshman from Arlington Heights Hersey.
• Jessie Ozzauto, Lehigh: 5-10 sophomore from Huntley.
• Zuri Ransom, Ball State: 5-10 freshman from Evanston.
• Maddy Saracco, Tennessee Tech: 5-10 sophomore played part of her high school career at Lombard Montini.
• Taris Thornton, Tennessee Tech: 6-0 senior played in high school at Willowbrook and Lombard Montini.
• Tessa Towers, Ball State: 6-5 junior from Batavia.