The Drive on ESPN 93.5

06/25/25 Hour 1 - It's Draft Day for the Illini's Jakucionis & Riley, and Kyle Tausk talks Cardinals vs. Cubs

It's a huge day for Illini Nation! The NBA Draft is tonight and KJ & Will are expected to go in the First Round. Derek Piper is LIVE from Brooklyn, with the latest.

Plus, our good friend Kyle Tausk joins the show to talk Cardinals vs Cubs. The Redbirds have a 2-0 lead in this week's series. 

06/24/25 Hour 2 - Illini Football's Toughest Road Opponents This Year and Bars in Illini Country

Pipes quizzes Lon and Kurtis on the toughest places to play in the B1G TEN. How will things play out after Illinois plays Ohio State?

Plus, where are the best bars for live music in Illini Country?

06/24/25 Hour 1 - The Fighting Illini Hall of Fame Class of 2025 and Cardinals vs Cubs Series

The Illini have announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Take a trip down memory lane with us and find out who's going in this year.

Also, things get a little HEATED when we discuss this week's Cardinals vs Cubs series. Guess who got fired up? 

06/23/25 Hour 2: Matt Silich joins us to discuss the Illini, KJ, Will, NBA Finals, and more. Plus the Cubs vs Cardinals

Our friend Matt Silich joins the show to chat about the Illini, KC, Will, the NBA finals, and more!

Plus, our predictions for the Cubs vs Cardinals 4 game series.

06/23/25 Hour 1: The OKC Thunder are NBA Champs! Could the Illini Alums be headed there after the draft?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the NBA Champs! And they have two First Round Picks in the NBA Draft. Could Kasparas Jakucionis or Will Riley be headed to OKC? 

Ryen Rusillo LOVES KC and Will. Where does he think they'll land? Find out in Hour 1!

Plus, who didn't get invited to Lon's big party on Friday?

06/20/25 Hour 2 - Best food & drinks in Illini Country, more on Bielema, Juice Williams' legacy, Pacers vs Thunder Game 7, and our Friday Toasts

Who has the best food in Illini country? How about the best bars? What are some underrated spots?

Plus, more on Bielema being the "villain" that college football needs.

We chat about Juice Williams' legacy for Illini football.

We have a game 7 for the NBA Finals! Get ready for Pacers vs Thunder.

And our Friday Toasts! Cheers!

06/20/25 Hour 1 - Big week for Illini football recruits, and is Bret Bielema "The Villain" of the Big Ten

Joey Wagner is in the studio today with a TON of info on the new Illini football recruits. Four star recruits, the markets where Illinois is having success, and more.

Plus - a clip from Paul Finebaum's show made the rounds today about Bret Bielema being the "new villain" on college football. And why that's a good thing!

06/18/25 Hour 2: Illini Football Landing a TE Soon? How did Bielema, Altmyer, and Underwood do at Wrigley Field?

Will the Fighting Illini land one of the top TE's in the nation? How about two of them?

Plus, how did the Illini represent at Wrigley Field last night? We break it down!

06/18/25: Hour 1 - Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune Talks Cubs, Illini Football Commits, and more!

Illini alum and Cubs beat writer for the Chicago Tribune Meghan Montemurro joins the fellas. We chat about PCA, Cubs playoff moves, and more.

Plus, the Illini landed a 4-star recruit for football! Find out who will be joining Bret Bielema's squad this year.

06/17/25: NEXT QUESTION - MLB Homerun Derby, All Stars, and Playoffs

We do an MLB edition of Next Question.

Who do you want to see in the Homerun Derby, All-star Game, and Post Season? What are the reasonable expectations for the Cubs and Cardinals?

06/17/25: Hour 1 NBA Finals Recap, Is Pipes An Author, and More

The Thunder lead the Pacers 3-2 and Tyrese Haliburton is playing hurt. Are the Pacers doomed?

Plus, is Piper about to be an author? He's an Illini historian and we think it should happen!

06/16/25 Hour 2: Brad Underwood's first press conference of the Summer and more Illini roster news

Brad Underwood held his first press conference of the summer and we were there. Find out the latest news on Ty Rodgers' injury.

Plus, more on KC and Will at the NBA Draft. Oh, and Uncle Lon is ready to talk Swayze Movies!

06-16-25 Hour 1: Pipes is going to the NBA Draft! Plus Breaking Illini Basketball News on Ty Rodgers, Cardinals vs Cubs, and More

Derek Piper is headed to the green room of the NBA Draft in Brooklyn! Pipes will be there live next week. And he's not going alone - breaking Illini news! Will Riley is officially invited to the Green Room too.

And more breaking news - Ty Rodgers suffered a knee injury and it will require surgery. Hear the latest from Brad Underwood.

06/13/25 Hour 2: A Toast to Father's Day, is the U.S. Open Course too hard, and more

The best golfers in the world are struggling on the U.S. Open Course. Is the course too tough? The guys discuss.

 

Plus, a huge Friday toast to Father's Day!

06/13/25 Hour 1: Illini Basketball Summer Workouts, NEXT QUESTION, and Father's Day Fun

Illini Basketball start their summer workouts soon. What news do you want to know coming out of camp? 

Also, we do a NBA Draft NEXT QUESTION and some Father's Day Fun.

06/12/25 Hour 2: More Punchable Duke Players, Tim Beckman, Famous People In Our Phones, and Illini Golf News

Uncle Lon vs. Cherokee Parks - who ya got? Probably Cherokee, but how could Lon win? Plus, who are the most famous people in our phones? We go down a Tim Beckman / Illini rabbit hole, and more Illini nuggets.

06/12/25 Hour 1: Pacers Are Up 2-1, Illini nuggets, and Most Punchable Duke Players

The Pacers have found themselves up 2-1 in the NBA Finals. What would a championship win mean from a historic perspective? Plus we have a few Illini nuggets for football and basketball. And which Duke basketball players are the most punchable? We give our list!

06/10/25 Hour 2: Illini Hall of Fame Continued, new NCAA Basketball Rules, and Groin Shots

Eddie Johnson's Tweet about teammate Mark Smith continues our conversation about which former Illini basketball players need to be in the Hall of Fame.

Also, find about the new NCAA Basketball Rules and what it has to do with GROIN SHOTS?!

06/10/25 Hour 1: Local Athletes Playing in MLB, and Illini Hall of Famers

We discuss the local athletes currently playing in Major League Baseball and some of the local legends that made it to the majors. Did we miss anyone?

Also, what should the Cubs and Cards do RIGHT NOW to compete for the post season?

And which Illini basketball players deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?

06-09-25 Hour 2: NIL Money is set, Cards troll Kershaw, and we get ice cream!

We now know how much NIL Money is available for the Illini. Find out how much and how it might be spent. Plus, will players from 10 years ago get back-pay?

Plus the Cardinals trolled Clayton Kershaw. Was it "bush league?"

And shoutout to the wonderful woman that brought us ice cream!