The Drive with Lon Tay & Derek Piper

2/27/24 Hour 1: Opt-out-filled deals going to become the new norm in MLB?; Piper weighs in on Moretti's breakout

Lon and Derek discuss some MLB free agency and if Cody Bellinger's deal with opt-outs could become the new norm for high profile free agents going forward. Later, Derek shares his thoughts on Nico Moretti's breakout performance on Saturday and what his future could look like.

2/26/24 Hour 2: Cubs & Cardinals Opening Day outlook; Underwood on win over Hawkeyes

Lon and Kyle talk some baseball and what the Cubs and Cardinals' roster are shaping up to be as Opening Day nears. Later, hear Brad Underwood's ESPN 93.5 interview from earlier in the morning on The Stevie Jay Show.

2/26/24 Hour 1: Cody Bellinger is back!; Illini bounce back vs Iowa!; Weekend reaction

Lon and Kyle discuss the big news from over the weekend of the Cubs signing Cody Bellinger to a 3-year contract. The guys also react to the Illini's 95-85 bounce back victory over Iowa and Brad Underwood's hockey line change of subs.

2/23/24 Hour 2: Sean Bock (HawkeyeInsider) talks Illinois-Iowa; Underwood on effort, tough practices

Sean Bock from 247 Sports's Hawkeye Insider joins the show to share some insight into Iowa's recent hot stretch and what the matchup will look like with the Illini. Hear from Brad Underwood as he talks about holding a "Brad Underwood practice" after the team's meltdown vs Penn State.

2/23/24 Hour 1: Expecting a response from Illinois against the Hawkeyes?; Whose playing time could be in jeopardy?

Derek and Kyle share their thoughts on the Illini's matchup against Iowa and if they're expecting Illinois to respond well after their late game collapse against Penn State. Later, the guys discuss what changes they hope to see defensively and which players could see their playing time cut into if things don't turn around.

2/22/24 Hour 2: Projecting the rest of the Illini's regular season; What seed can they reach?

Lon and Derek discuss what the rest of the regular season could look like for Illinois and what it would mean for their tournament seeding. The guys also talk about which teams could cause Illinois trouble in the NCAA Tournament.

2/22/24 Hour 1: Luke Goode on meltdown vs Penn State, bouncing back; Reactions to the Illini's epic collapse

Illinois forward Luke Goode joins the show for his weekly interview to discuss the Illini's heartbreaking loss and late collapse against Penn State and how the team plans to respond. Later, Lon and Derek share their reactions to the Illini meltdown and how concerning it is for the team's outlook moving forward.

2/21/24 Hour 2: Keys to Illini avoiding letdown against Penn State; Underwood, Rodgers share thoughts on PSU, Big Ten race

Lon and Derek share their keys to the matchup against Penn State for Illinois as they look to avoid a letdown and keep pace in the Big Ten race. Hear from Brad Underwood and Ty Rodgers as they discuss the game against the Nittany Lions, the Big Ten race and more.

2/21/24 Hour 1: What's with Illini-Penn State playing at Rec Hall?; Justin Fields/Caleb Williams debate continues

Lon and Derek share their thoughts on Illinois and Penn State playing a throwback game at Penn State's Rec Hall and what impact that could have on the game. Later, Derek discusses whether his feelings have changed in the Justin Fields/Caleb Williams debate for the Bears amid new rumors.

2/20/24 Hour 2: Have conference tournaments lost their luster?; Sports headline whip around

Lon and Derek discuss whether they think college basketball conference tournaments have diminished in value and what their future could look like. Later, the guys whip around some sports headlines including Notre Dame's involvement in the college football video game and Blake Snell's free agency.

2/20/24 Hour 1: What would it have been like to cover old Illini teams?; Potential Illini NCAA Tournament opponents

Lon and Derek reminisce about some old Illini basketball teams and what it would've been like to cover them on the show. Later, the guys talk some bracketology and potential NCAA Tournament matchups for Illinois.

2/19/24 Hour 2: Harmon comes up big; Underwood talks first win at Maryland; Coleman Hawkins becoming Big Ten's latest villian?

Lon and Derek discuss some more Illini hoops including Justin Harmon's big impact against Maryland. Hear from Brad Underwood following his first win at Maryland as Illinois head coach. Later, the guys talk about whether Coleman Hawkins has become the Big Ten's newest villian.

2/19/24 Hour 1: Illini finally knock off Maryland in College Park; Who's the Big Ten Coach of the Year?

Lon and Derek break down the Illini's 85-80 victory over Maryland after years of struggles against the Terps. Later, the guys share their thoughts on this season's Big Ten Coach of the Year race and if Brad Underwood has a chance to win it.

2/15/24 Hour 2: What's with so many college hoops blowouts?; Thoughts on MLB's remaining free agents

Derek and Kyle share some thoughts on some recent college basketball results including some surprising blowouts around the country. Later, the guys discuss some of MLB's top remaining free agents and where they could land.

2/15/24 Hour 1: MLB Pre-Spring Training Power Rankings; Jeff Jones (Belleville News-Democrat) live from Cardinals spring training

Derek and Kyle share their thoughts on the Athletic's MLB Power Rankings heading into Spring Training. Later, Jeff Jones from the Belleville News-Democrat joins the show live from the Cardinals complex to share some updates from the start of Cardinals camp.

2/14/24 Hour 2: Luke Goode on dominance over Michigan, defensive improvement; Who could be next at Ohio State after Holtmann's firing?

Illinois forward Luke Goode joins the show for his weekly interview to recap the Illini's dominant win over Michigan, what it's like to have such a lopsided record against one program, and the team's emphasis on defense. Later, the guys discuss Ohio State firing head coach Chris Holtmann and who could be next in Columbus.

2/14/24 Hour 1: Brad Underwood stays undefeated against Juwan Howard; Has Coleman Hawkins's consistency made him a surefire NBA draft pick?

Lon and Derek break down the Illini's blowout victory over Michigan and Brad Underwood's continued dominance over Juwan Howard. Later, the guys discuss Coleman Hawkins's impressive consistency and whether or not he's done enough to be highly drafted in the NBA Draft.

2/13/24 Hour 2: Illini due for dominant home performance vs Michigan; Underwood talks MSU ending & what's ahead

Lon and Derek discuss the Illini's relatively flat home performance this season and the need to take care of Michigan in dominant fashion. Later, hear from Brad Underwood as he shares his thoughts following his team's late game failures against MSU and the game ahead vs the Wolverines. 

2/13/24 Hour 1: What's behind Illini's defensive struggles of late?; Cubs & Cardinals free agency thoughts

Lon and Derek discuss what the primary causes of the Illini's defensive struggles are and what some adjustments could be to improve going forward. Later, the guys share some thoughts on MLB free agency and if the Cubs or Cardinals will still be involved in the late stages.

2/12/24 Hour 2: Concerned about Illini's lackluster resume?; Diagnosing the defensive issues

Derek and Kyle discuss the Illini's lackluster NCAA Tournament resume and the disappointment of squandering a Quad 1 opportunity against Michigan State. Later, the guys try to diagnose the Illini's defensive struggles and whether or not they can be fixed.