The Drive with Lon Tay & Derek Piper

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!

06-09-25 Hour 1: Big Ten Unis Ranked, Rodgers to Steelers, and Lon's Bar Tour

Who has the best uniforms in B1G TEN football? We discuss a list that came out over the weekend. 

Plus, Aaron Rodgers is official a Pittsburgh Steeler and Lon Tay's taking us on a bar tour.

06-06-25 Hour 2: Bars, Beers, and Expensive Tabs With Uncle Lon

It's Friday and we're ready to toast one! Find out why Uncle Lon Tay has all the luck at the bars. And Pipes spent HOW MUCH at an Oxford bar just to get in?! Plus Kurtis drinks for cheap and we chat more NBA/Pacers.

06/06/25: Hour 1 - Jeremy Woo from ESPN Talks Illini and NBA Draft

Jeremy Woo from ESPN tells us how the NBA Draft will shake out and what it means for SJ & Will. Plus, he breaks down the Pacers incredible Game 1 victory over the Thunder in the NBA Finals.

06/04/25: Hour 2 - Breaking Illini News, Matt Silich Talks NBA Finals and We Talk Longshot Bets

Our old friend Matt Silich calls to break down the Pacers vs Thunder in the NBA Finals. Matt has a ton of great info that makes the finals can't-miss for sports fans!

Plus, breaking Illini Men's Basketball news. Find out who is coming to Champaign this November!

06/04/25 Hour 1: Travel Ball & AAU's Impact on College Sports. Plus Illini's NIL Money

The guys look at the impact of Travel Ball & AAU's impact on College sports.

And that leads into a conversation about how the Illini will divide up their NIL money.

06/03/25: Hour 2 - Interview with former Illini QB John Paddock

He had an epic run in 2023 and has some great insight for the 2025 Illini football team. Former Illini QB John Paddock joins the show for a great conversation!

06/03/25: Hour 1 - "What would wash away from sports?" And Next Question

The text line blows up when Pipes asks, "What would you wash away from sports?"

Plus, Next Question is back and it's all about Illini Football.

06/02/25 Hour 2: Quad One Wins continued, Sports Betting News, and more

We continue our conversation of Quad One Wins and the College World Series. Plus, there's a change in Illinois sports betting laws. And can you go back to watch your favorite teams lose? It's The Drive!

06/02/25 Hour 1: The Illini Are Headed Back to MSG!

Illinois Men's Basketball is headed back to Madison Square Garden. The Illini will play UCONN on Black Friday, which adds to a huge weekend of Illinois sports!

Plus we answer your texts and break down the importance of Quad 1 wins. Also, is strawberry ice cream healthy?