The Drive on ESPN 93.5

05/08/26 Hour 2: Steve Greenberg from Chicago Sun-Times talks Cubs insane win streak; Ravi Lulla of Hurrdat Sports weighs in on who "won" Big Ten Football offseason; Our Friday Toasts!

Steve Greenberg from the Chicago Sun-Times joined the show to discuss the red-hot Chicago Cubs and what’s fueling their incredible winning streak.

Later, Ravi Lulla from Hurrdat Sports broke down the Big Ten Conference football offseason, debating which programs made the biggest moves and who came out on top heading into 2026.

The hour wrapped up with the crew’s weekly Friday Toasts, celebrating the best moments from the week in sports and beyond.

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05/08/26 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer talks Illinois basketball offseason & high school recruitment; Illini football's Friday Night Games; T-Wolves vs Spurs Game 3 Preview

Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer joined the show to break down a busy offseason for Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball, including the latest on roster movement and high school recruiting targets.

The guys also discussed the impact of Friday night games on Illinois Fighting Illini football and what it means for fans and national exposure.

Plus, a full preview of Game 3 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs, including key matchups and what Minnesota needs to do to regain control of the series.

05/07/26 Hour 2: Illini basketball predicted to win National Title in 2027; Illinois Football to win 9 games?; Spurs SPANK Timberwolves in Game 2

Could Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball really cut down the nets in 2027? National title expectations are already building in Champaign and one analyst says it will happen. Who do they think Illinois will beat in Detroit next year and why?

The conversation also shifts to Illinois Fighting Illini football and whether a 9-win season is realistic heading into the fall.

Plus, the San Antonio Spurs completely dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2, evening the series in emphatic fashion. Can the "Champaign T-Wolves" bounce back at home?

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05/07/26 Hour 1: NCAA Releases new March Madness Bracket; Jacob Infante returns to talk Bears & NFL Free Agency - Joey Bosa to the Bears?; Cubs on an absolute tear over the last 20 games!

The NCAA officially unveiled its new-look March Madness bracket, sparking plenty of debate about the changes and what they could mean for teams heading into next season’s tournament. Who loves it and who hates it?

Jacob Infante joins the show to break down the latest around the Chicago Bears and NFL free agency, including whether pass rusher Joey Bosa could realistically end up in Chicago.

Plus, the Chicago Cubs continue their incredible run, staying red-hot over their last 20 games as they surge up the standings. How good has the hitting been while injuries to the pitching staff mount?

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05/06/26 Hour 2: Ayo Dosumnu is back for T-Wolves vs Spurs!; Bears are favorites to land David Njoku; Best sporting event you've ever seen in person

Hour 2 centers on Ayo Dosunmu returning for the Timberwolves matchup against the Spurs, adding a big boost to Minnesota’s lineup. The guys also dive into rumors that the Chicago Bears are favorites to land David Njoku, and wrap things up by sharing stories and listener reactions about the best sporting events they’ve ever seen in person.

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05/06/26 Hour 1: Illini Men's Tennis Head Coach Brad Dancer talks Super Regional vs Ohio State; Thunder beat Lakers, and Jordan vs LeBron debate fires up again; Evan vs Jerry West & Bob Cousy

Hour 1 features Illini men’s tennis head coach Brad Dancer previewing the Super Regional matchup against Ohio State. The show also dives into the Thunder’s win over the Lakers, which sparks another round of the never-ending Jordan vs. LeBron debate. Plus, Evan stirs things up with some takes involving NBA legends Jerry West and Bob Cousy.

 

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05/05/26 Hour 2: Jordan vs LeBron debate ahead of Lakers vs Thunder & HEATED texts; Tuesday Draft - Best Fiction Moms

The Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate heats up ahead of the Lakers vs. Thunder matchup as listeners flood the show with passionate and heated texts defending both NBA legends.

Plus, the Tuesday Draft returns with the crew picking the best fictional moms from TV, movies, and pop culture.

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05/05/26 Hour 1: Tom Michael returns to the University of Illinois; Chris Hine talks T-Wolves stealing Game 1 from Spurs, TSJ says he'll dunk on Wemby; Cardinals & Cubs get big wins

We discuss the return of Tom Michael to the University of Illinois as the new Deputy Director of Athletics and what it means for Illini athletics moving forward.

Chris Hine from the Minnesota Star Tribune retutns to the show to break down the Minnesota Timberwolves stealing Game 1 from the Spurs, plus Terrence Shannon Jr.’s confidence after saying he plans to dunk on Victor Wembanyama.

We also recap big wins for both the Cardinals and Cubs as both teams continue strong starts to the season.

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05/04/26 Hour 2: Chris Block follows up on Golden Tempo's Kentucky Derby win and why he knew it was a possibility; Jeff Jones talks Cardinals, previews series vs Brewers; Do you wear Jerseys?

Hour 2 featured Chris Block breaking down Golden Tempo’s victory in the Kentucky Derby and explaining why he believed the horse had a real chance to win heading into the race.

Later, Jeff Jones joined the show to discuss the recent play of the St. Louis Cardinals and preview their upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The hour also included a fun conversation debating whether adults still wear sports jerseys and which ones are acceptable to own.

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05-04-26 HOUR 1: Recapping a huge weekend of Illini Sports; Cardinals & Cubs Grades after 1 month of the season; Evan Stone's Star Wars Thoughts

Hour 1 recapped a huge weekend for Illinois Fighting Illini sports, highlighting some of the biggest performances and storylines from across the university. The Men's Golf team prepares for the NCAA Tournament, Tennis advances in the Super Regional, baseball prepares to wrap up the season, softball finishes theirs, and track & field prepare for the regular season finale.

The show also handed out one-month report card grades for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, breaking down what’s gone right — and wrong — through the first month of the MLB season.

Plus, Evan Stone shared his thoughts on all things Star Wars in a fun conversation about the legendary franchise and "May The Fourth Be With You."

05-01-26 Hour 2: Carson Gourdie talks Bret Bielema's presser & why Freshmen will get a lot of playing time; More on Andrej Stojakovic in the NBA Draft; We pick Kentucky Derby horses; Friday Toasts

Hour 2 featured Carson Gourdie breaking down Bret Bielema’s latest press conference and why Illinois freshmen could see significant playing time this season. The guys also continued the discussion surrounding Andrej Stojaković and what his NBA Draft decision means moving forward. Don't worry - he's most likely coming back.

Later, the crew made their picks for the Kentucky Derby before wrapping up the week with another edition of Friday Toasts!

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05-01-26 Hour 1: Michael Rand from Minneapolis Star Tribune talks Terrance Shannon Jr's HUGE night for T-Wolves & win over Denver; EVERYTHING you need to know about The Kentucky Derby with Chris Block

Hour 1 features Michael Rand from the Minneapolis Star Tribune breaking down Terrence Shannon Jr.’s huge performance for the Timberwolves in their win over the Denver Nuggets. The guys discussed what Shannon’s breakout night means moving forward for the T-Wolves in the NBA Playoffs and why Illini fans should be excited about his NBA future.

Later, horse racing expert Chris Block stopped by with everything listeners need to know ahead of the Kentucky Derby, including top storylines, contenders, and betting insight for one of racing’s biggest weekends.

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04-30-26 Hour 2: Chris Kwiecinski of FOX32 Chicago talks Bears draft and gives an early outlook on the 2026 season; Chris Hine of the Minnesota Star Tribune talks Ayo Dosunmu's impact on the T-Wolves

Hour 2 dives into how the Chicago Bears performed in the 2026 NFL Draft, now that we're one week removed.

The guys also get into the impact that Illini great Ayo Dosunmu has had on the Minnesota Timberwolves during their playoff push, talk the GOAT debate between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, and talk about the new additions to the Illini Hall of Fame!

04-30-26 Hour 1: Pierre Noujaim of Fox9 Minneapolis talks Ayo Dosunmu & T-Wolves in the NBA Plaoffs,; Illini Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Announced

Hour 1 featured a conversation with Pierre Noujaim from FOX 9 Minneapolis, who discussed Ayo Dosunmu’s impact with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the NBA Playoffs and what his continued development means moving forward. The show also highlighted the newly announced Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing some of the top names and achievements in Illini sports history.

04-29-26 Hour 2: NCAA Tournament expands from 68 to 76 teams - Can they get this right? We read your texts; Tuesday Draft Results - best place to drink a beer!

Hour 2 dives into the NCAA Tournament expanding from 68 to 76 teams and whether the change will actually improve the event.

We also react to listener texts on the topic and wrap things up by revealing the results of our Tuesday Draft, highlighting the best places to drink a beer!

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04-29-26 Hour 1: Latest on Andrej Stojakovic declaring for NBA Draft and what fans need to know; Illini Headlines; Latest on Cubs, Cardinals, and NL Central

Hour 1 focuses on the latest developments surrounding Andrej Stojakovic declaring for the NBA Draft and what it means for fans moving forward. The show also covers key Illini headlines and wraps up with an update on the Cubs, Cardinals, and the latest movement in the NL Central.

04-28-26 Hour 2: Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports talks Illini at NFL Draft & Chicago Bears; Our Tuesday Draft - Best Places to Drink a Beer

Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports joins the show to break down the impact of the Illinois Fighting Illini football at the NFL Draft! Plus, Brian grades the Chicago Bears draft. Which player do he and Evan completely disagree on?

Plus, it’s time for the Tuesday Draft as the crew has some fun ranking the best places to drink a beer!

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04-28-26 Hour 1: We're back! Illinois football had a great weekend at the NFL Draft; Chicago Bears Draft Grades; Recap of The Oskees at State Farm Center

We’re back with a packed hour, highlighted by a strong showing from Fighting Illini football at the NFL Draft over the weekend. The guys also break down draft grades for the Chicago Bears and what it all means moving forward.

Plus, a recap of The Oskees at State Farm Center. Intern Coop was on The Orange Carpet all night.

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04/24/26 Hour 2: Glenn Kinley talks Illini players prepping for NFL Draft, Illinois Marathon, and local sports; "Around the Bases" looks at MLB Headlines; Friday Toasts!

WCIA 3 Sports Director Glenn Kinley joins the show to discuss Illinois Fighting Illini players preparing for the NFL Draft, along with a look at the Illinois Marathon and other local sports storylines.

The hour also features “Around the Bases,” breaking down the latest headlines from Major League Baseball. It all wraps up with Friday Toasts!

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04/24/26 Hour 1: Jacob Infante from Pro Fooball & Sports News talks Chicago Bears & NFL Draft; Illini Headlines; "Name A Forgettable Franchise"

Jacob Infante joins the show to break down the Chicago Bears and their outlook heading into the NFL Draft, including key needs and potential targets. It's a must-listen conversation!

The hour also features the latest Illini headlines, keeping you up to date on what’s happening around campus. Plus, the crew has some fun with “Name A Forgettable Franchise,” sparking plenty of debate and throwback discussion.

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