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Pulse of Illini Nation: Volleyball Final Four, Braggin’ Rights, or Early Signing Day

The prospect of a National Title in Volleyball has Illini fans giddy.

@IlliniVBall (Craig Pessman/Fighting Illini Athletics)

The next two weeks will be eventful for Illini Athletics. The holiday schedule is jam packed with Illini Volleyball in the Final Four this weekend, Basketball squaring off in its annual rivalry with Mizzou in St. Louis on Dec. 22, and Football’s Early Signing Period beginning on Dec. 19.

So, TCR took to Twitter to gage what is the moving the needle for Illini fans.

Volleyball Final Four (This Weekend)

Thursday night, the Illini are set to face Big Ten rival Nebraska in the NCAA Volleyball Semifinals. The Illini’s first Final Four appearance since 2011 has given Illini fans plenty to be proud of and appears to be the mostly highly anticipated of the three upcoming sporting events.

Braggin’ Rights (December 22)

Illini Basketball is still enduring the ups and downs that come with a rebuild but they have showed promise in the Maui invitational loss to Gonzaga and the ACC-Big Ten Challenge loss to Notre Dame. On the Horizon — on December 22— is the Braggin’ Rights border war against Mizzou — a team the Illini are always ready to play. Several Illini fans are excited to see how the promising young roster develops and improves as the season goes on . One of these promising youngsters is Samba Kane.

We can only hope that Brad Underwood reads this and gives Kane the minutes he needs to shine. (Even if it’s Not Kyle Short.)

Early Signing Day (December 19-21)

The biggest target left on the Illini’s recruiting board is 4-star LB Shammond Cooper from St. Louis (Mo.) Trinity Catholic — the same high school where Illini assistant Corey Patterson coached. Cooper is set to announce his decision at the US Army All American Game on Jan. 3. So, Cooper will not be signing early.

This takes some of the buzz for Illini fans. Therefore, Early Singing Day came in last in our Twitter poll.

Don’t Forget about Wrestling (December 29-30)

Thanks to Chris Luffman, Wrestling will not be forgotten. Illini Wrestling fans looking for their fix should check out The Ken Kraft Midlands Championships at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates on Dec. 29 and 30.

For vintage inspired, high quality, and well-designed University of Illinois apparel, check out Fourth and Kirby, and look for the TCR Collection while you’re at it!