Oct. 23—The unofficial start to the 2026-27 season for the Illinois women's basketball team will happen in a week's time when the Illini host Illinois-Springfield in the lone exhibition game for coach and Co.
But before that happens, Illinois will have two of its assistant coaches on hand for an appearance on 'The News-Gazette Sports Page' radio show on WDWS from the Esquire Lounge in downtown Champaign.
Illini assistant coaches and will be on part of the weekly live show. McEntire and Beasley have been in Champaign from the start of Green's tenure as Illinois coach ahead of the 2022-23 season.
McEntire, now the associate head coach for the Illini program, reunited with Green after one season at Texas. Beasley, on the other hand, followed Green from Dayton to Illinois.
This appearance by McEntire and Beasley follows Green's time as an Esquire guest of The N-G in late September.
A big crowd showed up for what has been an annual preseason staple through Green's tenure as the Illini coach.
"We're a couple of rows deeper now," Green said during her 30-plus minute live appearance on Sept. 28, indicating the growing fan interest that has been created around her program now entering her fifth season in charge. "So, that's awesome. Appreciate it."