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Illinois Football
Illinois Basketball
Illinois
Big Ten Conference
Big Ten
College Football
NCAA
Illinois Women's Basketball
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Volleyball
Illinois Men's Basketball
Transfer Portal
NCAA Tournament
College Football Playoff
College Basketball
Washington Huskies
Illinois Soccer
Michigan
Basketball
Brett Bielema

A daily look at the latest in sports, mostly focused on the Illini. A variety of guests join the program, and the News-Gazette sportswriters make Mondays their own.

PublishesDailyEpisodes300Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for SportsTalk

Latest Episodes

Soon-to-be Illinois Athletics Hall of Famer D.A. Points joins Joey Wright and Evan Conn, as does News-Gazette Illinois women's basketball beat writer Joe Vozzelli.

Steve Kelly and Loren Tate welcome News-Gazette sportswriter Scott Richey to the studio for an update on Illini basketball then catch up with James Augustine (Illinois hall-of-fame inductee).

East Peoria boys' basketball coach Jarrett Brown and St. Joseph-Ogden boys' basketball coach Josh Haley join Joey Wright and Loren Tate for a chat about high school and college sports.

Longtime Unity coach Dave Fink joins Joey Wright, Matt Daniels and Bob Asmussen, plus plenty of discussion about Illini news and notes.

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Recent Guests

James Augustine
Illinois Hall of Fame basketball player and former Illini rebound leader
University of Illinois
Episode: Scott Richey, James Augustine | 5-6-26
Jarrett Brown
Head coach of the East Peoria Raiders boys' basketball program
East Peoria Raiders
Episode: Jarrett Brown & Josh Haley | 5-5-26
Dave Fink
Longtime Unity coach who is retiring; former St. Joseph Ogden and Unity staffer
Unity/St. Joseph Ogden
Episode: Dave Fink | 5-4-26
Braden Pridemore
former St. Joseph Ogden cross-country runner featured on Farmer Wants a Wife
Farmer Wants a Wife
Episode: The News-Gazette Sports Page | 4-27-26
Keegan Hill
New head coach of Centennial Chargers football
Centennial High School
Episode: Keegan Hill | 4-23-26
Mike Lindeman
Owner, Body N Sole Sports
Body N Sole Sports
Episode: Scott Richey, Travis Tate, Mike Lindeman | 4-22-26
Jalen Quinn
Former Tuscola standout, Drake Bulldog, in the transfer portal
Drake University (basketball)
Episode: Jalen Quinn | 4-21-26
Gavin Sullivan
MidPro Academy director and NIL consultant
MidPro Academy
Episode: Gavin Sullivan | 4-16-26
Zach Hamer
Illinois Men's Basketball player (guest on episode)
Illinois Men's Basketball Program
Episode: Zach Hamer & Adam Fletcher | 4-13-26

Hosts

Joey Wright
Host of Sports Talk on the News-Gazette WDWS and related sports desk programs; frequent panelist and lead host on Illinois sports conversations.
Evan Conn
Host of SportsTalk; regular co-host on local sports programs, covers Illinois basketball and broader Illinois sports topics.
Matt Daniels
Sports writer/host contributing to local sports programming; part of the Esquire Lounge and related show formats.
Bob Asmussen
Co-host and contributor on SportsTalk; provides analytical takes on Illinois basketball and football.
Loren Tate
Host/Co-host on Sports Talk; long-running presence in Illinois sports broadcasting.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 22 ratings
  • Great content, questionable audio quality

    As a long time Illini football season ticket holder, living outside CU, I greatly appreciate this podcast. I give the content an A grade, but the production (and this is true for each and every WDWS podcast) a C grade. Feedback, over modulation and callers that you can’t hear are a constant and definitely a problem.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    illinidodgers
    United States4 years ago
  • Terrific Show

    Fantastic post game show, very capable house, Scott, Evan, Trent. Terrific regular callers including Steve from Peoria. Does tend to attract some Negative Normans who like the sound of their own complaints, but they quickly crawl back into their cracks when the light comes out on Illini wins.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Erebiz
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics are engaging, with a clear focus on local teams and events.
The banter and expertise from hosts create an authentic, community-driven vibe.
Listeners appreciate in-depth Illinois sports context and insider perspectives.
Coverage of NIL and governance adds timely, relevant angles for sponsors and guests.
Production quality varies; audio sometimes falls short of the strong content.

Top Sports Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jarrett Brown & Josh Haley | 5-5-26
Q: What's the mentality like in pursuing a milestone like a career 500th win, and how has your program kept itself resilient this season?
The mindset is that it's a reflection of a lot of hard work, talented players, and sustained support from coaches and the community; the milestone is appreciated but the focus remains on continuing to compete and develop players.
Jarrett Brown & Josh Haley | 5-5-26
Q: Jarrett, we've heard Quinton Kidd is headed to prep school—do you know which one or is he keeping options open? What's that look like at all?
There has been a name presented to me, but I don't feel comfortable sharing it because it's not been confirmed coming from Quinton. I would report it only if he tells me directly.
Dave Fink | 5-4-26
Q: What stands out from your time coaching with Randy Wolkin and Scott Hamilton?
The level of organization and the impact they had on teaching and preparing players, which shaped how I approach coaching and mentoring younger staff.
Dave Fink | 5-4-26
Q: Dave, what factors led you to retire at this particular time?
I've put in 33 years and feel it's the right moment to give younger coaches the opportunity to lead, while staying engaged through scouting and potential consultation, if needed.
Jalen Quinn | 4-21-26
Q: Have you heard anything from coaches about eligibility or the five-on-five rule, and do you expect a clear path by May?
Quinn indicates that NCAA meetings are expected in early May and that coaches are waiting to see how the rule plays out, with uncertainty about retroactivity and eligibility timelines.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About SportsTalk

What is SportsTalk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on Illinois sports across high school, college, and professional levels, with a strong emphasis on local teams, athletes, and events. Episodes typically mix game previews and recaps with guest insights from players, coaches, journalists, and broadcasters who cover Illinois athletics, plus live takes on NIL, governance, recruiting, and big matchups. A recurring strength is in-depth local context, insider perspectives, and lively game-day energy that appeals to fans, recruiters, and sponsors focused on the Illini scene and Midwest college sports.

Noteworthy angles include behind-the-scenes recruitment journeys, governance and scheduling decisions affecting prep and collegiate athletics, and unique event coverage like in-are... more

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How many subscribers and views does SportsTalk have?

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How many episodes of SportsTalk are there?

SportsTalk launched 9 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for SportsTalk?

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What guests have appeared on SportsTalk?

Recent guests on SportsTalk include:

1. James Augustine
2. Jarrett Brown
3. Dave Fink
4. Braden Pridemore
5. Keegan Hill
6. Mike Lindeman
7. Jalen Quinn
8. Gavin Sullivan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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