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PODCAST

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter is a podcast offering a fan’s perspective on Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball.

sports basketball

All Episodes

51:36

Unchained (10/09/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/10/09

Titled in honor of the great Eddie Van Halen, Mike Carpenter is buzzing after a huge Bears victory over Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Fifteen days away from the season opener, what should expectations be for Lovie Smith's Illini as they take on the Wisconsin Badgers?

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47:43

You Down With MTE? (10/06/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/10/06

Illinois basketball is putting the finishing touches on its non-conference schedule. Mike Carpenter is excited at the possibility of Baylor, a top ACC team, and the Thanksgiving holiday "multi-team event" at the State Farm Center. Meanwhile, Lovie Smith's squad is 18 days away from their season opener at Wisconsin.

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50:10

Sportsapalooza! (09/30/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/09/30

On the day Illinois football returns to padded practice, Mike Carpenter is relishing the ridiculous amount of live sports: MLB Playoffs, NBA Finals, the undefeated Chicago Bears, and college football. In the midst of a pandemic, sports mean more than ever, even though COVID-19 remains a lingering threat for pro and college leagues.

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51:20

The Kingfisher Cometh (09/24/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/09/24

The ghost of Chief Illiniwek was awakened after the Orange and Blue Belted Kingfisher passed the UIUC student senate. Mike Carpenter analyzes the age-old mascot argument, along with the possibility Big Ten football completes its season uninterrupted. Finally, may Illinois basketball be on the verge of a big 2021 addition?

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01:30:23

Dare to Dream: 2020 Edition (09/21/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/09/21

Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Harry Black look at the Illini football schedule and play everyone's favorite prediction game, Dare to Dream! In this edition, they analyze the path to a .500-or-above record, and identify which games will make the difference between a satisfying and disappointing season.

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50:57

Third Time's a Charm (09/16/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/09/16

Big Ten Football is back . . . yet again! Mike Carpenter breaks down the announcement of a 9-game season beginning October 24, and analyzes how all the interested parties (players, coaches, admin, and disgruntled parents) come out on the other side of a month-long debate.

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46:55

Columbus Day (09/10/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/09/10

Ryan Day is peeved, James Franklin is confused, and angry parents are probably writing even more letters to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren. Mike Carpenter tries to answer the question of "why can't they play?" as campuses quarantine, move to remote-only learning, and initiate partial shutdowns.

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01:01:12

Economic 'Paign (09/08/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/09/08

The Illini-Ohio State game that wasn't got the attention of Pat Forde, who wrote an article on the economic impact on Champaign-Urbana. Mike Carpenter discusses how the community is affected, along with the latest murmurs of Big Ten football possible restart from Dan Patrick.

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55:07

Oh, What Could Have Been (09/03/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/09/03

On the night Illinois would have welcomed Ohio State to Memorial Stadium, Mike Carpenter wonders what could have been as COVID-19 cases rise at UIUC. Meanwhile, days after Illini athletes and coaches marched for Black Lives Matter, a local website refused to cover the event despite an absence of newsworthy sports stories.

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50:12

In Solidarity (08/31/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/31

Led by Illini football standout Kendrick Green, the University of Illinois athletic department came together for a Black Lives Matter protest. Mike Carpenter discusses the impact of Josh Whitman, Lovie Smith, and Brad Underwood's solidarity with the hundreds of students who marched.

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50:45

More Than Athletes (08/27/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/27

The NBA boycott highlighted the increasing role of athletes in social and political issues. Mike Carpenter looks at the impact of professional athletes on discussions of racial injustice, and why "sticking to sports" is no longer an option.

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54:59

Bubblicious (08/24/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/24

After reports of an NBA-like bubble setup for college basketball, Mike Carpenter is feeling optimistic about seeing Brad Underwood's loaded roster on the court this season. Also, he looks at the aftermath of the Big Ten parent protest and nominates Shannon Ryan (Chicago Tribune) to be the new PR person for Kevin Warren.

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44:08

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (08/19/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/19

Letters, letters, and MORE LETTERS! Mike Carpenter reacts to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren's belated response, along with the letter drafted by parents of Illinois football players.

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43:48

Who's the Boss? (08/17/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/17

As students arrive back to campuses across the country, the #WeWantToPlay movement gains momentum with support from athletes, parents, and fans. With one messy decision after another, Mike Carpenter ponders if anyone is actually in charge.

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01:25:52

Plan B (08/13/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/13

After the Big Ten officially cancels the fall football season, what now? Mike Carpenter looks at possible alternatives, including Jeff Brohm's proposal for spring football. Later, Harry Black hops on the show to talk about the craziest college football week in a long time.

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59:34

Lights Out (08/10/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/10

With the cancellation of Big Ten football and other conferences soon to follow, Mike Carpenter looks at the myriad of frustrations - for students, athletes, fans, and others - and how we got to this point.

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01:38:42

Thursday Night Lights (08/06/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/06

Lovie Smith's Illini will kick off the college football season with a Thursday night home game against Ohio State. Mike Carpenter breaks down the 10-game conference schedule, along with best-and-worst-case scenarios. Later, Alex Roux (The Take Ten Podcast, BTN) joins the podcast to talk Illini basketball, football, and Lou Henson memories.

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01:01:54

They're Baaack! (08/03/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/08/03

Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn announce their return to Brad Underwood's program for one last hurrah. Mike Carpenter reacts to the surprising news, along with the passing of Illini legend Lou Henson and Meyers Leonard's stance on the national anthem.

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47:29

Attack of the Coronabros! (07/21/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/07/21

Mike Carpenter discusses how the Clay Travises of the media world are dumbing down the conversation of sports returning during COVID-19, and how being a "coronabro" isn't so bad after all.

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01:29:53

Casey at the Bat (07/17/20)

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini... ·

2020/07/17

Mike Carpenter looks at what an Illinois football gameday will look like in the fall, following an announcement from Josh Whitman about seating capacity, tailgating, and more. Casey Boguslaw (writer/analyst, @FutureSox) takes a deep dive into the upcoming MLB season, including division races, sleeper teams, and the many follies of Rob Manfred.

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542 results

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