Basketball

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

(Editor's note: IlliniGuys staffer Kedric Prince posted the following insider info on our premium message boards Thursday morning.)

A few tidbits here.

It’s OK to be upset about last night’s loss to Wisconsin. There’s nothing wrong with taking a few hours to reflect, especially for me. I’m fortunate to have built strong relationships with families and players over the years to provide small tidbits.

Let’s not forget Illinois was down two starters, not one, but two it does make a difference. Add the fact that the team has now lost back-to-back overtime games, without a full team, shows character. Andrej alone might have been enough to change the outcome. Sure, no one in the league cares about those circumstances, but the selection committee will take note of it.

I spoke with three parents last night. Here’s what they had to say...

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 13, 2026

Illinois enjoyed a real luxury last year by returning 5 starters on the line. Of course, the nature of college sports is that you can't keep the group together for long. So, this year Illinois is looking at one returning starter in Brandon Henderson, and because our backups barely played last year, we don't even know who among the reserves is ready to go. However, the way things have worked out, we're actually in pretty good shape. See below:

Newcomers
The staff made transfer center Jake Renfro a priority and I loved that move. When you're looking at a whole new group that has little to no Big Ten experience, it makes the most sense to spend your money on an experienced center. And the Mokena, Illinois-bred Renfro isn't just some guy either. He's started 36 games in college, including 6 as a true freshman at Cincinnati and earning all-conference honors as a redshirt freshman on the Cincinnati team that made the CFP. However, that's where the trouble started. Renfro missed all of the 2022 and 2023 years except for the 2023 Reliaquest Bowl for Wisconsin. Renfro started the 2024 season and played well, earning himself a spot on the Rimington watch list prior to the 2025 season. However, last year injuries hindered Renfro again and he started only 4 games. So, if Renfro can stay on the field and fight off his recurring ankle and knee injuries, he's not only an experienced leader for the unit, he's an upgrade to Josh Kreutz on the field. If not, well, TJ McMillen has been patiently waiting his turn. As a player, Renfro didn't move especially well even before his injuries, but we can also say goodbye to the days that Illinois had to assign a guard to anyone lined up on the nose because Josh Kreutz couldn't handle a defender by himself. Basically, if he can stay on the field, Illinois upgraded at the center position.

Without Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic physically able to perform, No. 8 Illinois drops its second straight overtime game.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 12, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Before the opening tip of what would turn out to be the program’s first back-to-back losses of the season, Brad Underwood knew his rotation was nothing more than six players.

Following the 92-90 overtime loss to Wisconsin Tuesday night, Underwood remained steadfast that his team was one or two possessions, one or two more made free throws or one or two less turnovers away from pulling off a Big Ten Conference with just one reserve player worth turning to on his bench.

We’re the only team in the country that has played 11 games in 33 days … in the power four (conferences),” Underwood said. “Coming off Michigan State, this sounds like an excuse – maybe it is – but we’re logging a lot of minutes. We had one ball-handler tonight. Coming off a very physical Michigan State game – an emotional game … I’m really proud of our guys. I don’t have one complaint. We just need health.”

A career-high scoring night from Aailyah Guyton and a […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 11, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – As announced midway through Sunday’s game, Illinois women’s basketball achieved its third sellout game in program history against USC. The crowd, while falling short of the capacity of 15,544 at State Farm Center, was a loud one, as the Illini picked up steam late to narrow a 19-point deficit to just six in the closing moments.

The achievement is one that head coach Shauna Green, now in her fourth season at Illinois, has been hard at work to achieve.

“We were determined to make this sell-out happen, and we did it, and what an unbelievable atmosphere in there,” Green said after Sunday’s game.

Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb was also quick to show her appreciation for those who worked to pull the crowd together, praising Green, her staff, and the Illinois fans.

“Just an unbelievable atmosphere. It felt like a March game in February, just two really good teams going at it,” she said. “They’re an excellent team, they’ve proven that.”

By Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 10, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With March approaching and postseason implications looming, Illinois basketball finds itself in a familiar but increasingly complicated position: competing in the present while keeping one eye firmly on the future.

It has been a strong season on the hardwood for Illinois head coaches Brad Underwood and Shauna Green. After the Wisconsin game, Underwood’s men will have six regular-season contests remaining, while Green’s women will have four games left following Wednesday’s matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers.

Both teams appear to be firmly in the NCAA Tournament picture, especially the men, who are vying for a No. 2 to No. 4 seed. The women are trending in the right direction, but still have work to do, according to Green.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 10, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 10, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini saw their 12-game winning streak snapped on Saturday at Michigan State, but still sit just 1 game behind Michigan atop the Big Ten standings. In order to keep pace, they will need to take care of the pesky Wisconsin Badgers on Tuesday, the only team to beat the Wolverines this season. This is a tough matchup for Illinois, as the Wisconsin Guards can really get it going and the Illini will be without Senior Guard Kylan Boswell once again. But coming off of a loss, this should be a motivated Illinois team.

Setting the Stage
#7 Illinois (20-4, 11-2) v Wisconsin (16-7, 8-4)
TUESDAY, FEB. 10 | 7 P.M. CT | CHAMPAIGN, ILL. | STATE FARM CENTER |
TV: PEACOCK (John Fanta & Robbie Hummel)
Radio: Illini Sports Network

Notable

No. 8 Illinois concludes a stretch of five games in 13 days on Tuesday, hosting Wisconsin at State Farm Center.
Illinois is coming off an overtime loss at No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday night that snapped its 12-game winning streak, the Illini's longest win streak in the last 13 seasons.
Prior to Saturday's loss at No. 10 Michigan State, Illinois had won 10 consecutive Big Ten games. That equaled its longest B1G streak of the Brad Underwood era, first set from Feb. 25, 2021 through Jan. 14, 2022.
Illinois ranks fourth in the latest NET rankings and leads the nation with five Quad 1A wins.
Illinois is 20-4 overall, the program's best start since opening 22-4 in 2005-06.
Illinois' 11-2 Big Ten mark is its best record in conference play since the 2004-05 team won its first 15 league games. The famed 2005 Illini squad swept Big Ten regular season and Tournament titles and advanced to the Final Four, finishing as the NCAA runner-up at 37-2.
Illinois has secured its seventh straight 20-win regular season under Brad Underwood. Illinois, Houston, and Gonzaga are the only three programs to win at least 20 regular season games every year since 2019-20.
Illinois has also clinched a winning Big Ten record for the seventh straight season. Illinois is the only team to finish above .500 in Big Ten play every year since 2019-20.
Illinois has won six straight home games and is 12-1 at State Farm Center this season, the program's best start since also opening 12-1 at home in 2019-20. The Illini are averaging 88.6 points per game at home, with an average scoring margin of +24.2 ppg.
Illinois has won 20 consecutive games against unranked teams, and 15 straight at home over unranked foes.
Illinois is ranked No. 4 in kenpom, matching the highest rating of the Underwood era. The Illini also finished the 2020-21 season at No. 4.
Illinois is No. 8 in the latest AP poll and seventh in the coaches top 25, sitting inside the top 10 for the third consecutive week and the fourth week overall this season. Illinois has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in each of the last seven seasons.
Illinois has six Quad 1 wins, tied for fifth in the NCAA (through games played Feb. 8) behind Duke (10), Arizona (8), Michigan (8), and Houston (7). Five of Illinois' six wins in this category are Quad 1A, most in the nation.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 10, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Sunday’s bout against USC was one of the largest non-Field Trip Day crowds for Illinois women’s basketball in recent history. The announced sellout played host to over 10,000, but the volume in the arena didn’t hit high levels until late in the fourth quarter of the 70-62 loss.

That can be attributed to yet another slow start for the Illini out of the gates. In its last five games, Illinois has averaged 70.4 points, but has only managed 27.6 points in the first half, and has also gone 1-4 in that stretch. What does that mean? It means the Illini are struggling to get the ball in the basket early. It’s an issue that head coach Shauna Green and her staff have identified, and will need to fix if they wish to avoid playing on Wednesday of the Big Ten Tournament next month.

“We gotta quit starting and getting ourselves into a hole,” Green said to open her post-game press conference. “We’ve gotta figure this out, and we’ve gotta be better and more disciplined and play with more urgency on the defensive end and (have) more of an aggressive mindset and attack mode on the offensive end so we don’t get down. You can’t get down to these teams in this league because it’s hard to climb out.”

By IlliniGuys Staff February 9, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 8, 2026

Jeremy Fears scored 26 points and dished out 15 assists to drop Illinois 85-82 in overtime and end the Illinois 12 game winning streak. Illinois struggled to shoot the ball, making just 37% of their attempts and hitting just 28% from 3 and the Spartans hurt Illinois on the glass, outrebounding them by 10 and grabbing 15 offensive boards as they moved back into the Big Ten title race.

Keaton Wagler struggled from the floor, despite his 16 points, he hit just 2-16 from the floor against the physical Michigan State defense.

These 3 Things

The Little Things Matter - Illinois committed a lane violation to give Michigan State a point. Illinois took poor shots early in the shot clock every time they seemed to take control. The Illini failed to get back in transition on numerous occasions, jogging back and giving up transition 3’s. The Illini missed blockouts repeatedly.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer February 8, […]

After fracturing her nose in practice in Oregon, Berry Wallace will debut a form-fitting mask following the logistical nightmare to getting the sophomore forward on the court Wednesday night. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 8, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In the middle of their Pacific Northwest Big Ten Conference road trip, a significant injury scare, logistical nightmare and help from an opponent caused Berry Wallace to introduce a new look. 

Just minutes into its arrival in Oregon, the Illinois women’s basketball team went into scramble mode to figure out ways their leading scorer could play with a broken nose.

Berry Wallace suffered a broken nose at Illinois’ practice session at the Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon just over 24 hours before the Illini were set to face Oregon on Wednesday evening. Not long after pulling off another victory over a Top 25 opponent, 75-66 at Washington on Feb. 1, Green and the Illini coaches were in an Oregon emergency room waiting to hear from doctors on whether their leading scorer and star forward averaging 19.4 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per contest had a broken orbital bone or any other slight facial fractures following a practice incident that immediately saw Wallace’s eyes get black and purple and the muscles around her cheekbones swell up. 

“I never asked her the question because she just turned to me early and said ‘I’m going to play’,” Illinois head coach Shauna Green said. “Toughness. That’s what Berry Wallace stands for.” 

Illinois freshman sensation Keaton Wagler was bumped, banged and physically overwhelmed in his Breslin Center debut during the Illini’s first loss in 56 days.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 8, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Keaton Wagler got his freshman introduction to the Breslin Center.

The freshman sensation, who has already recorded 46 points in Purdue’s Mackey Arena, 28 points at Nebraska, 22 points at Northwestern and 19 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, found out being able to production inside Michigan State’s home arena and against a physical defensive scheme is a different element altogether.

The 12-game losing streak is over after the 6-foot-6 guard was bumped, pushed and physically handled into a 2 of 16 shooting night that show him miss at least four shots at or near the rim that over the last month and a half have easily fallen.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 7, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]