Basketball

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

January 22, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

No Boswell, no problem. Well, at least on the offensive end. The Illini continued their onslaught on the offensive record book with an efficient 89 points, but allowed 70 points for the first time since the Nebraska game when their 8-game win streak began. Andrej Stojakovic scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, while Keaton Wagler had 13 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds to help the Illini move to 16-3 and 7-1 in Big Ten play.

Jake Davis got the start in place of Boswell and, after hitting 58 consecutive 3’s in the pregame, was 4-6 from deep to lead the Illini 3-point barrage that saw them hit 15-40 from deep against the Maryland zone.

Here’s a look at the particulars.

These 3 Things

Two-Way Andrej

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood didn’t hide what it’ll take for Illini to survive a three to four week stretch without Kylan Boswell - more Andrej Stojakovic.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 22, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Pickrell/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Through one night at least, the answer to the new equation for this Illinois team that now includes the loss of Kylan Boswell was simple math - the addition of Andrej Stojakovic.

Yes, the 6-foot-7 transfer guard from Stanford and California had more offensive freedom with the basketball in his hands early and often that led to a team-high and Illini-high of 30 points and a comfortable 89-70 victory over Maryland. However, scoring in waves is what Stojakovic was known for before arriving in Champaign-Urbana. The point guard action and defensive mentality was certainly not but Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said months ago he felt these elements is how Stojakovic could take the next step of his development.

“He stepped up to that challenge,” Underwood said Wednesday night. “It’s just amazing how often that when you worry about defense that offense will find you.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGBkJ-z1oss    

By IlliniGuys Staff January 21, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 21, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois women’s basketball coach Shauna Green didn’t wait long to make history in her fourth year in Champaign.

Green landed the program’s first McDonald’s All-American since Chatrice White in 2014, securing a commitment from Pickerington, Ohio, native Berry Wallace, and early returns suggest the hype was warranted.

After making the move from Dayton to Illinois, Green kept close tabs on Wallace during her recruitment, selling her on a vision: be different, come to Illinois, and help lead the next era of the program. Wallace has done exactly that, emerging as one of the most productive players in the Big Ten and a cornerstone of Illinois’ strong start this season.

Wallace is now #4 in the Big Ten in scoring at 19.6 points per game while shooting 88% from the free-throw line. She has helped Illinois build a 15-4 overall record and a 5-3 mark in conference play, putting the Illini in position to contend weekly in one of the nation’s toughest leagues.

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

January 21, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini are back in action Wednesday evening against the Maryland Terrapins, and will once again be short-handed as senior guard Kylan Boswell will miss multiple games with a fractured hand. No one player will be able to replace Boswell, but the Illini are hoping that improved play from Andrej Stojakovic and guards Mihailo Petrovic and Brandon Lee can help the Illini navigate a difficult stretch that is coming up.

But first they have to beat a Maryland team that has been their nemesis. Brad Underwood is just 3-9 against the Terps. Here’s a look at the particulars.

Setting the Stage
#11 Illinois (15-3, 6-1 B1G) vs. Maryland (8-10, 1-6 B1G)
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 // 6 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Chris Vosters (Play-by-Play) & Jordan Taylor (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable
*No. 11 Illinois, riding a season-best seven-game win streak, hosts Maryland Wednesday night at State Farm Center. Illinois is in search of its first eight-game win streak since Brad Underwood's fourth season, when the Illini also won eight straight from Feb. 25-March 19, 2021. That streak – the program's longest of the Underwood era – began with four straight Big Ten wins to close the regular season (last three on the road) and continued with the 2021 Big Ten Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament first-round victory.

*At 15-3 overall, Illinois is off to its best start since 2011-12. A win over Maryland would give the Illini its best 19-game record since also starting 16-3 during the 2008-09 season. Illinois is 6-1 in Big Ten play, looking to improve to 7-1 for the first time in the Brad Underwood era. A win over Maryland would mark the Illini's best start to Big Ten play since the 2004-05 squad won its first 15 league games as part of 29-straight wins to open the season. The 2005 Illini swept the Big Ten regular season and Tournament titles and advanced to the Final Four, finishing as the NCAA runner-up with a 37-2 overall record.

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

January 20, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

With 3:12 remaining in the first half on Saturday morning, the Illini trailed Minnesota 32-26. The vaunted Illini offense had been stagnant, showing no signs of life, missing open shots and were heading towards another morning game debacle at home.

Brad Underwood then inserted little used, and previously much hyped, point guard Mihailo Petrovic to provide a spark, and he did not disappoint. In that final 3:12 he would score 4 points, set up Zvonimir Ivisic for 4 more, and lead Illinois on an 8-2 run to end the half in a 34 all tie. He even showed off his quickness on the defensive end, pressuring the ball and denying entry passes to the wing, fighting through screens.

"My hat's off to Mihailo [Petrovic]. We don't win the game without him. He changed the whole outlook of the game at the end of the first half.”

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 19, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Troy Stolt/Naperville Sun)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois men’s basketball received a commitment from one of the top-scoring guards in high school basketball late Friday evening, as Neuqua Valley standout Mason Martin pledged to the Illini and will keep one of the best shooting guards in the state at home.

Martin, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound shooting guard, became the second commitment for head coach Brad Underwood in the 2027 recruiting class. Peoria native Quinton Kitt pledged to Illinois on Thanksgiving.

We caught up with Martin to discuss what went into his decision to commit early in the process and why he chose Illinois.

Illinois plans on going with a double point guard look as long as Gretchen Dolan’s knee injury continues to be an issue in this 2025-26 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 19, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The second consecutive game without Illinois’ second-leading scorer allowed Shauna Green to turn to a double point guard lineup she’s been familiar with in his Illini tenure.

With Gretchen Dolan’s knee injury continuing to be a problem forcing the third-year guard to be in a sweatsuit Sunday, Illinois went with a third starting lineup in this 2025-26 season with Aaliyah Guyton making her first start for the Illini since arriving this offseason. The Peoria, Ill., native and star transfer from Iowa had been progressing through an injury-plagued start to the season as Destiny Jackson’s backup but in a home game against an under .500 Northwestern squad, Green elected to play together the back-to-back No. 1 overall players in the state of the Illinois out of high school.

Guyton responded to this role change with 13 points, three assists and three rebounds and was a plus-6 in 30 minutes of action.

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

January 18, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini found a way to grind out a win over a tough Minnesota Gophers squad on Saturday behind a big effort from Zvonimir Ivisic, who had 18 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Keaton Wagler had 17 points and 5 assists, while David Mirkovic (12 points) and Tomislav Ivisic (10 points) scored all 22 of their points after the break to lead Illinois to a 77-67 win and move them solidly into the top tier of the Big Ten at 6-1 and 15-3 overall.

It wasn’t easy though. Minnesota led by as many as 6 points late in the first half before largely unused guard Mihailo Petrovic gave Illinois a spark that would let Illinois tie it at 38 at the half. From there, Illinois would lead by as many as 12 points and cruise to the win down the stretch.

Here’s a quick look back.

These 3 Things

Bench Win -

By IlliniGuys Staff January 18, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

A knee injury forced Illinois second-leading scorer Gretchen Dolan out of action earlier this week but Illini second-year head coach Shauna Green classified the injury as “day to day”.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 18, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Day to day.

These are the words Illinois head coach Shauna Green choose to use to describe the knee injury to her second-leading scorer. Gretchen Dolan is listed as out for today’s home contest against Northwestern (2 p.m., Big Ten Network-Plus) and this loss will certainly impact the playing rotation of the No. 25 Illini (14-4, 4-3 in Big Ten) in this contest against a struggling Wildcats team and future games as Illinois nears the midpoint of the league schedule.

“It’s her knee but we’ll see how it goes,” Green said after a loss to No. 8 Michigan on Thursday night. “Day to day.”

Illinois used bench play and a stifling defensive effort […]

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

January 17, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Pickrell/IlliniGuys)

The Illini are coming off of a four-game road win streak, including wins at Iowa and Northwestern, and they are coming home to play Minnesota in an 11AM tip game. What could go wrong? As we know, much has gone wrong in these situations in the past. Minnesota presents a formidable challenge and the Illini will need to bring their ‘A’ game to get the win on Saturday.

Here's a look at the particulars...

Setting the Stage
#13 Illinois (14-3, 5-1 B1G) vs. Minnesota (10-7, 3-3 B1G)
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 // 11 a.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Jack Kizer (Play-by-Play) & Jess Settles (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable
No. 13 Illinois, riding a season-best six-game win streak, hosts Minnesota on Saturday at State Farm Center. Illinois is in search of the program's first seven-game win streak since March 2024, a stretch that began with the regular-season finale at Iowa and included the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Championship and run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.

*At 14-3 overall, Illinois is off to its best start since 2012-13. A win over Minnesota would give the Illini its best 18-game record since also starting 15-3 in 2011-12.