Basketball

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular January 27, 2025 The […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 26, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Let’s start this week’s edition with the big win at Mackey Arena over the Purdue Boilermakers, 88-82.

Some people in the Purdue camp are a little baffled as to why the Illinois players and coaches celebrated so much after the win. There are several reasons. Brad Underwood and Matt Painter both understand the significance of wins and losses between the two programs, recruiting some of the same players as of late for starters.

Don’t let anyone underplay the competition between the two programs. Since the early 2020s, Illinois has 89 wins, and Purdue has 88. The Boilermakers have made one Final Four; the Illini have advanced to the Elite Eight.

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

January 25, 2026

Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith was amazing on Saturday for Purdue, posting 27 points and 12 assists, Illini Freshman Keaton Wagler was better. Wagler scored 46 points to lead Illinois to an 88-82 upset in Mackey Arena over #4 Purdue, setting a flurry of records and getting Illinois to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in Big Ten play.

The most amazing thing was that Wagler scored his 46 points on just 17 shots. His efficiency was off the charts, and it wasn’t just the 9-11 from 3, it was the assists, the hockey assists, making 2’s, and getting to the foul line. Even one of his turnovers was a clear no call on a drive

These 3 Things

The Right Reads

On a night he scored the most points ever for a Purdue opponent inside Mackey Arena, IlliniGuys.com looks at four straight possessions where Keaton Wagler made the perfect pass.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 24, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With four minutes remaining, Keaton Wagler had already produced 42 points.

At that point, the Illinois freshman guard owned the record for the most points by a single player opponent in the 58-year history of Mackey Arena. The problem for Illinois was they were still behind on the team scoreboard 73-70. It was at point that Wagler, one of the biggest surprises in this supremely talented freshman class of players, had clearly showed his ability to pump in points and fill up his own scoring column. It was the final four minutes where Wagler showed the mental, emotional and physical maturity critical to winning.

In four straight possessions that all ended with a made three-point shot, Wagler had the basketball in his hands and did exactly what both benches wanted him to do - give it up to a teammate. A three-pointer to Tomislav Ivisic on a two-man game where the Purdue center Oscar Cluff blitzed Wagler in a double-team leaving the veteran Illini big all alone at the top of the key tied the score at 73 with three minutes and 31 seconds left.

By lllliniGuys Staff January 24, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff January 24, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

Illinois head to Lincoln to Face #24 Nebraska Preview […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 23, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Fresh off a 74-71 win over rival Northwestern, the Illinois women’s basketball team spent its open week resting and recruiting as it looks to build on a strong start to the season.

Illinois is 15-4 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten play, tied for sixth place with Washington.

Coach Shauna Green said the break comes at the right time for a team that has leaned heavily on key contributors.

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.”

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.”