Basketball

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

November 25, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Brent Zinkmann/IlliniGuys)

The Illini beat UT Rio Grande Valley 87-73 on Monday night as they prepare for UConn on Friday, but they also showed they are far from a finished product. The ups and downs are normal for early season basketball, but this is different. The Illini have played 7 games but literally have only had a full roster available (sans Ty Rodgers) for three of those games and five practices. And even then, they are far from 100% and do not have conditioning up to speed.

So it makes sense that there are inconsistencies, some communication issues and even a coaching staff struggling to figure them out.

Things We Know:

Stojakovic Can Score 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UURvyvv8NI0    

While the talent, creativity and moments of athleticism from Mihailo Petrovica re impossible to ignore, Brad Underwood remains baffled on what to do with his 22-year-old point guard.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 25, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The biggest mystery for Illinois’ 2025-26 season continues to be 22-year-old Mihailo Petrovic.

Following what the layman might perceive as an uplifting effort from a player who was the last Illini option used off the bench, Petrovic remains this unlocked talent that his own leader admittedly doesn’t know how to properly use already seven games into this campaign.

“I don’t know. If you want me to be honest, we’re still working through all of that,” a perplexed Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said following the 87-73 win over Texas-Rio Grande Valley. “He was the first player off the bench on Saturday (in the 98-58 win over Long Island) and I think we have depth. It’s nice to have him and be able to go to him.”

By IlliniGuys Staff November 24, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

November 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini open their Thanksgiving Feast Week schedule with a bit of a test when they take on UT Rio Grande at the State Farm Center before they head to New York to take on the UConn Huskies at Madison Square Garden. It is sometimes easy to look ahead and this would be a game they definitely do not want to overlook.

Here’s a look at the matchup.

Setting the Stage
#8 Illinois (5-1) vs. UT Rio Grande Valley (2-3)
Monday, Nov. 24, 2025 // 7 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Jason Ross Jr. (Play-by-Play) & Bruce Weber (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Doug Altenberger

Notable
*No. 8 Illinois (5-1) continues its stretch of four games in 10 days across three different cities, hosting UT Rio Grande Valley on Monday night at State Farm Center (7 p.m. CT/BTN). This is Illinois’ lone one-day prep of the regular season, following Saturday’s 98-58 win over Long Island.

*Monday marks Illinois’ sixth home date among its first seven games to start the season. The Illini will not play at State Farm Center for nearly three weeks following the UTRGV game, returning Dec. 13 vs. Nebraska. Illinois has won all five of its home games thus far by outscoring opponents by an average of 32.8 points. The Illini are shooting 52% at State Farm Center, including nearly 36% from 3-point range Illinois carries a seven-game home winning streak into Monday’s game vs. UTRGV. Under head coach Brad Underwood, the Illini have won 34 consecutive nonconference home games against unranked opponents.

*After leading the Big Ten in scoring last season (83.6 ppg), Illinois is currently averaging 95.8 points. If able to maintain this early pace, it would surpass the program’s all-time scoring average of 92.2 ppg set in 1964-65.

*The Illini have opened with six straight games of 80+ points for the first time since the 1988-89 Flyin’ Illini did so in each of its first 12 contests.

*The Fighting Illini offense features six players – Kylan Boswell (17.8 ppg), Andrej Stojakovic (17.4), Keaton Wagler (16.2), David Mirkovic (16.0), Tomislav Ivisic (11.0), and Ben Humrichous (10.0) – averaging double-figures scoring, tied for the second-most in the nation.

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

November 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini did exactly what they needed to do on Saturday afternoon when they dismantled the Long Island Sharks 98 to 58. Andrej Stojakovic led the way with 20 points, 18 of those coming after intermission. Freshman Keaton Wagler bounced back from a rough outing against Alabama with 19 points in this one as he continues to be one of the best unheralded freshmen in the country. David Mirkovic added 12 and Kylan Boswell tallied 11 as the Illinois placed four in double figures. Perhaps more importantly starting center Tomislav Ivisic is beginning to round into form playing 20 minutes and scoring nine points in his return to action.

Here’s what we saw.

These 3 Things

Putting the Pieces Together -

By IlliniGuys Staff November 23, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Illinois at Florida […]

By IlliniGuys Staff November 22, 2205 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

November 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini are back in the friendly confines for a tune up against Long Island on Saturday after their tough loss to Alabama in Chicago. The Illini are a big favorite in this one against the Sharks and head coach Rod Strickland, so this is more a ‘get right’ game.

Setting the Stage
#8 Illinois (4-1) vs. Long Island (3-2)
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 // 1 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
Stream: B1G+ – Andrew Burkey (Play-by-Play), Justin St. Louis (Analyst), & Mazie Gierat Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Scott Beatty (Play-By-Play), Doug Altenberger

Notable
*Saturday’s contest is also the second game of stretch of five games in 17 days across four cities that includes a trio of marquee nonconference matchups vs. Top 25 opponents. Following the Illini’s game vs. #11 Alabama Wednesday, which drew 17,775 fans to the United Center in Chicago, the team hosts LIU and UT Rio Grande Valley at home before facing #3 UConn at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 28 and concluding the gauntlet on Dec. 6 vs. #20 Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

*Illinois carries a six-game home winning streak into Saturday’s game vs. LIU. Under head coach Brad Underwood, the Illini have won 33 consecutive nonconference home games against unranked opponents.

*Through five games, Illinois leads the Big Ten in rebound margin (+17.8 rpg) and total rebounds per game (47.0), ranking fourth and 10th, respectively, in the NCAA. Illinois also ranks second in the conference in scoring offense (95.4 ppg), 3-point attempts per game (31.8), 3-point percentage defense (.286).

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

November 20, 2025

The Illini fell to #11 Alabama 90-86 on Wednesday night despite 22 points and 7 assists from Kylan Boswell and 26 points from Andrej Stojakovic. Alabama scored on every possession in the final 3 minutes, and the Tide took advantage of the Illini free throw woes to get a huge bounce back win behind Labaron Philon and his 24 points and 5 assists.

Here’s a look at what we saw:

These 3 Things

Freshmen Looked Like Freshmen 

By Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

November 20, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois put together a good 2026 recruiting class with the official signing now complete, headlined by four-star guard Lucas Morillo of New Rochelle, New York. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound standout from The Newman School becomes the highest-ranked recruit in the Illini’s class and one of the most coveted guards in the country.

Morillo joins a pair of Midwest recruits in guard Ethan Brown of Rolla, Missouri, and forward Landon Davis of Waukee, Iowa. Together, the trio gives Illinois a blend of size, versatility, and long-term developmental upside that positions the program well for future success.

By Illini Guys Staff November 19, 2025 (Cover photo […]

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

November 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Pickrell/IlliniGuys)

It’s another big game for the Illini as they continue their difficult non-conference slate with a stiff test at the United Center in Chicago on Wednesday night. The 11th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide continue their own gauntlet of a schedule after falling at home to Purdue last week and before they play Gonzaga.

Illinois is hoping to have the services of star big man Tomislav Ivisic in this one as he recovers from a lower leg injury and should have Mihailo Petrovic back to add guard depth.

Here’s a look at the particulars.

Setting the Stage
#8 Illinois (4-0) vs. #11 Alabama (2-1)
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 // 8 p.m. CT // Chicago, Ill. // United Center
TV: FS1 – Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play) & Steve Smith (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Illinois first-year point guard Destiny Jackson has found a way to overachieve in her first month of college basketball.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Even Shauna Green, who fully admits to not being warm and cuddly to her point guards, can’t stay mad at her newest first-year floor leader.

Freshmen Destiny Jackson has taken the teaching, yelling, encouragement and everything else that goes into being a lead guard and in a matter of months has surprised many, including maybe even herself, with her seamless transition to college basketball.

Jackson, the 2025 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year along with being the 2025 Ms. Basketball selection and a 2025 McDonald's All America selection, poured in a career-high 18 points with five assists and four rebounds in a 84-64 victory over Murray State in front of 14,631 fans on ‘Field Trip Day’ inside State Farm Center.

After losing veteran guards to a two-time NCAA Tournament participant and a WBIT championship program, Green knew her fourth year as the Illini head coach might test her admittedly low levels of patience for mistakes with a brand-new roster highlighted by a eager and super talented but inexperienced point guard. Through four games, wich has even included a difficult 64-59 loss at Oregon State last weekend, Jackson continues to learn quickly but Tuesday proved her instincts when she doesn’t know everything to do can still be remarkable.