Basketball

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

December 29, 2025

After a week off for Christmas break, the Illini are back in action at the State Farm Center against Southern University. This is the last tune up for the Illini head into their final 18 Big Ten contests over the months of January, February and March. Coming off of a dominating win over Missouri, everything is right in Illini land. Now they have an opportunity to show that they can handle success and bottle that offense and defense against the inferior opponent twice in a row

Here's a look at the particulars..

Setting the Stage
#20/19 Illinois (9-3) vs. Southern (4-8)
Monday, Dec. 29, 2025 // 2 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Noah Reed (Play-by-Play) & Jordan Taylor (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Scott Beatty (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas (Analyst)

Notable
*Southern is picked to finish 2nd in the SWAC after winning the regular season conference title a year ago.

*Following a week-long holiday break, No. 20 Illinois returns to action for a Monday matinee vs. Southern at State Farm Center (2 p.m. CT / BTN). The matchup between the Illini and the Jaguars closes out Illinois' nonconference slate and the 2025 calendar year.

*The Illini are coming off a dominant 91-48 victory over rival Mizzou to push their Braggin' Rights winning streak to three years in a row. The 43-point win marked the largest margin in the history of the Illinois-Missouri series.

By Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 29, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — From an Illinois basketball standpoint, the Peoria Pipeline is alive and well again. Longtime followers of the Illini understand the importance of central Illinois, a region that has consistently produced players capable of leaving a big mark on the program.

On Thanksgiving Day, Quinton Kitt committed to Illinois, giving Illini Nation a moment to savor heading into the 2025 calendar year. Kitt, a 2027 commit, is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward from East Peoria.

Kitt recently checked in with IlliniGuys

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer December 28, […]

Illinois (11-1, 1-0) at Purdue (8-4, 0-1) Sunday, Dec. […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 26, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois 2026 basketball commit Ethan Brown of Rolla High School (Rolla, Mo.) was among the spectators for the 2025 Braggin’ Rights game in Missouri, watching a dominant performance by his future team.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound wing attended the annual rivalry matchup. On Christmas Eve Brown told IlliniGuys he enjoyed watching Illinois dominate Missouri 91-48 in front of a crowd of 18,505 fans.

“I thought the Braggin’ Rights game was great. We played well and got after them defensively.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy mtvuutiset)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — IlliniGuys Insider and Analyst and co-host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular, Brad Sturdy, dropped a major nugget this week on the I on the Illini Podcast, shedding light on movement surrounding one of the nation’s top men’s basketball recruits.

At IlliniGuys, there are no days off. Even on Christmas Eve, sources confirmed Illinois is actively working the phones, and one name continues to surface: Miikka Muurinen. The 6-foot-10, 205-pound do-it-all wing is viewed as a legitimate threat from anywhere on the floor and continues to draw national attention.

Illinois is battling a loaded field that includes

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

December 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Normally, when you go to the Braggin’ Rights game, you're looking for a competitive game; a rivalry game, a game in which both teams give everything they have and leave it all on the floor, and the results can sometimes be astonishing. Although the results were astonishing on Monday night it was not a competitive game in any sense of the word as the Illini cruised to a dominating 91-48 win in the biggest blowout in Braggin' Rights history.

It was the third consecutive win in the series for the Illini as they bolstered their case to be a top 10 team. For Missouri it was a devastating loss after playing a soft non-conference schedule and having essentially zero quality wins at this point.

Here's a recap of what we saw.

These 3 Things

Wagler Shines

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

ST. LOUIS — In an annual rivalry series game that has been known to produce beyond mystifying results, the 2025 version of the Braggin’ Rights contest elected to buck that trend by going about as planned.

Illinois, which came to Enterprise Center in St. Louis as a nearly double-digit favorite, led for all but 13 seconds in a 91-48 win. The only bizarre scenario was Illinois walked out with the largest blowout win in the series history with arguably its most dominating defensive performance.

“Tonight, we made shots and we played good, plain and simple,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. “It was nine days of practice to get back to the essence of who we are the defensive end, our daily vitamins.”

By IlliniGuys Staff December 22, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

December 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Illinois and Missouri fans will descend on St Louis on Monday as the Illini and the Tigers are back at it in the McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights game. A game that probably doesn't get enough notoriety nationally for the intense rivalry between the two fan bases that surround St Louis, this will be another epic battle between two teams that can really score the ball.

Missouri enters with a record of 10-2 although they have played a very soft schedule outside of Kansas, a game they lost 80 to 60. Illinois has played a gauntlet of a schedule including five top 25 opponents and sits at 2-3 against that group. This begins the gauntlet for Missouri as they will play Florida and Kentucky after this.

This is a much-needed game for both squads. Let's take a look at the particulars

Setting the Stage
McBride Homes Braggin' Rights
#18 Illinois (8-3) vs. Missouri (10-2)
Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 // 7 p.m. CT // St. Louis, Mo. // Enterprise Center
TV: FS1 – Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-Play) & Casey Jacobsen (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable
*The 45th edition of the McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights game between Illinois and Missouri is set for Monday night at Enterprise Center in St. Louis (7 p.m. CT / FS1). The Illini are looking to win three consecutive Braggin’ Rights games for the first time since a stretch of five straight wins over Mizzou from 2013-17. Illinois leads the all time series 28-16.

* The Fighting Illini offense features five players averaging double figures in scoring – Kylan Boswell (16.1 ppg), Andrej Stojakovic (15.5), Keaton Wagler (15.1), David Mirkovic (13.6), and Tomislav Ivisic (10.0) – tied for the second-most in the nation.

*After leading the Big Ten in scoring last season (83.6 ppg), Illinois is currently averaging 87.8 points. At this early pace, the Illini would become the third team in program history to average 87+ points per game.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler is doing more than adjusting to the college game. He is putting the country on notice.

The 6-foot-6 guard from Shawnee Mission Northwest has quickly become a key piece for the nation’s No. 18-ranked Fighting Illini, showcasing poise, confidence, and consistency well beyond his age as a freshman. As Big Ten play approaches, Wagler’s rise has not gone unnoticed beyond Champaign.

Illinois women’s basketball held Jackson State to just 10 […]

Illinois vs. Jackson State Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 - […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has extended an offer to shooting guard Mason Martin, giving the Naperville Neuqua Valley standout his first Power 4. The 6-foot-5 guard has emerged as one of the top scorers in the state so far this season, and his early production has quickly placed him on the radar of college coaches.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has long valued length and proven scoring ability on the perimeter, and Martin fits that profile. With the high school season just underway, Martin has already delivered eye-catching performances, including scoring 27 points in one game and 41 points against West Aurora. In that 41-point outing, he knocked down 11 three-point field goals, which is certain to draw more attention moving forward.

By Kedric Prince -IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Krka/Drago Perko/kosarka.si)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — At IlliniGuys, the focus never drifts far from the recruiting trail, especially as Illinois continues to expand its reach beyond domestic borders. One name Illini fans should keep a close watch on is Zak Smrekar, a rising wing prospect from Slovenia who is getting a lot of attention.

Smrekar is a 6-foot-7, 195-pound wing who is expected to play college basketball next season. Illinois has consistently shown interest in European prospects who can shoot, read the floor, and make plays within a structured offense. Smrekar checks those boxes. He is a capable shooter and a natural scoring wing, particularly effective in catch-and-shoot situations where his quick release stands out.