Basketball

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.

December 15, 2025 Ked Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst […]

Despite having one of the youngest power conference rosters, Illinois’ defensive numbers through 11 games of the 2025-26 season are better than previous seasons.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Any basketball coach will likely youth doesn’t usually equate to instant success, yet Shauna Green’s Illinois team is doing everything they can to reverse that trend.

The Illini’s 81-69 win over North Texas represented the 11th straight game that Illinois has held an opponent under 70 points in a game and the current streak is 13 in a row that includes the two 2025 NCAA Tournament games from last March.

Knowing her emphasis on the defensive end of the floor and her reputation for taking defense seriously going back to her head coaching start nearly a decade ago at Dayton, Green doesn’t want to be surprised as her 2025-26 Illini squad has been about consistent defensive stops. However, given she’s in charge of by far her youngest team, with an average age of 19.83 years as of the start of the 2025-26 campaign and

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

December 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini fell to Nebraska on Saturday 83-80 on a last second 3 pointer by Jamarques Lawrence. The Illini had trailed by as many as 13 points, and 10 points in the second half, but battled back to tie it in the final minutes before Lawrence's heroics. Kylan Boswell scored 20 points, while Keaton Wagler had 19 points and 10 assists and Andrej Stojakovic had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way as Illinois fell to 8-3 and 1-1 in Big Ten play. Nebraska moved to 2-0 in conference play and a school record 11-0 overall.

Here’s a rewind.

These 3 Things

Defensive Lapses Continue -

Illinois women’s basketball head coach Shauna Green earns her […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Illinois vs. North […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Brent Zinkmann/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head coach Brad Underwood tried to set expectations months ago. At media day in October, he spoke confidently about freshman guard Keaton Wagler, even comparing him to former Illinois All-American Ayo Dosunmu. When he added that Wagler might be a one-and-done player, many on social media thought the praise was too aggressive for someone rated as the nation’s No. 67 shooting guard and the No. 2 overall player in Kansas, according to On3.

How could a three-star prospect become the center of such bold comparisons?

No. 13 Illinois loses for just the second time […]

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

December 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Pickrell/IlliniGuys)

When the schedule came out this looked like just another game. Now, the Illini & Huskers are both ranked. The Illini are 1-0 in the Big 10 after a road win at Ohio State and Nebraska dismantled Wisconsin this week in Lincoln. These are two teams that can really score and should be a fun one on a snowy Saturday afternoon in Champaign.

Setting the Stage
#13 Illinois (8-2, 1-0) vs. #23 Nebraska (10-0, 1-0)
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 // 3 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center Stream:
Peacock – Paul Burmeister (Play-by-Play) & Brendan Haywood (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Trent Meacham

Notable
* No. 13 Illinois closes out the early-December window of Big Ten play on Saturday afternoon, welcoming No. 23 Nebraska to State Farm Center for the Illini's first home game in nearly three weeks. The matchup pits the 8-2 Illini against the undefeated Cornhuskers (10-0). • Illinois is aiming for a 2-0 start to Big Ten play for the third time of head coach Brad Underwood's nine-year tenure, joining the 2022 and 2024 seasons.

*Illinois is 6-0 at State Farm Center on the season, having won each home game with an average scoring margin of +30.0. The Illini have won eight straight home games overall dating back to last season.

*Brad Underwood has led Illinois to 29 wins over top-25 opponents since 2019-20, with 20 of those wins coming in ranked-vs.-ranked matchups. Illinois' 29 top-25 victories are tied for ninth-most in the NCAA during that span. This season the Illini have ranked wins over No. 11 Texas Tech at home, and vs. No. 13 Tennessee in Nashville.