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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 Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 24, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A year and a half ago, Illinois became one of the first Division I schools and the first power conference school to offer Chicago native and Brother Rice standout defensive lineman Brayden Parks. Fast forward to present day, Parks has become not just one of the highest-rated players in the state, but one of the highest-rated defensive linemen in the entire nation.

When Parks spoke to IlliniGuys back in September, he’d racked up over 40 offers, with some of college football’s bluebloods chasing his signature. While Illinois did hop on the Parks train early, the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State have added to his ever-growing list of offers since then.

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 Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 23, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Wide Open Country)

Welcome to Part 2 of the Cignetti Recipe: The Staff.

You may have seen that as a condition of Curt Cignetti's recent in-season extension that he ensured that he would basically have as much money as he wanted to keep whatever staff he wanted. On one hand, that makes sense because a staff is an underrated aspect to a program's success. On the other hand, it's a little surprising to see that Indiana would pay top dollar for the guys that have stuck with Cignetti as he's risen through the ranks. Coordinators Bryant Haines and Mike Shanahan have been with Cignetti at all of his head coaching stops, and the money is Cignetti's attempt to share the wealth since they both started making $10,000 as IUP assistants.

Haines is only 40 years old, and like Cignetti he has a brother in coaching. His brother Tyler is the head coach at DII Catawba. He's a far better communicator than Cignetti and is a future head coaching candidate, so the money helps Cignetti by ensuring that Haines doesn't leave for a head coaching job before he gets a perfect opportunity, not that it stopped Haynes from interviewing for the Michigan job. Shanahan (no relation to the hall of fame coach of the same name) is only 36, and after a brief playing career that included a cup of coffee in the NFL, he took a job at IUP and he's stuck with Cignetti ever since. Shanahan's expertise is with wide receivers and he retains that position coach position at Indiana, but he took the offensive reins at the end of Cignetti's time at James Madison and is still the OC (though Cignetti is very hands-on with the job). He too is a very personable guy and will have a shot at a big-time head coaching job before too long. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 23, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy MaxPreps)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois is beginning to turn more attention toward the 2027 recruiting class as the program continues to evaluate long-term talent on the high school front.

The Big Ten has shown recruits across the country that leaving SEC territory to play in the league is not only realistic but increasingly attractive. With the last three national champions coming from Michigan, Ohio State, and most recently, the Indiana Hoosiers, the conference’s profile has never been stronger.

Illinois took another step in that direction this week, extending an offer to Darren White, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive tackle from Lake Nona High School in Orlando, Florida.

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 Zeno Jo - Illini Guys Staff Writer

January 22, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Earlier this week, Illinois picked up a commitment from Jacksonville State defensive lineman Darrell Prater, who has one year of eligibility remaining. On Wednesday, Prater hopped on a phone call with IlliniGuys’ Zeno Jo to chat about his recruitment process, what he’s looking to get done in Champaign, and why Illinois was his pick.

Prater, who was part of the 2022 recruiting class, walked on to Jacksonville State his freshman season and worked his way towards a scholarship by his sophomore season. He says his experience and versatility are his biggest strengths on the field, and at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, “I just love the culture that they showed me,” he said. “There’s such a family bond on the staff and surrounding fans. It’s such a great place to be at.”

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

Illinois defensive back Xavier Scott discussed Wednesday his role as a defensive leader for the upcoming 2026 season

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 21, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — If you’re ever wondering who might have first leaked out that Xavier Scott was returning to Illinois for the 2026 season, look no further than the woman who Scott pays rent to every month for his apartment.

Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry was planning to put a pair of new signees into Xavier Scott’s off-campus apartment that he shared this past season with starting safety Miles Scott and Henry was told by the landlord of that priority that may not be the best idea. Before ever talking to Scott himself, Henry was informed by the landlord that she was informed by Xavier Scott that he’d still need the apartment for the next several months.

“I actually got some insight that my landlady let Coach Henry know what I was doing,” Scott said while smiling. “She didn’t mean to tell (Henry) but I was just telling her to hold off giving the apartment away. That kind of shook Coach Henry a little bit and he kind of found out what was going on.”