Story Links
PROBABLE STARTERS (projected)
Pos.
No.
Name
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
PPG
RPG
APG
Note
G
23
Keaton Wagler
6-6
185
Fr.
17.7
5.0
4.2
B1G Fr. record 46 pts at #4 PUR, most at top-10 team
G
2
Andrej Stojakovic
6-7
215
Jr.
13.6
4.7
1.0
Season-high 30 pts with 9 rebs vs. Maryland
F
15
Jake Davis
6-6
215
Jr.
4.7
1.8
0.7
7.7 ppg & 50.0 3FG% in last 3 games as starter
F
0
David Mirkovic
6-9
250
Fr.
12.5
8.2
2.5
1st 20-pt, 20-reb game by an Illini since 1972
C
13
Tomislav Ivisic
7-1
255
Jr.
10.0
5.2
1.3
83 3FGs, 1st in NCAA by 7-footer since ’24-25
OFF THE BENCH
Pos.
No.
Name
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
PPG
RPG
APG
Note
G
1
Brandon Lee
6-4
195
Fr.
2.0
0.6
0.3
Career-high 5 points, 3 rebounds vs. Southern
F
3
Ben Humrichous
6-9
235
Gr.
5.8
3.7
0.7
14 points (4 3FG) Thursday vs. Washington
G
4
Kylan Boswell
6-2
215
Sr.
14.3
4.2
3.4
Out with broken bone in right hand
G
5
AJ Redd
6-3
170
Sr.
1.3
0.5
0.0
Former team manager
G
8
Blake Fagbemi
6-0
180
Fr.
0.3
1.5
0.5
Has played in five games
G/F
20
Ty Rodgers
6-6
210
r-Jr.
-
-
-
Out indefinitely following knee surgery
C
31
Jason Jakstys
6-10
225
r-Fr.
1.3
1.9
0.2
Out for season
F/C
44
Zvonimir Ivisic
7-2
250
Jr.
7.2
4.9
0.3
Season-high 18 pts (6-6 FTs) vs. Minnesota
G
77
Mihailo Petrovic
6-2
180
So.
2.2
0.8
1.2
1st B1G pts, career-high 3 rebs vs. Minnesota
Head Coach Brad Underwood
Career Record: 292-131 (.690), 13th year
At Illinois: 183-104 (.638), 9th year
Big Ten: 101-67 (.601)
Series History vs. Nebraska
All-Time Record / Streak: Illinois leads 23-10 / Nebraska W-2
Last Meeting: #23 Nebraska 83, Illinois 80 (12/13/2025 in Champaign)
Record in Lincoln / Streak: Illinois leads 7-6 / Nebraska W-1
Last Meeting in Lincoln: Nebraska 80, #18 Illinois 74, OT (1/30/2025)
Underwood vs. Nebraska: 10-4
OPENING TIPS
No. 9 Illinois has a top-10 matchup at No. 5 Nebraska on Sunday afternoon. The Illini and Huskers are both 9-1 midway through the Big Ten race, with Sunday’s winner moving into a first-place tie with Michigan.
Illinois is riding a 10-game win streak, the program’s longest since opening the 2012-13 season at 12-0. It is the longest active winning streak in the Big Ten, third among Power Five teams, and seventh nationally.
Sunday is a rematch from Dec. 13 in Champaign, when Nebraska won on a 3-pointer at the buzzer, 83-80. That game marks the only loss for the Fighting Illini over the last two months (12-1).
Illinois heads to Lincoln in search of another top-10 road victory. The Illini have earned six top-10 wins in visiting arenas under Brad Underwood over the last seven seasons, tied with Alabama for most in the nation.
Following last Saturday’s win at No. 4 Purdue, the Fighting Illini enter the matchup at No. 5 Nebraska in search of consecutive road wins against top-5 teams for the first time in school history.
Illinois is 18-3 overall, owning its best start in 20 years, since opening the 2005-06 season at 20-2.
Illinois is 9-1 in the Big Ten, the program’s best start to conference 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 at 37-2.
Illinois has won eight consecutive Big Ten games, its longest streak in conference play since winning 10 straight under Brad Underwood across two seasons from Feb. 25, 2021 through Jan. 13, 2022.
Illinois is 7-2 away from home this season, including 5-0 in true road games. The Illini are 5-0 on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since 2004-05, when they won their first seven league road contests.
The Illini carry a six-game Big Ten road win streak dating back to last season, the program’s longest since also winning six straight league road games from Feb. 27, 2021 through Jan. 11, 2022. A win would give Illinois its longest B1G road streak since the school record of 13 in a row from Feb. 3, 2004 through Feb. 19, 2005.
Illinois’ next victory will secure double-digit Big Ten wins for a seventh straight season, matching the program’s longest streak since a seven-year run from 2000 through 2006. Illinois is the only team to finish .500 or better in Big Ten play every year since 2019-20.
Freshman point guard Keaton Wagler is National Player of the Week following one of the greatest scoring performances in college basketball history with a record 46 points in last weekend’s win at No. 4 Purdue (see p. 3 for full list of Wagler’s records set). Wagler led the Illini with 22 points and eight assists in Thursday’s 75-66 home win over Washington.
Wagler has earned National Player of the Week honors from the Associated Press, Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Lute Olson Award, Field of 68, and NCAA March Madness. He also swept Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week awards, earning his fourth B1G Freshman accolade this season.
Illinois leads the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency (130.2), owning what currently stands as the highest offensive rating in the history of the kenpom era (since 1996-97). Offensive coordinator Tyler Underwood has helped Brad Underwood implement a top-15 offense for the third straight season after ranking third in 2024 (125.5) and 14th last year (121.9).
Illinois is ranked No. 5 in kenpom, challenging for the highest rating of the Underwood era. The Illini finished the 2020-21 season at No. 4.
Illinois is No. 9 in the latest AP poll. The Illini have reached as high as No. 8 (Nov. 17) this season. Illinois has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in each of the last seven seasons under Brad Underwood.
Last Saturday’s win at No. 4 Purdue was Brad Underwood’s 100th Big Ten career victory. His 101 wins rank third on the Illini all-time B1G wins list behind Lou Henson (214, 21 years) and Harry Combes (174, 20 years).
The Illini have the most wins in Big Ten play since 2019-20 with 90 victories. During that span, Illinois also leads all teams with 39 league road wins.
When including the conference tournament, the Illini have a league-leading 97 wins over Big Ten teams over the last seven seasons, and are tied for the lead with three B1G championships.
Illinois is 11-1 at home this season, the program’s best start since opening 12-1 at State Farm Center in 2019-20. The Illini are averaging 89.0 points per game at home, with an average scoring margin of +22.9 ppg.
Illinois is the tallest team in the nation, with an average height of 79.5 inches (kenpom).
Keaton Wagler’s scoring average of 17.7 points is on pace to break the Illini freshman season scoring record set by Kiwane Garris, who averaged 15.9 ppg in 1993-94.
Among players with at least 20% possessions used, Keaton Wagler ranks first nationally in offensive rating at 140.7, while backcourt running mate Kylan Boswell is 16th at 131.1 (kenpom).
Four Fighting Illini average at least 12 points per game, tied for second nationally: Keaton Wagler (17.7 ppg), Kylan Boswell (14.3), Andrej Stojakovic (13.6), and David Mirkovic (12.5).
Illinois is tied for first nationally with six players averaging at least 4.0 rebounds (minimum 15 games): David Mirkovic (8.2 rpg), Tomislav Ivisic (5.2), Keaton Wagler (5.0), Zvonimir Ivisic (4.9), Andrej Stojakovic (4.7), and Kylan Boswell (4.2).
Illinois ranks seventh in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten with a free-throw percentage of 78.8%. Last year the Illini shot 76.2% at the free-throw line, the second-best season mark in school history behind the 2014-15 team that holds the single-season record at 79.4%
Illinois is averaging 85.0 points, ranked second in the Big Ten. The Illini led the B1G in scoring last season (83.6 ppg).
Along with the No. 1-rated offense (130.2) of the kenpom era, the Illini are No. 29 in defense (99.1).
Illinois is first in the nation in defensive free throw rate (19.1), and third in fewest fouls per game (13.0).
Illinois is averaging 16.2 second chance points per game (341), which leads the Big Ten.
Illinois has made 10+ 3-pointers in 16 games this season, which leads the Big Ten. The Illini have made at least 10 threes in seven straight games, and 12 of the last 13 – highlighted by school-record tying 18 three-pointers in their 88-82 win at No. 4 Purdue on Jan. 24.
Illinois is 14-2 when making double-digit threes.
Illinois has outrebounded its opponent in all but two games this season and ranks second in the Big Ten in rebound margin at +10.7 rpg.
Eight different players have been the Illini’s leading scorer in a game this season. That leads the Big Ten and is tied for second nationally behind VCU (9).
Illinois is No. 7 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, third-best in the Big Ten behind Michigan (3) and Nebraska (5). Illinois is 8-3 on the season combined in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, and 10-0 combined in Quad 3 and Quad 4 matchups.
Illinois’ total of six Quad 1 wins is tied for third-most in the NCAA, behind leaders Arizona (9) and Duke (8) through games played Jan. 29.
Andrej Stojakovic is the second active Illini to reach 1,000 points for his career, reaching the milestone Jan. 17 vs. Minnesota. Stojakovic now has 1,043 career points to rank behind Kylan Boswell (1,195) in the 1,000-point club.
Illinois is No. 5 in the kenpom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin +30.94. The Illini have had a kenpom rating of 35th or better each of the last six years under Brad Underwood, and are one spot short of the team’s high ranking of No. 4 to close out the 2020-21 season. Illinois posted consecutive top-20 rankings the last two seasons: 10th in 2023-24 and 17th in 2024-25.
At its current scoring pace (85.0 ppg), this year’s Illini would become just the sixth team in program history to average at least 85.0 points for a full season. The Illini opened the 2025-26 campaign with seven straight games of 80+ points. It marked the most such games to open a campaign since the 1988-89 Flyin’ Illini scored 80+ in each of their first 12 contests.
Brad Underwood has led Illinois to 31 wins over top-25 opponents since 2019-20, with 22 of those wins coming in ranked-vs.-ranked matchups. Illinois’ 31 top-25 victories are ninth-most in the NCAA during that span. This season the Illini have ranked wins over No. 11 Texas Tech at home, vs. No. 13 Tennessee in Nashville, at No. 19 Iowa, and at No. 4 Purdue.
Illinois is 4-3 this season vs. Top 25 teams. With five ranked Big Ten teams in the most recent AP poll, the Illini’s current schedule could feature as many as 10 ranked games during the regular season.
As a team, Illinois ranks in the top three in the Big Ten, and among the top 50 programs nationally in 11 categories: The Illini lead the Big Ten with 13.0 fouls per game (second in the NCAA), a .788 free-throw percentage (seventh), 11.0 3-pointers per game (10th), and 13.4 offensive rebounds per game (27th), and rank second in the league with a +10.7 rebound margin (seventh in NCAA), a +16.8 scoring margin (11th), 30.8 3-point attempts per game (14th), and a scoring offense of 85.0 points per game (36th). The Illini are third in the B1G with 41.2 total rebounds per game (18th in the NCAA), 27.8 defensive rebounds per game (26th) and 4.9 blocks per game (27th).
Illinois has claimed six of 11 Big Ten Freshman of the Week selections this season. Keaton Wagler leads the Big Ten with four honors, while David Mirkovic has garnered two nods. Wagler’s four B1G Freshman of the Week nods are the most by an Illini since Kofi Cockburn’s four in 2019-20.
Keaton Wagler has scored in double-figures 13 consecutive games dating back to the Illini’s win vs. #13 Tennessee on Dec. 6, including an historic 46-point outburst in a win at #4 Purdue on Jan. 24 (more on p. 3). During that stretch, Wagler is averaging a team-leading 20.2 points per game, and ranks third in rebounding at 4.8 boards per contest, while shooting 50.3% (79-157) overall, 47.2% (42-89) from 3-point range, and 81.8% (63-77) from the free-throw line. Wagler also leads the team with 72 assists and nine steals during that stretch.
Freshman G Keaton Wagler leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: 124 free-throw attempts (6th), 52 3-pointers made (7th), 371 total points (7th), 2.5 3-pointers per game (7th), 88 total assists (8th), 101 free-throws made (8th), a 2.84 assist-to-turnover ratio (8th), 4.2 assists per game (9th), 17.7 points per game (10th), 119 3-point attempts (11th), 109 field goals made (14th), and 346 field goal attempts (19th).
Freshman F David Mirkovic, is one of only three freshmen in the nation, along with Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson averaging at least 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Among that group, Mirkovic leads the way shooting 37.5% from 3-point range and .800 from the free-throw line.
A two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Mirkovic leads the Illini, ranks inside the top 10 in the Big Ten, and is among the NCAA leaders with: 173 total rebounds (fourth in the B1G, 54th in the NCAA); 5.7 defensive rebounds per game (fourth, 67th); 8.2 total rebounds per game (fifth, 61st); five double-doubles (sixth, 74th); 2.57 offensive rebounds per game (seventh, 133rd); and is fourth with a scoring average of 12.5 ppg (35th in B1G).
Senior G Kylan Boswell is the Illini’s active career leader with 1,195 career points (687 at Illinois), with eight 20+ point games and 36 career double-digit scoring games in Orange and Blue. Boswell is tied for the team lead with five games this season with 20+ points this season, and has eclipsed the 20-point mark eight times over the last two years.
Junior G Andrej Stojakovic transferred to Illinois with a reputation as a prolific scorer and is averaging 13.6 points on 49.3% shooting. Stojakovic has five games this season with 20+ points, highlighted 30 points vs. Maryland and 26 points vs. No. 11 Alabama. Stojakovic also posted 23 points the win over No. 11 Texas Tech, and scored 20 and 24, respectively, in Illinois’ wins over LIU and UTRGV. In his Big Ten debut, Stojakovic had 17 points and four rebounds in the win at Ohio State, then posted an 19-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Illini’s B1G home opener vs. No. 23 Nebraska. Stojakovic has led the Illini in scoring in five games this season.
Twin 7-footers Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic rank among the top shooting big men in college basketball. Tomislav ranks first in the NCAA among 7-footers with nine games this season with multiple 3-pointers, while Zvonimir is tied for second with eight such games. Tomislav is also tied for first in the NCAA among 7-footers at 1.6 3-pointers per game, while Zvonimir ranks fourth at 1.0 triples per contest.
Zvonimir Ivisic, a member of the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list, ranks second nationally in block rate at 14.6%. He is second in the Big Ten in total blocks (48) and blocks per game (2.29), 15th and 19th in the nation, respectively. His average would rank second all-time in Illinois’ record book behind Derek Holcomb (3.0 blocks per game in 1978-79). The last Illini to average more than 2.0 blocks per game was Nnanna Egwu (2.1) in 2013-14.
ILLINOIS VS. NEBRASKA
Sunday marks the 34th meeting in the Illinois-Nebraska series, which dates back to the 1920-21 season.
Illinois leads the all-time series, 23-10, with a 16-8 mark since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten conference in 2011-12. The Illini are 7-6 vs. the Huskers in games played in Lincoln (5-6 as B1G foes).
Nebraska has won the last two meetings, in overtime last year in Lincoln and on a 3-pointer at the buzzer earlier this season in Champaign. It is the first time that Nebraska has recorded consecutive wins in the series.
Prior to this, Illinois won nine in a row in the series from Feb. 2, 2019 through March 16, 2024.
In the matchup at State Farm Center on Dec. 13, the Illini battled to overcome 32 points from Pryce Sandfort (26 in the first half) and erase a 10-point second-half deficit to knot the game, 80-80, on Tomislav Ivisic’s 3-pointer with 17 seconds to play. But the Huskers won it on a 3-pointer by Jamarques Lawrence at the horn. Kylan Boswell scored 20 points for the Illini while Andrej Stojakovic (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Keaton Wagler (19 points, 10 assists) each posted double-doubles.
In the only meeting last season, the Illini fell, 80-74, in overtime in Lincoln, despite 18 points and 13 rebounds from Kasparas Jakucionis and 16 points from Will Riley.
Illinois is 5-2 all-time when ranked vs. Nebraska, and 0-1 when both programs are ranked.
ILLINI IN THE NET
Illinois is No. 7 in the NCAA NET ranking though games played Jan. 30.
The Illini’s No. 7 rating ranks third in the Big Ten behind Michigan (2) and Nebraska (5).
The Illini are 6-3 vs. Quad 1, 2-0 vs. Quad 2, 3-0 vs. Quad 3, and 7-0 vs. Quad 4.
Illinois’ six Quad 1 wins is tied for fourth nationally behind Arizona (9), Duke (8) and Michigan (7).
The Illini’s remaining 10-game regular-season schedule breaks down to:
» Quad 1 (5): at Nebraska (5), at Michigan State (11), at USC (48), at UCLA (40), and vs. Michigan (2).
» Quad 2 (3): vs. Northwestern (66), vs. Wisconsin (43), and vs. Indiana (32).
» Quad 3 (2): vs. Oregon (113), and at Maryland (160).
ILLINOIS WHEN RANKED
The No. 9 Illini have played all 21 games this season ranked in the Top 25.
Illinois is 670-270 (.713) all-time when ranked in the AP Top 25. The program is 366-54 (.871) at home, including a 288-41 (.875) mark at State Farm Center, 164-150 (.522) on the road, and 140-64 (.686) at neutral sites.
Under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois is 108-46 (.701) when ranked.
ILLINI WHEN TOP-10 RANKED
Illinois is ranked inside the AP top 10 for the 244th week in program history and the second time this season since reaching #8 on Nov. 17.
Illinois is 329-108 (.753) all-time in 437 games when ranked in the AP top 10.
When top-10 ranked, the Illini are 172-11 at home (112-7 at State Farm Center), 82-72 on the road, and 75-25 in neutral-site contests.
ILLINI IN TOP-25 MATCHUPS
Entering Sunday’s matchup at #5 Nebraska, the #9 Fighting Illini have played seven ranked-vs.-ranked games with a 4-3 mark including wins over No. 11 Texas Tech, vs. No. 13 Tennessee in Nashville, at No. 19 Iowa, and at No. 4 Purdue.
Illinois is 115-111 (.509) all-time when both teams are ranked, 52-22 (.703) at home including a 41-17 (.707) mark at State Farm Center, 20-51 (.282) on the road, and 43-38 (.531) at neutral sites.
Illinois is 22-24 (.478) in ranked-vs.-ranked contests in the Brad Underwood era.
ILLINI VS. TOP-5 OPPONENTS AWAY FROM HOME
Following Illinois’ 88-82 road win at #4 Purdue on Jan 24, the Fighting Illini enter Sunday’s matchup at #5 Nebraska in search of consecutive road wins against top-5 opponents for the first time in program history.
Illinois last won consecutive games against top-five opponents away from home in 2021 when Brad Underwood led his squad to a dominating road win at #2 Michigan (76-53) on March 2, followed 11 days later by a victory over #5 Iowa (82-71) in the semifinal round of the Illini’s run to the 2021 Big Ten Tournament title at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.