Michigan won three of the top four Associated Press Big Ten men’s basketball awards Tuesday, with Yaxel Lendeborg voted player of the year and top first-year transfer and Dusty May named coach of the year. Illinois’ Keaton Wagler was the unanimous choice for freshman of the year in voting by a panel of 16 media
Illinois secured a spot in the quarter finals of the Big Ten Tournament, becoming one of the top 4 teams in the conference.
The Illini beat the Ducks 80 to 54 and honored senior players, AJ Redd, Kylan Boswell and Ben Humrichous.
For the first time since 2006, Champaign hosted a matchup with two top ten teams, but as the final buzzer sounded, the No. 10 University of Illinois Fighting Illini (22-7, 13-5) could not get it done as they lost to the No. 3 University of Michigan Wolverines (27-2, 17-1) 84 to 70. This is Illinois’ first loss to Michigan since 2019 after winning their last nine meetings.
Illinois got 19 points from freshman Keaton Wagler, who briefly put the Illini ahead late.
Illinois Mens basketball bounces back with a dominant win against Indiana.
The No. 8 University of Illinois men’s basketball team lost against the University of Wisconsin 92-90 in overtime after leading by 12 points in the second half.
With a chance to send the game to a second overtime, Illinois center Zvonimir Ivisic missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer. Michigan State knocked the Fighting Illini out of first place in the Big Ten and ended their 12-game win streak.
No. 5 Illinois makes 17 3-pointers, beats Northwestern 84-44 for 12th straight win
Keaton Wagler scores 28, leading No. 9 Illinois to its 11th straight win, 78-69 over No. 5 Nebraska.
The Illini’s 10-game winning streak is the longest in Brad Underwood’s nine years as coach, and the longest for Illinois since it won 10 in a row to open the 2012-13 season.
Freshman Guard Keaton Wagler helped the Fighting Illini men’s basketball team pull off an 88-82 upset against the Boilermakers Saturday. The women made a comeback attempt but failed catch up to Nebraska, losing 81-75.
The Illini played without second-leading scorer Kylan Boswell, who broke his right hand in practice on Monday and is expected to be sidelined until mid-February.
The Illini (13-3, 4-1) won their fifth consecutive game, their third on the road in Big Ten play, and stayed tied for third place in the conference.
The largest previous margin of victory in the series, which has been played 45 times since 1980, was Illinois’ 82-50 blowout in 2005, when it was coming off a Final Four run.