#11 Illini Battle Maryland Wednesday at State Farm Center

#11 ILLINOIS (15-3, 6-1 B1G) vs. Maryland (8-10, 1-6 B1G)
Date | Time	Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 | 6 p.m. CT
Location	Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center
Buy Tickets	FightingIllini.com
TV	BTN (Chris Vosters & Jordan Taylor)
Live Stream	FoxSports.com/live/BTN
Radio	Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 83, SXM APP
Live Stats	Statbroadcast
Printable Notes	Illinois | Maryland
Pregame Press Conference	Coach Underwood (Jan. 20)
2025-26 Stats	Illinois | Maryland
Record Book	Illinois
Shop	Online Store | Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniMBB | #Illini | @IlliniMBB | Facebook | YouTube

Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 289-131 (.688), 13th year
At Illinois: 180-104 (.634), 9th year
Big Ten: 98-67 (.594)

Series History vs. Maryland

All-Time Record / Streak: Maryland leads 17-8 / Maryland W-2
Last Meeting: #11 Maryland 88, #24 Illinois 65 (3/14/2025 in Indianapolis - BTT QF)
Record in Champaign / Streak: Maryland leads 7-2 / Maryland W-2
Last Meeting in Champaign: Maryland 91, #17 Illinois 70 (1/23/2025)
Underwood vs. Maryland: 3-9 at Illinois / 3-10 all-time

OPENING TIPS

• No. 11 Illinois, riding a season-best seven-game win streak, hosts Maryland Wednesday night at State Farm Center.
• Illinois is in search of its first eight-game win streak since Brad Underwood's fourth season, when the Illini also won eight straight from Feb. 25-March 19, 2021. That streak – the program's longest of the Underwood era – began with four straight Big Ten wins to close the regular season (last three on the road) and continued with the 2021 Big Ten Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament first-round victory. 
• At 15-3 overall, Illinois is off to its best start since 2011-12. A win over Maryland would give the Illini its best 19-game record since also starting 16-3 during the 2008-09 season.  
• Illinois is 6-1 in Big Ten play, looking to improve to 7-1 for the first time in the Brad Underwood era. A win over Maryland would mark the Illini's best start to Big Ten 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 with a 37-2 overall record. 
• Illinois is off to a 9-1 start at home this season, matching the 2022-23 season. A win would give the Illini its best home start since opening 12-1 at State Farm Center in 2019-20.
• Ninth-year Illinois head coach Brad Underwood is two wins away from recording his 100th Big Ten victory. He ranks third on the Illini all-time coaching list for Big Ten wins behind Lou Henson and Harry Combes. Despite having the sixth-longest Big Ten tenure among active coaches, he is looking to become the fourth current coach with 100+ B1G wins, joining Michigan State's Tom Izzo, Purdue's Matt Painter, and Wisconsin's Greg Gard.
• Illinois is currently seventh in kenpom, on pace for the second-highest rating of the Brad Underwood era. The Illini finished the 2020-21 season at No. 4.
• Illinois is No. 11 in the latest AP and coaches polls. 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.
• Illinois is the tallest team in the nation, with an average height of 79.5 inches (kenpom).
• Illinois is currently without the services of senior leader Kylan Boswell, who fractured a bone in right hand in practice on Monday. Boswell is expected to return to the lineup in February. 
• Keaton Wagler's scoring average of 16.1 points is on pace to break the Illini freshman season scoring record currently held by Kiwane Garris, who averaged 15.9 ppg in 1993-94.
• Andrej Stojakovic is the second active Illini to reach 1,000 points for his career, reaching the milestone in Saturday's win over Minnesota to join Kylan Boswell (1,195) in the 1,000-point club. 
• Four Fighting Illini average at least 12 points per game, tied for second nationally: Keaton Wagler (16.1), Kylan Boswell (14.3 ppg), Andrej Stojakovic (13.5) and David Mirkovic (12.0). 
• Illinois is tied for first nationally with six players averaging at least four rebounds: David Mirkovic (8.3 rpg), Zvonimir Ivisic (5.2), Keaton Wagler (5.1), Tomislav Ivisic (4.8), Andrej Stojakovic (4.4), and Kylan Boswell (4.2). 
• Among players with at least 20% possessions used, Keaton Wagler ranks fifth nationally – and first among freshmen – in offensive rating at 136.8, while backcourt running mate Kylan Boswell is 23rd at 130.9 (kenpom).
• Zvonimir Ivisic ranks third in the nation in block percentage (kenpom) at 14.8%.
• Illinois ranks third in the nation in offensive efficiency by kenpom (129.2). 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 ranks second in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten with a free-throw percentage of 80.4%. 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 85.1 points, ranked second in the Big Ten. The Illini led the B1G in scoring last season (83.6 ppg). 
• Illinois ranks first in the nation in defensive free throw rate (19.1) and third in fewest fouls per game (12.9).
• The Illini feature the No. 3-rated offense in the country (129.2) and No. 21 defense (98.8) by kenpom.
• Illinois is averaging 15.5 second chance points per game (279), which leads the Big Ten.
• Illinois has made 10+ 3-pointers in 13 games this season, which leads the Big Ten. Illinois is 11-2 when making double-digit threes.
• 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 6-2 away from home, including 4-0 in true road games. 
• The Illini are 4-0 on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
• The Fighting Illini are riding a five-game road win streak dating back to last season, the program's longest since also winning five straight league road games from Dec. 23, 2020 through Feb. 20, 2021.
• Illinois is No. 7 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, fourth-best in the Big Ten behind Michigan (1), Purdue (5), and Nebraska (6). Illinois is 7-3 on the season combined in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, and 8-0 combined in Quad 3 and Quad 4 matchups. Wednesday's game vs. Maryland is Quad 3 based on the NET rankings. 
• Illinois' total of four Quad 1 wins is tied for 11th-most in the NCAA (through games played Jan. 18). 
• Illinois is No. 7 in the kenpom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin +30.45. The Illini have had a kenpom rating of 35th or better each of the last six years under Brad Underwood with a high of No. 4 in 2020-21. Illinois posted consecutive top-20 rankings the last two seasons: 10th in 2023-24 and 17th in 2024-25.
• At its current scoring pace (85.1 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 30 wins over top-25 opponents since 2019-20, with 21 of those wins coming in ranked-vs.-ranked matchups. Illinois' 30 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, vs. No. 13 Tennessee in Nashville, and at No. 19 Iowa.   
• Illinois is 3-3 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. 
• Illinois entered 2025-26 as the winningest team in Big Ten Conference play since 2019-20, with 81 league wins (tied with Purdue). The Illini (87 wins) now sit one game behind the Boilermakers (88) in the win column over the last seven seasons. The Illini lead the conference with 38 road wins in league play during that span. When including the conference tournament, Illinois is also one game behind Purdue for the most total wins against Big Ten opponents over this span with 94.
• As a team, Illinois ranks in the top three in the Big Ten, and among the top 50 programs nationally in 11 categories: The team leads the Big Ten with an .804 free-throw percentage (second in the NCAA) and 12.9 fouls per game (third), and is second in the league with a +10.8 rebound margin (eighth in NCAA), a +17.7 scoring margin (12th), and a scoring offense of 85.1 points per game (43rd). The Illini are third in the B1G with 28.4 defensive rebounds per game (18th in NCAA), 5.2 blocks per game (18th), 41.8 total rebounds per game (19th in the NCAA), 29.8 3-point attempts per game (22nd), 10.4 3-pointers per game (22nd), and 13.3 offensive rebounds per game (41st).
• Illinois has claimed five of 10 Big Ten Freshman of the Week selections this season. Keaton Wagler is tied for the league lead with three honors, while David Mirkovic has garnered two nods. 
• Keaton Wagler has scored in double-figures 10 consecutive games dating back to the Illini's win vs. #13 Tennessee on Dec. 6. During that stretch, Wagler is averaging a team-leading 18.2 points per game, and ranks second in rebounding at 5.0 boards per contest, while shooting 47.8% (55-115) overall, 46.2% (30-65) from 3-point range, and 85.7% (42-49) from the free-throw line. During that stretch, Wagler also leads the team with 50 assists and seven steals. 
• Freshman G Keaton Wagler leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: 80 free-throws made (8th), 40 3-pointers made (10th), 96 free-throw attempts (10th), 290 total points (11th), 2.22 3-pointers per game (11th), 68 total assists (12th), 3.8 assists per game (13th), 16.1 points per game (13th), 95 3-point attempts (14th), and an .833 free-throw percentage (14th). 
• 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. 
• 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: 5.8 defensive rebounds per game (fourth in B1G, 57th in the NCAA); 150 total rebounds (fourth, 58th); 8.3 total rebounds per game (fifth, 53rd); five double-doubles (fifth, 58th); and 2.6 offensive rebounds per game (ninth, 138th); and is third on the team behind Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell with an 80.4% free-throw percentage (21st in the Big Ten). 
• 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 leads the team 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 13.5 points on 51.4% shooting. Stojakovic has four 20-point performances, highlighted by a season-high 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 four games this season. 
• Twin 7-footers Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic rank among the top shooting big men in college basketball. Zvonimir is tied for first in the NCAA among 7-footers with eight games this season with multiple 3-pointers, while Tomislav ranks fourth at seven contests with multiple treys. Tomislav is tied for first in the NCAA among 7-footers at 1.6 3-pointers per game, while Zvonimir ranks fourth at 1.2 triples per contest.
• Zvonimir Ivisic ranks third nationally in block rate at 14.8%. He ranks second in the Big Ten in both total blocks (43) and blocks per game (2.39), 16th and 17th in the nation, respectively. His current average would rank second all-time in Illinois' record book behind Derek Holcomb, who averaged 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. MARYLAND

• This is the 26th meeting in the series between Illinois and Maryland dating back to the first matchup, a 72-70 Illini win in the 1984 NCAA Sweet 16 in Lexington, Ky. 
• The Illini are 8-17 all-time vs. Maryland, including a 2-7 mark in home contests. Illinois is 4-12 vs. UMD as conference foes since the Terps joined the Big Ten prior to the 2014-15 season.  
• Maryland has won two straight vs. Illinois, both coming last season in a 91-70 decision at State Farm Center and an 88-65 win in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. 
• The Illini's last win in the series was an 85-80 victory in College Park on Feb. 17, 2024, led by 27 points from Terrence Shannon Jr. and a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double from Marcus Domask. 
• The Illini's last home win in the series was a 76-64 come-from-behind victory on Jan. 6, 2022 behind a monster 23-point, 18-rebound game from Kofi Cockburn on the night that Ayo Dosunmu's honored jersey was raised to the State Farm Center rafters.

ILLINI IN THE NET

• Illinois is No. 7 in the NCAA NET ranking though games played Jan. 18. 
• The Illini's No. 7 rating is the fourth-best mark in the Big Ten Conference behind Michigan (1), Purdue (5), and Nebraska (6). 
• The Illini are currently 4-3 vs. Quad 1, 3-0 vs. Quad 2, 2-0 vs. Quad 3, and 6-0 vs. Quad 4.
• Illinois' four Quad 1 wins rank tied for 11th nationally. 
• The Illini's remaining 13-game regular-season schedule breaks down to: 
  » Quad 1 (6): at Purdue (5), at Nebraska (6), at Michigan State (12), at USC (50), at UCLA (45), and vs. Michigan (1).  
  » Quad 2 (3): vs. Washington (62), vs. Wisconsin (39), and vs. Indiana (38). 
  » Quad 3 (4): vs. Maryland (153), vs. Northwestern (82), vs. Oregon (101), and at Maryland (153). 
  » Quad 4 (0): --

ILLINOIS WHEN RANKED

• Saturday's win vs. Minnesota marked the 18th game this season ranked in the Top 25 for the No. 11 Illini. 
• Illinois is 667-270 (.712) all-time when ranked in the AP Top 25. The program is 364-54 (.871) at home, including a 286-41 (.874) mark at State Farm Center, 164-150 (.522) on the road, and 139-64 (.685) at neutral sites. 
• Under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois is 105-46 (.695) when ranked.

Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)