#9 Illini Host Washington Thursday in Coaches vs. Cancer Matchup

#9 ILLINOIS (17-3, 8-1 B1G) vs. Washington (11-9, 3-6 B1G)
Date | Time	Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 | 8 p.m. CT
Location	Champaign, Ill | State Farm Center
Buy Tickets	FightingIllini.com
TV	FS1 (Jeff Levering & Steve Smith)
Live Stream	FoxSports.com/live/FS1
Radio	Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 84, SXM APP
Live Stats	Statbroadcast
Printable Notes	Illinois | Washington
Pregame Press Conference	Coach Underwood (Jan. 28)
2025-26 Stats	Illinois | Washington
Record Book	Illinois
Shop	Online Store | Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniMBB | #Illini | @IlliniMBB | Facebook | YouTube

Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 291-131 (.690), 13th year
At Illinois: 182-104 (.636), 9th year
Big Ten: 100-67 (.599)

Series History vs. Washington

All-Time Record / Streak: Washington leads 4-3 / Illinois W-1
Last Meeting: #22 Illinois 81, Washington 77 (1/5/2025 in Seattle)
Record in Champaign / Streak: Illinois leads 1-0 / Illinois W-1
Last Meeting in Champaign: Illinois 76, Washington 55 (12/7/1991)
Underwood vs. Washington: 1-0

UNDERWOOD AIDS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

• Illini head coach Brad Underwood will be wearing custom-painted CvC Nike Air Force 1s on the State Farm Center sidelines Thursday night when the Illini take on Washington.  
• The Fighting Illini staff is joining coaches from across the country who are participating in the annual Suits & Sneakers Week (Jan. 26 - Feb. 1).
• The Coaches vs. Cancer (CvC) program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Since 1993, this initiative has leveraged the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.
• Underwood has been a long-serving member on the Coaches Council for the American Cancer Society's partnership with Coaches vs. Cancer (CvC). In May 2024, he was named Chair of the CvC Coaches Council, taking over the role from former Illinois head coach Lon Kruger. Underwood also serves on the 2025-26 NABC Board of Directors.   
• Underwood was the 2023 recipient of the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award for his commitment to the fight against cancer and was recognized by his peers at the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) reception in Houston. 
• Underwood was also recognized as the Community Impact Honoree at the American Cancer Society's 2023 Discovery Ball in Chicago. 
• Highlighting his service to Coaches vs. Cancer, Underwood hosts an annual fundraiser called Kickin' Cancer at Gordyville USA, a horse show/auction site 30 minutes outside of Champaign.
• Last April, Underwood welcomed Big Ten head coaches Chris Collins of Northwestern and Dana Altman of Oregon, with national TV analyst and former Purdue star Robbie Hummel as featured guests for the 2025 edition of Kickin' Cancer. The dinner was a sold-out event with more than 1,800 guests in attendance and raising a record of more than $550,000 for Coaches vs. Cancer. 
• Recent Kickin' Cancer guests include: 
  » 2024: Oakland basketball head coach Greg Kampe and legendary basketball analyst Bill Raftery
  » 2023: Big Ten head coaches Tom Izzo, Matt Painter, Fran McCaffery, and Fred Hoiberg in 2023
  » 2022: Former Illini head coaches Bill Self and Lon Kruger.
• Illinois' Kickin' Cancer has grown into the largest fundraising banquet in the Coaches vs. Cancer program.
• The 2026 Kickin' Cancer event is set for Wednesday, April 15 at Gordyville USA. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at coachesvscancerillinois.com. 

OPENING TIPS

• Winners of nine straight games, No. 9 Illinois is back in action at home on Thursday night vs. Washington. It is the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers game at State Farm Center. 
• Illinois' nine-game win streak is 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.
• Illinois is 17-3 overall, matching its best start since 2008-09. The Illini enter Thursday in search of the program's best 21-game record since opening the 2005-06 campaign at 19-2. 
• Illinois is 8-1 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 is 10-1 at home this season, the program's best start since opening 12-1 at State Farm Center in 2019-20. The Illini are averaging 90.3 points per game at home, with an average scoring margin of +24.1 ppg. 
• 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 Saturday's win at No. 4 Purdue (see p. 3 of game notes for full list of Wagler's records set). 
• 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 (130.5), 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. 4 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.
• Saturday's 88-82 win at No. 4 Purdue was Brad Underwood's 100th Big Ten career victory. He ranks third on the Illini all-time Big Ten wins list behind Lou Henson (214, 21 years) and Harry Combes (174, 20 years). 
• Despite having the sixth-longest Big Ten tenure among active coaches, Underwood is the fourth current coach with 100+ B1G wins, joining Michigan State's Tom Izzo (370, 31st year), Purdue's Matt Painter (246, 21st year), and Wisconsin's Greg Gard (124, 11th year).
• The Fighting Illini have the most wins in Big Ten play since 2019-20 with 89 victories. During that span, Illinois leads the conference with 39 road wins in league play. When also including the conference tournament, the Illini have a league-most 96 total wins over B1G programs over the last seven seasons, and are tied for the B1G lead with three championships.  
• 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 games.
• The Illini are riding a six-game Big Ten road win streak dating back to last season, the program's longest run since also winning six consecutive league road games from Feb. 27, 2021 through Jan. 11, 2022.
• Illinois is the tallest team in the nation, with an average height of 79.5 inches (kenpom).
• Keaton Wagler's scoring average of 17.5 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 140.3, while backcourt running mate Kylan Boswell is 17th at 131.3 (kenpom). 
• Andrej Stojakovic is the second active Illini to reach 1,000 points for his career, reaching the milestone vs. Minnesota (Jan. 17). Stojakovic now has 1,035 career points to rank behind 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 (17.5), Kylan Boswell (14.3 ppg), Andrej Stojakovic (13.9), and David Mirkovic (12.2). 
• Illinois is tied for first nationally with six players averaging at least four rebounds (minimum 15 games): David Mirkovic (8.4 rpg), Tomislav Ivisic (5.1), Keaton Wagler (5.0), Zvonimir Ivisic (4.9), Andrej Stojakovic (4.7), and Kylan Boswell (4.2). 
• Illinois ranks second in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten with a free-throw percentage of 79.4%. 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 85.5 points, ranked second in the Big Ten. The Illini led the B1G in scoring last season (83.6 ppg). 
• Along with owning the No. 1-rated offense (130.5) on the kenpom era, the Illini also boast kenpom's No. 29 defense (99.3).
• Illinois is first in the nation in defensive free throw rate (19.4), and third in fewest fouls per game (13.0).
• Illinois is averaging 15.9 second chance points per game (317), which leads the Big Ten.
• Illinois has made 10+ 3-pointers in 15 games this season, which leads the Big Ten. Illinois is 13-2 when making double-digit threes. The Illini knocked down a school-record tying 18 three-pointers in their 88-82 win at No. 4 Purdue on Saturday.
• 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. 6 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, third-best in the Big Ten behind Michigan (2) and Nebraska (5). Illinois is 8-3 on the season combined in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, and 9-0 combined in Quad 3 and Quad 4 matchups.
• Illinois' total of six Quad 1 wins is tied for third-most in the NCAA, two games behind national co-leaders Duke and Arizona, through games played Jan. 25.  
• Illinois is No. 5 in the kenpom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin +31.24. 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 (85.5 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 a .794 free-throw percentage (third in the NCAA), 13.0 fouls per game (third), 11.1 3-pointers per game (12th), and 13.4 offensive rebounds per game (33rd), and rank second in the league with a +11.2 rebound margin (sixth in NCAA), a +17.2 scoring margin (12th), 41.6 total rebounds per game (15th), 28.6 defensive rebounds per game (14th), 30.7 3-point attempts per game (14th), and a scoring offense of 85.5 points per game (32nd). The Illini are third in the B1G with 28.2 defensive rebounds per game (20th in the NCAA) and 5.0 blocks per game (23rd). 
• 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 12 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 20.1 points per game, and ranks fourth in rebounding at 4.8 boards per contest, while shooting 50.0% (72-144) overall, 47.1% (40-85) from 3-point range, and 83.8% (57-68) from the free-throw line. Wagler also leads the team with 64 assists and seven steals during that stretch. 
• Freshman G Keaton Wagler leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: a .435 3-point percentage (1st), 115 free-throw attempts (5th), 50 3-pointers made (6th), 349 total points (7th), 95 free-throws made (7th), 2.5 3-pointers per game (7th),  115 3-point attempts (10th), a 2.67 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th), 17.5 points per game (11th), 80 total assists (12th), 4.0 assists per game (13th), and an .826 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, 53rd in the NCAA); 167 total rebounds (fourth, 57th); 8.4 total rebounds per game (fifth, 56th); five double-doubles (sixth, 69th); 2.55 offensive rebounds per game (eighth, 133rd); and is third on the team an 80.6% free-throw percentage (20th in the Big Ten), and fourth for the Illini with a scoring average of 12.2 ppg (40th 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 13.9 points on 50.0% 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 1.1 triples per contest.
• Zvonimir Ivisic ranks second nationally in block rate at 14.8%. He ranks second in the Big Ten in both total blocks (47) and blocks per game (2.35), 13th and 18th 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. WASHINGTON

• Thursday is the eighth meeting in the series between Illinois and Washington, and just the second as Big Ten foes after the Huskies joined the league prior to the 2024-25 season. 
• Illinois is 3-4 all-time vs. Washington with a 1-0 mark in the Huskies' only visit to State Farm Center that a 76-55 victory for the Illini on Dec. 7, 1991. 
• Illinois won the most recent meeting, 81-77, last January at UW's Alaska Airlines Arena. The game was the second leg of the team's inaugural Big Ten road trip through the Pacific Northwest that was preceded by an historic 109-77 win at No. 9 Oregon. Kasparas Jakucionis recorded 18 points, five rebounds and six assists against the Huskies and scored eventual game-winning points at the free-throw line with 12 seconds to play before Kylan Boswell sealed the victory at the charity stripe with the final two of his 14 points.

ILLINI IN THE NET

• Illinois is No. 6 in the NCAA NET ranking though games played Jan. 25. 
• The Illini's No. 6 rating is the third-best mark in the Big Ten:  behind Michigan (2) and Nebraska (5). 
• The Illini are 6-3 vs. Quad 1, 2-0 vs. Quad 2, 2-0 vs. Quad 3, and 7-0 vs. Quad 4.
• Illinois' six Quad 1 wins rank are tied for third nationally behind national co-leaders Duke and Arizona with eight each. 
• The Illini's remaining 11-game regular-season schedule breaks down to: 
  » Quad 1 (5): at Nebraska (5), at Michigan State (9), at USC (51), at UCLA (42), and vs. Michigan (2).  
  » Quad 2 (4): vs. Washington (60), vs. Northwestern (70), vs. Wisconsin (41), and vs. Indiana (35). 
  » Quad 3 (3): vs. Oregon (109), and at Maryland (159). 
  » Quad 4 (0): --

ILLINOIS WHEN RANKED

• Following Saturday's win at No. 4 Purdue, the #11 Illini have played 20 game this season ranked in the Top 25. 
• Illinois is 669-270 (.712) all-time when ranked in the AP Top 25. The program is 365-54 (.871) at home, including a 287-41 (.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 107-46 (.699) when ranked. 

Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)