#5 Illini Face Top-10 Road Battle Saturday at #10 Michigan State

#5 ILLINOIS (20-3, 11-1 B1G) at #10 Michigan State (19-4, 9-3 B1G)
Date | Time	Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 | 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET)
Location	East Lansing, Mich. | Breslin Center
Buy Tickets	SeatGeek.com
TV	FOX (Jason Benetti & Steve Smith)
Live Stream	FoxSports.com/live
Radio	Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 208 or 195, SXM APP
Live Stats	Statbroadcast
Printable Notes	Illinois | Northwestern
Pregame Press Conference	Coach Underwood (Feb. 6 after 1 p.m. CT)
2025-26 Stats	Illinois | Michigan State
Record Book	Illinois
Shop	Online Store | Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniMBB | #Illini | @IlliniMBB | Facebook | YouTube

Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 294-131 (.692), 13th year
At Illinois: 185-104 (.640), 9th year
Big Ten: 103-67 (.606)

Series History vs. Michigan State

All-Time Record / Streak: Michigan State leads 67-64 / Michigan State W-3
Last Meeting: #11 Michigan State 79, Illinois 65 (2/14/2025 in Champaign)
Record in Champaign / Streak: Michigan State leads 42-21 / Michigan State W-2
Last Meeting in East Lansing: #12 Michigan State 80, #19 Illinois 78 (1/19/2025)
Underwood vs. Michigan State: 5-8

OPENING TIPS

• No. 5 Illinois has a top-10 road game for the third straight weekend, at No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday night.
• Illinois is riding a 12-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 sixth nationally.
• Illinois is now aiming for its longest streak since winning 15 straight to open the 2005-06 season.
• Illinois has won 10 consecutive Big Ten games, matching its longest streak of the Brad Underwood era in conference play of 10 straight across two seasons from Feb. 25, 2021 through Jan. 14, 2022. Illinois has not won more than 10 consecutive Big Ten games since the school-record streak of 25 in a row from Jan. 7, 2004 through March 3, 2005.  
• The Illini carry a seven-game Big Ten road win streak dating back to last season, the program's longest since setting the school record with 13 in a row across two seasons from Feb. 3, 2004 through Feb. 19, 2005.
• Illinois is 20-3 overall for the first time since 2005-06. A win Saturday would push the Illini to its best start since the 2004-05 team won its first 29 games. Illinois' current 11-1 Big Ten mark is its best record in conference play since the 2004-05 team won its first 15 league games. The famed 2005 Illini squad swept 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 four straight road games against Top 25 opponents, a streak that dates back to last year's win at No. 15 Michigan (March 2, 2025). This matches the longest streak in program history, since also winning four consecutive ranked road games from Feb. 1, 1966 through Jan. 11, 1969.  
• Illinois has secured its seventh straight 20-win regular season under Brad Underwood. The Illini entered 2025-26 as one of only four teams to do so each of the previous six years, alongside Gonzaga, Houston and San Diego State.
• Illinois has also clinched a winning Big Ten record for the seventh straight season. Illinois is the only team to finish above .500 in Big Ten play every year since 2019-20.

WAGLER'S WORLD

• Illini star Keaton Wagler has made a rapid ascent during his freshman season that has been remarkable for an unheralded recruit. Now contending for Big Ten Player of the Year and All-America honors, the Shawnee, Kansas native was ranked 150th by 247Sports and 179th by Rivals in the Class of 2025, and he had just two high-major offers before committing to the Fighting Illini.
• Wagler is currently the top-ranked player in the Big Ten, and fourth in the national player of the year ratings, via kenpom. 
• Wagler is one of only two NCAA freshmen averaging at least 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists on the season, alongside Duke's Cameron Boozer.
• Among players with at least 24% possessions used, Wagler ranks first nationally in offensive rating at 140.4. He ranks eighth among all players (kenpom).
• Since moving to the point guard position at the beginning of December, Wagler is averaging 20.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists on 50% shooting from the field, 47.6% from three, and 80.6% from the line, leading the Illini to a 14-1 record during this stretch.
• Wagler has scored in double figures in each of the last 15 games, and 20 times on the season.
• Wagler ranks fourth in the Big Ten in scoring during conference play, averaging 21.3 points.
• Wagler's overall scoring average of 17.9 points per game is on pace to break the Illini freshman season scoring record set by Kiwane Garris, who averaged 15.9 ppg in 1993-94.
• Wagler leads the Big Ten and ranks 11th in the NCAA in 3-point field goal shooting at 44.4% (59-133).
• Wagler has seven 20-point games this season, closing in on the Illini freshman record of 10 set last year by Kasparas Jakucionis, who is now a rookie with the Miami Heat.
• Wagler earned his fifth B1G Freshman of the Week honor (second straight) on Monday after his performance at No. 5 Nebraska which included 28 points, five rebounds, and two steals, including 23 in the second half on just six shots. He also posted 22 points, five rebounds and eight assists in a home win vs. Washington.
• Wagler's five Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards are the second-most in school history behind Kofi Cockburn, who had seven. 
• On Tuesday, Wagler was named a midseason top-10 candidate for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, and the Oscar Robertson High-Major Player for January by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
• Wagler earned National Player of the Week honors on Jan. 26 following one of the greatest scoring performances in college basketball history with a record 46 points in the Illini's win at No. 4 Purdue (see p. 3 for full list of Wagler's records set).

ILLINI ITEMS

• Illinois leads the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency (130.9), 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. 5 in the latest AP poll, the team's highest ranking this season, and its highest since finishing at No. 2 in the final poll of the 2020-21 season. Illinois has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in each of the last seven seasons under Brad Underwood.
• Illinois has six Quad 1 wins, tied for fourth in the NCAA (through games played Feb. 5) behind leaders Arizona (10), Duke (9), and Michigan (7). Four of Illinois' six wins in this category are Quad 1A.
• Illinois is No. 4 overall in the NET rankings, second in the Big Ten behind Michigan (2). Illinois is 11-3 on the season combined in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, and 9-0 combined in Quad 3 and Quad 4 matchups.
• The Illini have the most wins in Big Ten play since 2019-20 with 92 victories. During that span, Illinois also leads all teams with 40 league road wins. 
• When including the conference tournament, the Illini have a league-leading 99 wins over Big Ten teams the last seven seasons, and are tied for the lead with three B1G championships during that span. 
• Illinois is 12-1 at home this season, the program's best start since also opening 12-1 at State Farm Center in 2019-20. The Illini are averaging 88.6 points per game at home, with an average scoring margin of +24.2 ppg. 
• Illinois is the tallest team in the nation, with an average height of 79.5 inches (kenpom).
• Four Fighting Illini average at least 12 points per game, tied for second nationally: Keaton Wagler (17.9 ppg), Kylan Boswell (14.3), Andrej Stojakovic (13.5), and David Mirkovic (12.3). 
• 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 (5.7), Zvonimir Ivisic (5.1), Keaton Wagler (5.0), Andrej Stojakovic (4.5), and Kylan Boswell (4.2). 
• Illinois ranks seventh in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten with a free-throw percentage of 78.9%. 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 84.6 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 (130.9) of the kenpom era, the Illini are No. 19 in defense (97.6) this year.
• Illinois is first in the nation in defensive free throw rate (18.1), and second in fewest fouls per game (12.7).
• Illinois is averaging 15.9 second chance points per game (365), which leads the Big Ten.
• Illinois leads the Big Ten averaging 11.2 three-pointers and has made 10+ 3-pointers in a Big Ten-leading 17 games this season with a 15-2 record. The Illini have knocked down at least 10 triples in 13 of the last 15 games, highlighted by school-record tying 18 treys in the win at No. 4 Purdue on Jan. 24, and 17 threes in its most recent game Wednesday vs. Northwestern. 
• Illinois has outrebounded its opponent 20 of 23 games this season and ranks second in the Big Ten (fifth nationally) in rebound margin at +11.5 rpg. Illinois is 19-2 when it wins the battle on the glass.
• 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. 5 in the kenpom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin +33.26. 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 (84.6 ppg), this year's Illini are challenging to 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 32 wins over top-25 opponents since 2019-20, with 23 of those wins coming in ranked-vs.-ranked matchups. Illinois' 32 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, at No. 4 Purdue, and at No. 5 Nebraska.  
• Illinois is 5-3 this season vs. Top 25 teams. The Illini's remaining schedule includes ranked matchups at No. 10 Michigan State (Saturday) and vs. No. 2 Michigan (Feb. 27). 
• 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 12.7 fouls per game (second in the NCAA), a .789 free-throw percentage (seventh), 11.2 3-pointers per game (10th), and 13.3 offensive rebounds per game (37th), and rank second in the league with a +11.5 rebound margin (fifth in the NCAA), a +17.4 scoring margin (10th), 31.1 3-point attempts per game (13th), 28.4 defensive rebounds per game (14th), 41.6 total rebounds per game (14th), and a scoring offense of 84.6 points per game (29th). The Illini are third in the B1G with 4.8 blocks per game (26th in the NCAA). 
• Andrej Stojakovic is the second active Illini to reach 1,000 career points, reaching the milestone Jan. 17 vs. Minnesota. Stojakovic now has 1,068 points to rank behind Kylan Boswell (1,195) in the 1,000-point club.
• Illinois has claimed seven of 12 Big Ten Freshman of the Week selections this season. Keaton Wagler leads the Big Ten with five honors, while David Mirkovic has garnered two nods. 
• Freshman G Keaton Wagler has scored in double-figures 15 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 20.3 points per game, and ranks tied for third in rebounding at 4.9 boards per contest, while shooting 50.0% (90-180) overall, 47.6% (49-103) from 3-point range, and 80.6% (75-93) from the free-throw line. Wagler also leads the team with 82 assists and 11 steals during that stretch. 
• Keaton Wagler leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: a .444 3-point percentage (1st), 140 free-throw attempts (4th), 113 free-throws made (5th), 59 3-pointers made (5th), 412 total points (7th), 2.57 3-pointers per game (7th), a 2.80 assist-to-turnover ratio (9th), 98 total assists (10th), 17.9 points per game (10th), 133 3-point attempts (10th), 4.3 assists per game (12th), 120 field goals made (14th), and 250 field goal attempts (15th). Wagler also ranks 13th in the Big Ten minutes per game at 32:10.  
• 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: 188 total rebounds (fourth in the B1G, 48th in the NCAA); 5.7 defensive rebounds per game (fourth, 66th); 8.2 total rebounds per game (fifth, 66th); five double-doubles (seventh, 86th); 2.5 offensive rebounds per game (ninth, 149th); and is fourth with a scoring average of 12.3 ppg (38th 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 13.5 points on 48.7% 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 six 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 10 games this season with multiple 3-pointers, while Zvonimir is second with nine 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, a member of the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list, ranks second nationally in block rate at 14.3%. He is third in the Big Ten in total blocks (52) and blocks per game (2.26), 16th and 18th 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. MICHIGAN STATE

• Saturday marks the 132nd meeting in the series between Illinois and Michigan State. The Spartans hold a slim 67-64 edge all-time, and a 42-21 advantage in East Lansing. 
• Head coach Brad Underwood has led the Illini to a 5-8 mark vs. MSU. The Illini are looking to snap a 3-game skid to the Spartans, which includes two straight at the Breslin Center. 
  » Illinois' last victory over Michigan State came Jan. 22, 2024 at State Farm Center when the No. 10 Illini defeated the Spartans, 71-68. Ty Rodgers scored a career-high 15 points, one of four Illini in double figures.
  » Illinois' last win in East Lansing was a 79-74 victory on Feb. 19, 2022. Kofi Cockburn was dominant with 27 points and nine rebounds, Jacob Grandison added 24 points, and Trent Frazier chipped in with 12, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 23 seconds to play. 
• Michigan State swept the series last year, winning 80-78 in East Lansing and 79-65 in Champaign.  
• Illinois is 34-20 (.630) all-time as a Top 25 team when facing Michigan State, with a 9-5 mark against the Spartans when both programs are ranked. 

ILLINI IN THE NET

• Illinois is No. 4 in the NCAA NET ranking though games played Feb. 5. 
• The Illini's No. 4 rating ranks second in the Big Ten co-leader Michigan (2). 
• The Illini are 6-3 vs. Quad 1, 5-0 vs. Quad 2, 2-0 vs. Quad 3, and 7-0 vs. Quad 4.
• Illinois' six Quad 1 wins are tied for fourth nationally behind Arizona (10), Duke (9) and Michigan (7). 
• The Illini's remaining eight-game regular-season schedule breaks down to:
  » Quad 1 (4): at Michigan State (13), at USC (47), at UCLA (41), and vs. Michigan (2). 
  » Quad 2 (2): vs. Wisconsin (43), and vs. Indiana (33).
  » Quad 3 (2): vs. Oregon (116), and at Maryland (182).   

ILLINOIS WHEN RANKED

• The No. 5 Illini have played all 23 games this season ranked in the Top 25. 
• Illinois is 672-270 (.713) all-time when ranked in the AP Top 25. The program is 367-54 at home, including a 289-41 mark at State Farm Center, 165-150 on the road, and 140-64 at neutral sites. 
• Under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois is 110-46 (.705) when ranked.

ILLINI WHEN TOP-5 RANKED

• Illinois appears in the AP top 5 for the first time this season, its 101st week in program history.
• Illinois is 158-46 (.775) all-time when ranked in the AP top 5.
• When top-5 ranked, the Illini are 66-3 at home (32-2 at State Farm Center), 40-29 on the road, and 52-14 in neutral-site contests. 
• Under Brad Underwood, Illinois is 11-3 (.786) when ranked in the top 5.

ILLINI IN TOP-25 MATCHUPS

• Entering Saturday's matchup at No. 10 Michigan State, the No. 5 Illini have played eight ranked-vs.-ranked games this season, owning a 5-3 mark with wins over No. 11 Texas Tech, vs. No. 13 Tennessee in Nashville, at No. 19 Iowa, at No. 4 Purdue, and at No. 5 Nebraska.  
• Illinois is 116-111 (.511) all-time when both teams are ranked, 52-22 (.703) at home including a 41-17 (.707) mark at State Farm Center, 21-51 (.292) on the road, and 43-38 (.531) at neutral sites. 
• Illinois is 23-24 (.489) in ranked-vs.-ranked contests in the Brad Underwood era.

Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)