Brad Underwood has turned the State Farm Center into a house of horrors for the rest of the Big Ten. Honestly, if you aren't paying attention to the university of illinois basketball scores right now, you’re missing a masterclass in roster rebuilding.
The Illini just took down Minnesota 77–67 on January 17, 2026. That win pushed them to a 15–3 overall record. They’re 6–1 in the conference. Seven wins in a row. It’s a heater.
People kept saying this team would struggle after losing so much veteran leadership last year. They were wrong. This group is younger, faster, and frankly, more versatile than the squad that made that deep run recently.
Why the Recent University of Illinois Basketball Scores Tell a Bigger Story
It’s not just about the "W." It’s how they’re getting them. Look at the road game against Northwestern on January 14. A 79–68 win in a building that is notoriously tricky for Illinois. They didn't just survive; they pulled away late.
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That’s been the theme.
Earlier in the season, they hit a few bumps. A tough 86–90 loss to Alabama in Chicago and a narrow 61–74 defeat against UConn at Madison Square Garden. Those scores mattered. They showed Underwood exactly where the defensive rot was. Since that UConn game, the defensive intensity has shifted. They aren't just scoring 85.6 points per game; they’re holding opponents to 67.5.
Keaton Wagler is the name you’ll hear on every broadcast. He’s leading the way with about 16.1 points per game. But the real "secret sauce" is the depth. Kylan Boswell is steady at the point, Andrej Stojakovic is finding his rhythm, and David Mirkovic is a monster on the glass, pulling down over 8 rebounds a night.
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Breaking Down the Momentum
- The Tennessee Statement: December 6. Nashville. Illinois 75, Tennessee 62. This was the turning point. Beating a ranked Vols team on a neutral floor proved this wasn't just a "beat up on mid-majors" season.
- Big Ten Road Warriors: Winning at Ohio State (88–80) and Northwestern back-to-back? That doesn't happen by accident.
- The Nebraska Hiccup: The only conference loss so far was an 80–83 heartbreaker at home. It was the "Celebrate Ag Day" game, and it’s the one game they’d likely want back.
The Ivisic Impact Nobody Mentions
Everyone talks about the guards, but have you watched the Ivisic brothers? Zvonimir is a shot-blocking machine, averaging 2.4 blocks despite playing fewer minutes than the starters. Tomislav is chipping in double figures.
When you have that kind of length in the paint, your perimeter defenders can take more risks. That’s why the university of illinois basketball scores have remained so high—they’re turning blocks and steals into fast-break points. They are currently outscoring opponents by an average of 18 points. That is a massive margin for high-major college basketball.
What’s Next for the Illini?
The schedule doesn't get easier. The Big Ten is a meat grinder this year, with Nebraska and Purdue currently sitting near the top of the standings alongside Illinois.
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If you're looking at the university of illinois basketball scores to predict a March run, watch the turnovers. They’re averaging fewer than 10 turnovers a game. That is elite. If they keep taking care of the ball and Wagler stays hot from deep (he’s shooting over 41% from three), this team isn't just a Big Ten contender. They’re a Final Four threat.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the upcoming home stands. The State Farm Center crowd has been a genuine factor, with attendance averaging over 14,000. That energy translates to the defensive end. Track the free-throw percentages too; they're shooting 80% as a team, which is exactly how you ice games in the final two minutes.
Watch the next three games closely. If they sweep those, the conversation moves from "top of the Big Ten" to "top of the national polls."
Check the box scores for second-half adjustments. Underwood has been elite at tweaking the defensive sets during the under-16 timeout in the second half. That’s usually when the Illini 10–0 runs start.