Illinois Fighting Illini: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Why Illinois Basketball Needs More From Kylan Boswell

"Talented” is a word often saved for uber-skilled offensive players, but it can also be used to describe a defender. And there are certain defensive abilities that can't be taught – you either have them or you don't.

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Preview: Illinois vs Michigan State Women's Basketball

Illinois is right back on the floor in Indianapolis on Thursday – this time with a tougher test waiting. The Illini punched their ticket to the second round with an 82-70 win over Wisconsin, setting up a matchup with No.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Big Ten Network / March 4

Watch: Illinois vs. Wisconsin | HIGHLIGHTS | 2026 B1G Women's Basketball Tournament | 03/04/2026

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / March 4

Why Keaton Wagler's Most Valuable Attribute Could Lead Illinois to a Final Four

The statistics and the eye test send the same message: Keaton Wagler’s best skill is scoring. He does it so effortlessly, in a variety of ways, and at an impressively efficient clip.

Illinois vs Wisconsin Women's Basketball: TV Channel and Tip-Off Time

A young Illinois women's basketball program will try to make its March statement in Indianapolis, where the Illini open the Big Ten Tournament against a team it easily handled last month.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / March 4

Illinois 2026 Target Boyuan Zhang Skyrockets Up Recruiting Rankings

If there’s one aspect of the head coach position for which Brad Underwood has near-psychic powers, it is talent evaluation. And the latest update in ESPN’s 2026 high school recruiting rankings would seem to be a testament to that.

Brad Underwood News / NBC Sports / March 4

Watch: Brad Underwood wants more consistency on defensive end | Big Ten Men's Basketball

Watch: Oregon vs. Illinois | COLLEGE BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS | 3/3/26

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Big Ten Network / March 3

Watch: Oregon at Illinois | HIGHLIGHTS | Big Ten Basketball | 03/03/2026

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / March 3

ESPN's Joe Lunardi Reveals Encouraging NCAA Tournament Path for Illinois

Illinois is indisputably in the thick of its roughest patch of the 2025-26 season. The Illini have lost four of their past six outings, which is partially the result of a gauntlet of a stretch but even more a consequence of incessant defensive miscues .

Brad Underwood News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / March 2

Brad Underwood Details Illinois' Defensive Woes – And How to Fix Them

There is no sugarcoating it: Illinois has been, at times this season, a nightmare on defense. After the Illini's loss to Nebraska in mid-December, they seemingly turned a corner on that end of the floor, spurring a 12-game win streak.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / March 2

UNLV's Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn Is on Fire – Would He Have Thrived at Illinois?

During his two seasons at Illinois, guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn slowly blossomed into a valuable rotational player. But his role was fairly cemented: a spark-plug scorer off the bench who would inject infectious energy and serve as an on-ball defensive pest.

Brad Underwood News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / March 1

Brad Underwood Saved Illinois Basketball – But Has He Hit the Ceiling?

Brad Underwood deserves a world of credit for dragging Illinois basketball back to relevance. When he took the job in 2017, he inherited a program that

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / February 28

Can Illinois' Offense Carry It All the Way to a National Championship?

Despite shooting 41.3 percent from the field in its loss against Michigan on Friday night, Illinois still has the top-rated offense in the country, per KenPom – and the best the analytical tool has ever seen.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / February 27

Illinois Basketball Fans' Top Five Supervillains

Illinois basketball fans are generally a supportive, non-confrontational bunch. Ask around. Illini Nation travels well, and the general consensus around the country is that it's populace is competitive but good-natured.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / February 27

Illinois Basketball Availability Report for Michigan: Is Keaton Wagler a Go?

Less than a week ago, in Illinois' overtime loss at UCLA last Saturday, Illini guard Keaton Wagler suffered a nasty spill that sent him off the floor and into the locker room holding his left shoulder.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Big Ten Network / February 26

Watch: Spotlighting Chloe Cho | Illinois Gymnastics | On The Beam

Illinois Fighting Illini News / LWOSports.com / February 13

Built for March: Why Illinois Could Cut Down the Nets

After years of improvement and five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the Illinois Fighting Illini are set to make a run during March Madness. With strong leadership under head coach Brad Underwood, elite playmaking at every position, and a deep bench, Illinois has a realistic chance to cut down the nets when it’s all said and done in April.