CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois guard Keaton Wagler (Shawnee, Kansas) is Big Ten Player of the Week and Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
The true-freshman point guard has reeled in every national accolade following his sensational, record-setting 46 points in Saturday's win at No. 4 Purdue. Wagler has been selected National Player of the Week by the Naismith Trophy, Associated Press, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Lute Olson Award, Field of 68, and NCAA March Madness, and he is also Dick Vitale Diaper Dandy of the Week.
Wagler Highlights (Jan. 19-25)
• Averaged 29.5 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in a pair of wins as Illinois extended its winning streak to nine straight games.
• Had one of the greatest scoring performances in college basketball history and the best by a freshman this season with 46 points on 13-17 FG, 9-11 3FG, 11-13 FT in the win at No. 4 Purdue:
- The most points by any player in a road win over a top-10 opponent in AP poll history.
- The most points ever by a freshman in a road game against an AP top-25 team.
- The most points ever by a Big Ten player against an AP top-5 team.
- Tied the most points by any player in a win over a top-5 team in AP poll history.
- The most points ever by a Big Ten freshman.
- Set the Mackey Arena scoring record for a visiting player.
- Set the Illinois freshman single-game scoring record.
- The second-highest scoring performance in the 121-year history of Illini Basketball.
- The most points in a Big Ten road game in 47 years.
- The most points in any Big Ten game in 32 years.
- The best shooting percentage (.764) in a 45+ point game against an AP top-25 team in the last 30 years.
- The most points on 17 FGA in college basketball in the last 13 seasons.
- Set the Illinois school record with nine 3-pointers.
• Began the week with 13 points, game-high eight assists and seven rebounds in the home win over Maryland.
Wagler earns his fourth Big Ten Freshman honor of the season, marking the most by an Illini since Kofi Cockburn claimed seven newcomer awards in 2019-20.
He shares this week's Big Ten Player accolade, meanwhile, with Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr.
Winners of nine straight, Wagler and the No. 9 Fighting Illini return to action Thursday night, hosting Washington at 8 p.m. at State Farm Center. Tickets are available online at FightingIllini.com.
