#10 Illini Open LA Swing Wednesday at USC

#10 ILLINOIS (21-5, 12-3 B1G) at USC (18-7, 7-7 B1G)
Date | Time	Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 | 9 p.m. CT (7 p.m. PT)
Location	Los Angeles, Calif. | Galen Center
Buy Tickets	USCTrojans.com
TV	BTN (Guy Haberman & Don MacLean)
Live Stream	FoxSports.com/live/btn
Radio	Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 117 or 195, SXM APP
Live Stats	Statbroadcast
Printable Notes	Illinois | USC
Pregame Press Conference	Coach Underwood (Feb. 17)
2025-26 Stats	Illinois | USC
Record Book	Illinois | Big Ten | NCAA
Shop	Online Store | Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniMBB | #Illini | @IlliniMBB | Facebook | YouTube

Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 295-133 (.689), 13th year
At Illinois: 186-106 (.637), 9th year
Big Ten: 104-69 (.601)

Series History vs. USC

All-Time Record / Streak: USC leads 7-3 / USC W-1
Last Meeting: USC 82, #13 Illinois 72 (1/11/2025 in Champaign)
Record in Los Angeles / Streak: USC Leads 3-0 / USC W-3
Last Meeting in Los Angeles: USC 62, Illinois 58 (12/13/1975)
Underwood vs. USC: 0-1

OPENING TIPS

• No. 10 Illinois opens a two-game road trip to Los Angeles on Wednesday night, facing USC at the Galen Center. 
• Illinois is coming off a dominant 71-51 home win over Indiana on Sunday afternoon. The Fighting Illini limited the Hoosiers to a season-low 51 points – including just 20 in the second half – and had just two turnovers, its fewest ever at State Farm Center. The contest was also marked by Kylan Boswell's return from a seven-game absence with a broken hand. David Mirkovic led the Illini with 25 points, seven rebounds and three assists. 
• Keaton Wagler is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, his sixth honor his season. Wagler averaged 26 points, five assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in a pair of games last week on 50% shooting from the field, including 43% from 3-point range. Wagler's six B1G Freshman of the Week accolades are the second-most in program history behind Kofi Cockburn's seven newcomer awards in 2019-20.
• Wagler has netted 480 points, just 14 away from the Illini freshman season scoring record of 494 total points set by Cory Bradford in 1998-99 and equaled by Kasparas Jakucionis last year.
• 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). 
• Illinois ranks fourth in the latest NET rankings and is tied for second in the nation with five Quad 1A wins.
• Illinois is 21-5 overall, the program's best 26-game record since also starting 21-5 in 2008-09.
• Illinois' 12-3 Big Ten record is its best since also starting 12-3 in 2020-21. Illinois last started 13-3 or better when the 2004-05 team won its first 15 league games. The famed 2005 Illini squad swept Big Ten regular season (15-1) and tournament titles and advanced to the Final Four, finishing as the NCAA runner-up at 37-2. 
• Illinois has secured its seventh straight 20-win regular season under Brad Underwood. Illinois, Gonzaga, and Houston are the only three programs to win at least 20 regular season games every year since 2019-20.
• 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's rapid ascent during his freshman season 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 ranked No. 6 in the kenpom national player of the year ratings, and second among B1G players.
• Among players with at least 24% possessions used, Wagler ranks first nationally in offensive rating at 135.8. 
• Wagler is one of only two power conference freshmen averaging at least 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on the season, alongside Duke's Cameron Boozer.
• Since moving to the point guard position at the beginning of December, Wagler is averaging 20.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists over the last 18 games on 47.4% shooting from the field, 45.6% from three, and 79.5% from the line, while leading the Illini to a 15-3 record during this stretch.
• Wagler has scored in double figures in each of the last 18 games, and team-leading 23 times on the season.
• Wagler ranks fifth in the Big Ten in scoring during conference play, averaging 21.5 points.
• Wagler leads the Big Ten and ranks 18th in the NCAA in 3-point field goal shooting at 43.2% (67-155).
• Wagler has netted 480 points, just 14 away from the Illini freshman season scoring record of 494 total points set by Cory Bradford in 1998-99 and equaled by Kasparas Jakucionis last year. 
• Wagler's overall scoring average of 18.5 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 has eight 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.
• After scoring 34 on Feb. 10 vs. Wisconsin to go with his 46 points at Purdue on Jan. 24, Wagler joined Kiwane Garris as the only two freshmen in Illini history with multiple 30+-point games. 
• Wagler earned his sixth B1G Freshman of the Week honor on Monday after averaging 26 points, five assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals on 50% shooting from the field, including 43% from 3-point range. Wagler scored 34 vs. Wisconsin and 18 vs. Indiana. His 34 points vs. the Badgers rank as the third-best scoring performance ever by an Illini freshman, and second among all Big Ten freshmen this season behind his record 46 at Purdue. 
• Wagler's six Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards are the second-most in school history behind Kofi Cockburn (7). 
• Wagler has been added to midseason watch lists for the Wooden Award (top 20) and Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award (top 10), and he was named the Oscar Robertson High-Major Player of the Month 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 is ranked No. 6 in kenpom, just short of the highest rating of the Brad Underwood era. The Illini finished the 2020-21 season at No. 4.
• Illinois leads the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency (130.9). 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 No. 10 in both the latest AP poll and coaches top 25, ranked in the top 10 for the fourth consecutive week and the fifth week overall this season. Illinois has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in each of the last seven seasons under Brad Underwood, and in every ranking released so far this season. 
• Illinois has six Quad 1 wins, tied for 10th in the NCAA (through games played Feb. 15). Five of Illinois' six wins in this category are Quad 1A, tied with Kansas and Purdue for second-most in the nation behind Duke (6). 
• Illinois is No. 4 overall in the NET rankings, second in the Big Ten behind Michigan (1). Illinois is 11-5 on the season combined in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, and 10-0 combined in Quad 3 and Quad 4 matchups.
• Illinois is 13-2 at home this season, the program's best mark since going 15-2 at State Farm Center in 2022-23. The Illini are averaging 87.5 points at home this season, with an average scoring margin of +22.1 ppg.
• The Illini have the most wins in Big Ten play since 2019-20 with 93 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 100 wins over Big Ten teams the last seven seasons, and are tied for the lead with three B1G championships during that span.  
• 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 the most nationally: Keaton Wagler (18.5 ppg), Kylan Boswell (14.0), Andrej Stojakovic (13.7), and David Mirkovic (13.0). 
• Illinois is the only team in the nation with seven players averaging at least 4.0 rebounds (minimum 15 games): David Mirkovic (8.0 rpg), Tomislav Ivisic (5.7), Zvonimir Ivisic (5.2), Keaton Wagler (5.0), Andrej Stojakovic (4.6), Kylan Boswell (4.3), and Ben Humrichous (4.1) 
• Illinois is first in the nation in defensive free throw rate (18.6), and second in fewest fouls per game (12.8).
• Illinois ranks ninth in the NCAA and third in the Big Ten with a free-throw percentage of 78.4%. 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 ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 84.2 points. 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. 28 in defense (98.0) this year.
• Illinois is averaging 15.6 second chance points per game (406), which leads the Big Ten.
• Illinois leads the Big Ten averaging 11.3 three-pointers and has made 10+ 3-pointers in a Big Ten-leading 19 games this season with a 15-4 record. 
• The Illini have knocked down at least 10 triples in 15 of the last 18 games, highlighted by school-record tying 18 treys in the win at No. 4 Purdue (Jan. 24), and 17 threes in the team's home win vs. Northwestern (Feb. 4). 
• Illinois has outrebounded its opponent in 23 of 26 games this season and ranks second in the Big Ten (sixth nationally) in rebound margin at +10.4 rpg. Illinois is 20-3 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 fourth nationally behind VCU, George Washington, and Tarleton State (9).
• Illinois is No. 6 in the kenpom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin +32.95. The Illini have had a kenpom rating of 35th or better each of the last six years under Brad Underwood, and are two spots 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 (84.2 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 5-4 this season vs. AP Top 25 teams and faces its next ranked opponent Feb. 27 vs. No. 1 Michigan.
• 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 12.8 fouls per game (second in the NCAA), and rank second in the league with a +10.4 rebound margin (sixth in the NCAA), a +16.0 scoring margin (10th), , 11.2 3-pointers per game (10th), 31.3 3-point attempts per game (12th), 13.2 offensive rebounds per game (30th), and a scoring offense of 84.2 points per game (32nd). The Illini are third in the B1G with a .784 free-throw percentage (9th in the NCAA), 41.2 total rebounds per game (15th), 28.0 defensive rebounds per game (16th), and 4.8 blocks per game (28th).  
• Andrej Stojakovic is the second active Illini to reach 1,000 career points, reaching the milestone Jan. 17 vs. Minnesota. Stojakovic now has 1,085 points to rank behind Kylan Boswell (1,204) in the 1,000-point club.
• Illinois has claimed seven of 13 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 in 18 consecutive games dating back to the Illini's win over No. 13 Tennessee on Dec. 6, including an historic 46-point outburst in a win at No. 4 Purdue on Jan. 24 (more on p. 3). During that stretch, Wagler is averaging a team-leading 20.7 points per game, and ranks fifth in rebounding at 4.8 boards per contest, while shooting 47.4% (111-234) overall, 45.6% (57-125) from 3-point range, and 79.5% (93-117) from the free-throw line. Wagler also leads the team with 95 assists and 15 steals during that stretch. 
• Keaton Wagler leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: a .432 3-point percentage (1st), 164 free-throw attempts (4th), 67 3-pointers made (5th), 131 free-throws made (5th), 480 total points (6th), 2.58 3-pointers per game (6th), 18.5 points per game (8th), 155 3-point attempts (9th), 111 total assists (9th), 141 field goals made (10th), a 2.58 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th), 304 field goal attempts (10th), and 4.3 assists per game (11th). Wagler also ranks 12th in the Big Ten minutes per game at 33:13.  
• 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, David Mirkovic leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: 207 total rebounds (4th), 5.5 defensive rebounds per game (5th), 8.0 total rebounds per game (5th), 2.4 offensive rebounds per game (8th), five double-doubles (10th). Mirkovic is also third on the team with a .795 free-throw percentage (26th in B1G), and a scoring average of 13.0 ppg (33rd). 
• Senior G Kylan Boswell is the Illini's active career leader with 1,204 career points (696 at Illinois), with eight 20+ point games and 36 career double-digit scoring games in Orange and Blue. Boswell has eclipsed the 20-point mark eight times over the last two years, including five times this season. 
• 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 12 games this season with multiple 3-pointers, while Zvonimir is tied for second with nine such games. Tomislav also leads the NCAA among 7-footers at 1.7 3-pointers per game, while Zvonimir ranks tied for fourth at 1.0 triples per contest.
• Zvonimir Ivisic, a member of the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list, ranks fourth nationally in block rate at 13.7%. He is second in the Big Ten in total blocks (58) and blocks per game (2.23), 14th and 16th 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. USC

• Wednesday marks the 11th meeting in the series between Illinois and USC and just the second as Big Ten opponents.
• Last season, USC posted an 82-72 win at State Farm Center despite double-digit scoring efforts from four Illini, including Ben Humrichous (15 points) and Kylan Boswell (10). 
• USC won the first six meetings in the series between 1966 and 1975, including all three  of the previous matchups in Los Angeles, before the Illini downed the Trojans for their first win in the series in Champaign during the 1977-78 season. 
• The Illini last played the Trojans in Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 1975, a 62-58 USC win. 
• Illinois' last win in the series was a 94-64 victory on November 19, 2012, for the team's first win of its 2012 Maui Invitational title run. 

ILLINI IN THE NET

• Illinois is No. 4 in the NCAA NET ranking though games played Feb. 16. 
• The Illini's No. 4 rating ranks second in the Big Ten behind Michigan (1). 
• The Illini are 6-4 vs. Quad 1, 5-1 vs. Quad 2, 5-0 vs. Quad 3, and 5-0 vs. Quad 4.
• Illinois' six Quad 1 wins are tied for 11th nationally. 
• The Illini's remaining five-game regular-season schedule breaks down to three consecutive Quad 1s, followed by a pair of Quad 3s to close: 
  » Quad 1 (3): at USC (48), at UCLA (40), and vs. Michigan (1).  
  » Quad 3 (2): vs. Oregon (107), and at Maryland (151).   

ILLINOIS WHEN RANKED

• The No. 8 Illini have played all 26 games this season ranked in the Top 25. 
• Illinois is 673-272 (.712) all-time in 945 games when ranked in the AP Top 25. The program is 368-55 at home, including a 290-42 mark at State Farm Center, 165-151 on the road, and 140-64 at neutral sites. 
• Under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois is 111-48 (.698) when ranked.

ILLINI WHEN TOP-10 RANKED

• Illinois is ranked in the AP top 10 for the 247th week in program history, including five weeks this season. 
• Illinois is 332-110 (.751) all-time in 442 games when ranked in the AP top 10. 
• When top-10 ranked, the Illini are 174-12 at home (114-8 at State Farm Center), 83-73 on the road, and 75-25 in neutral-site contests.
• Under Brad Underwood, Illinois is 26-13 (.667) when ranked in the top 10.

Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)