10th-Ranked Illini Visit UCLA Saturday Night

#10 ILLINOIS (22-5, 13-3 B1G) at UCLA (17-9, 9-6 B1G)
Date | Time	Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 | 7 p.m. CT (5 p.m. PT)
Location	Los Angeles, Calif. | Pauley Pavilion
Buy Tickets	UCLABruins.com
TV	FOX (Tim Brando & Jim Jackson)
Live Stream	FoxSports.com/live
Radio	Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 208 or 197, SXM APP
Live Stats	Statbroadcast
Printable Notes	Illinois | UCLA
Pregame Press Conference	Coach Underwood (Feb. 20)
2025-26 Stats	Illinois | UCLA
Record Book	Illinois | Big Ten | NCAA
Shop	Online Store | Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniMBB | #Illini | @IlliniMBB | Facebook | YouTube

Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 296-133 (.690), 13th year
At Illinois: 187-106 (.638), 9th year
Big Ten: 105-69 (.603)

Series History vs. UCLA

All-Time Record / Streak: UCLA leads 6-5 / Illinois W-2
Last Meeting: Illinois 83, UCLA 78 (2/11/2025 in Champaign)
Record in Los Angeles / Streak: UCLA leads 3-0 / UCLA W-3
Last Meeting in Los Angeles: #9 UCLA 74, Illinois 69 (12/30/1997)
Underwood vs. UCLA at Illinois / All-Time: 2-0 / 2-1

OPENING TIPS

• No. 10 Illinois closes a two-game road trip to Los Angeles on Saturday night, facing UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. 
• Illinois is coming off two wins coinciding with the returns of Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic from injury. 
  » The Illini posted a 71-51 home win over Indiana on Sunday as Boswell returned from a seven-game absence (hand). Illinois limited the Hoosiers to a season-low 51 points (20 in the second half). David Mirkovic led all scorers with 25 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists. 
  » Wednesday night, Stojakovic returned after missing two games (ankle) and tallied a game-high 22 points – one of seven Illini to score in double figures – to help lead Illinois to a 101-65 road win at USC. The 36-point victory was Illinois' largest in a B1G road win in 80 years.
• Keaton Wagler, named Thursday to the Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team, is also the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the sixth time this season.  
• Wagler has netted 490 points, just five away from breaking 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 (131.9), 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 22-5 overall, the program's best record since going 25-5 during the regular season in 2005-06 
• Illinois' 13-3 Big Ten record is its best since the 2004-05 squad that went 15-1, swept Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, and advanced to the Final Four before finishing as the NCAA runner-up at 37-2. 
• Illinois has won at least 13 Big Ten games five times in the last seven seasons, with head coach Brad Underwood accounting for five of the eight-winningest Big Ten seasons in school history with a school-record 16 wins in 2021, 15 in 2022, 14 in 2024, and 13 in both 2020 and 2026.
• Illinois is 7-1 on the road in Big Ten play, one away from the school record eight league road wins in 2020-21.
• 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.

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 135.3. 
• In what is being recognized as one of the most talented freshman classes in college basketball history, Wagler is the only first-year player in the nation averaging at least 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on the season. 
• Since moving to the point guard position at the beginning of December, Wagler is averaging 20.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists over the last 19 games on 47.1% shooting from the field, 45.2% from three, and 80.2% from the line, while leading the Illini to a 16-3 record during this stretch.
• Wagler has scored in double figures in each of the last 19 games, and team-leading 24 times on the season.
• Wagler ranks fifth in the Big Ten in scoring during conference play, averaging 20.8 points.
• Wagler ranks second in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal shooting at 42.9% (67-156).
• Wagler has netted 490 points, just five away from breaking 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 18.1 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 named to the Naismith Trophy Late-Season Team, and was added to midseason watch lists for the Wooden Award (top 20) and Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award (top 10). He was also 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 .

ILLINI ITEMS

• Illinois is ranked No. 4 in kenpom, matching 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 (131.9). 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 seven Quad 1 wins, tied for sixth in the NCAA (through games played Feb. 18). Five of Illinois' six wins in this category are Quad 1A, 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 12-5 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.
• Illinois is 9-3 away from home this season, and 7-1 in true road games, all in Big Ten play.
• Illinois is the only team to finish above .500 in Big Ten play every year since 2019-20.
• The Illini have the most wins in Big Ten play since 2019-20 with 94 victories. During that span, Illinois also leads all teams with 41 league road wins. 
• When including the conference tournament, the Illini have a league-leading 101 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 13 points per game, tied for the most nationally: Keaton Wagler (18.1 ppg), Andrej Stojakovic (14.0), Kylan Boswell (13.9), and David Mirkovic (13.1). 
• Illinois is the only team in the nation with seven players averaging at least 4.0 rebounds (minimum 15 games): David Mirkovic (7.8 rpg), Tomislav Ivisic (5.7), Zvonimir Ivisic (5.1), Keaton Wagler (4.9), Andrej Stojakovic (4.5), Kylan Boswell (4.4), and Ben Humrichous (4.2) 
• Illinois is first in the nation in defensive free throw rate (19.1), and second in fewest fouls per game (13.1).
• Illinois ranks fifth in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten with a free-throw percentage of 79.1%. 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 84.8 points. The Illini led the B1G in scoring last season (83.6 ppg). 
• Along with the No. 1-rated offense (131.9) of the kenpom era, the Illini are No. 23 in defense (97.5) this year.
• Illinois is averaging 15.7 second chance points per game (423), 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 20 games this season with a 16-4 record. 
• The Illini have knocked down at least 10 triples in 16 of the last 19 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 24 of 27 games this season and ranks second in the Big Ten (sixth nationally) in rebound margin at +10.4 rpg. Illinois is 21-3 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. 4 in the kenpom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin +34.39. The Illini have had a kenpom rating of 35th or better each of the last six years under Brad Underwood, and have matched 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 (84.8 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 12 categories: The Illini lead the Big Ten with 13.1 fouls per game (second in the NCAA), a .791 free-throw percentage (fifth), 11.2 3-pointers per game (ninth), and 13.2 offensive rebounds per game (28th), and rank second in the league with a +10.4 rebound margin (sixth in the NCAA), a +16.7 scoring margin (ninth), 9.1 turnovers per game (ninth), 41.2 total rebounds per game (12th), 31.3 3-point attempts per game (12th), and a scoring offense of 84.8 points per game (26th). The Illini are third in the B1G with 28.0 defensive rebounds per game (15th in the NCAA), and 4.9 blocks per game (24th).  
• Andrej Stojakovic is the second active Illini to reach 1,000 career points, reaching the milestone Jan. 17 vs. Minnesota. Stojakovic now has 1,107 points to rank behind Kylan Boswell (1,216) 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 19 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 20.1 points per game, and ranks fifth in rebounding at 4.7 boards per contest, while shooting 47.1% (114-242) overall, 45.2% (57-126) from 3-point range, and 80.2% (97-121) from the free-throw line. Wagler also leads the team with 99 assists and 17 steals during that stretch. 
• Keaton Wagler leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: a .429 3-point percentage (2nd), 168 free-throw attempts (4th), 67 3-pointers made (5th), 135 free-throws made (5th), 490 total points (6th), 2.48 3-pointers per game (7th), 115 total assists (8th), 18.1 points per game (9th), 144 field goals made (9th), a 2.56 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th), 312 field goal attempts (10th),  156 3-point attempts (11th), and 4.3 assists per game (12th). Wagler also ranks 12th in the Big Ten minutes per game at 33:03.  
• 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 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. 
• A two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, David Mirkovic leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: 210 total rebounds (5th), 5.4 defensive rebounds per game (5th), 7.8 total rebounds per game (5th), 2.4 offensive rebounds per game (8th), five double-doubles (11th). Mirkovic is also third on the team with a .795 free-throw percentage (24th in B1G), and a scoring average of 13.1 ppg (33rd). 
• Senior G Kylan Boswell is the Illini's active career leader with 1,216 career points (708 at Illinois), with eight 20+ point games and 37 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 14.0 points on 50.2% shooting. Stojakovic has six games this season with 20+ points, highlighted by 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 Big Ten play, Stojakovic scored 22 in the Illini's 101-65 victory at USC. Stojakovic has led the Illini in scoring in seven games this season. 
• Twin 7-footers Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic rank among the top shooting big men in college basketball. Tomislav is first in the NCAA among 7-footers with 13 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 third nationally in block rate at 13.7%. He is second in the Big Ten in total blocks (62) and blocks per game (2.3), 12th and 14th in the nation, respectively. His average would rank second all-time in Illinois' record book behind Derek Holcomb (3.0 bpg in 1978-79). The last Illini to average more than two blocks was Nnanna Egwu (2.1 bpg) in 2013-14.

ILLINOIS VS. UCLA

• Saturday is the 12th meeting in the series between Illinois and UCLA and just the second as Big Ten opponents. 
• Illinois has won three of the last four matchups in the series since 1996-97, but is 0-3 all-time when facing the Bruins in Los Angeles. 
• Last season, Illinois won an 83-78 decision at State Farm Center. UCLA came into the game on the Big Ten's longest win streak (7), but Kasparas Jakucionis led the Illini to victory with 24 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. 
• The Illini last played the Bruins in Los Angeles on Dec. 30, 1997, a 74-69 win for ninth-ranked UCLA. Kevin Turner led the Illini with 32 points.
• Brad Underwood led Illinois to a 79-70 win over No. 8 UCLA at the Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas on Nov. 18, 2022. During his tenure at Stephen F. Austin, Underwood also faced UCLA in the Round of 32 of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, the first of his three consecutive trips to the big dance with the Lumberjacks. 

ILLINI IN THE NET

• Illinois is No. 4 in the NCAA NET ranking though games played Feb. 18. 
• The Illini's No. 4 rating ranks second in the Big Ten behind Michigan (1). 
• The Illini are 7-4 vs. Quad 1, 5-1 vs. Quad 2, 5-0 vs. Quad 3, and 5-0 vs. Quad 4.
• Illinois' seven Quad 1 wins are tied for sixth nationally. 
• Illinois has five Quad 1A victories, tied for second most in the nation behind Duke (6). 
• The Illini's remaining four-game regular-season schedule breaks down to two consecutive Quad 1s, followed by a pair of Quad 3s to close: 
  » Quad 1 (2): at UCLA (41), and vs. Michigan (1).  
  » Quad 3 (2): vs. Oregon (118), and at Maryland (151).   

ILLINOIS WHEN RANKED

• The No. 10 Illini have played all 27 games this season ranked in the Top 25. 
• Illinois is 674-272 (.712) all-time in 946 games when ranked in the AP Top 25. The program is 368-55 at home, including a 290-42 mark at State Farm Center, 166-151 on the road, and 140-64 at neutral sites. 
• Under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois is 112-48 (.700) 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 333-110 (.752) all-time in 443 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), 84-73 on the road, and 75-25 in neutral-site contests.
• Under Brad Underwood, Illinois is 27-13 (.675) when ranked in the top 10.

Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)