#13 Fighting Illini Face Minnesota Saturday at State Farm Center – University of Illinois Athletics

Story Links

PROBABLE STARTERS

Pos.
No.
Name
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
PPG
RPG
APG
Note

G
4
Kylan Boswell
6-2
215
Sr.
14.6
4.2
3.4
Illini active career leader with 1,186 points

G
23
Keaton Wagler
6-6
185
Fr.
16.1
5.2
3.7
Last 9 G: 18.3 ppg, 5.2 apg, 49% FG, 46% 3FG

G
2
Andrej Stojakovic
6-7
215
Jr.
13.9
4.5
0.9
7 points from 1,000 for his career

F
0
David Mirkovic
6-9
250
Fr.
12.0
8.4
2.6
1st 20-pt, 20-reb game by an Illini since 1972

C
13
Tomislav Ivisic
7-1
255
Jr.
10.5
4.6
1.1
77 3FGs, 1st in NCAA by 7-footer since ’24-25

OFF THE BENCH

Pos.
No.
Name
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
PPG
RPG
APG
Note

G
1
Brandon Lee
6-4
195
Fr.
2.1
0.8
0.4
Career-high 5 points, 3 rebounds vs. Southern

F
3
Ben Humrichous
6-9
235
Gr.
5.6
4.0
0.8
Team-high 42 games w/ a 3FG last 2 seasons

G
5
AJ Redd
6-3
170
Sr.
1.6
0.6
0.0
Former team manager

G
8
Blake Fagbemi
6-0
180
Fr.
0.4
1.4
0.6
Has played in five games

F
15
Jake Davis
6-6
215
Jr.
4.5
1.5
0.5
Team-high 3.2 3FGs per 40 minutes

G/F
20
Ty Rodgers
6-6
210
r-Jr.
–
–
–
Out indefinitely following knee surgery

C
31
Jason Jakstys
6-10
225
r-Fr.
1.5
2.0
0.3
9 rebounds in Illini debut vs. Jackson St.

F/C
44
Zvonimir Ivisic
7-2
250
Jr.
7.4
5.0
0.4
40 blocked shots (3rd in B1G, 16th in NCAA)

G
77
Mihailo Petrovic
6-2
180
So.
2.5
0.7
1.6
Season-high 18 minutes vs. #5 UConn at MSG

Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 288-131 (.687), 13th year
At Illinois: 179-104 (.633), 9th year
Big Ten: 97-67 (.591)

Series History vs. Minnesota

All-Time Record / Streak: Illinois leads 131-68 / Illinois W-8
Last Meeting: #23 Illinois 95, Minnesota 74 (2/8/2025 in Minneapolis)
Record in Champaign / Streak: Illinois leads 76-19 / Illinois W-5
Last Meeting in Champaign: #13 Illinois 105, Minnesota 97 (2/28/2024)
Underwood vs. Minnesota: 9-2

OPENING TIPS

• No. 13 Illinois, riding a season-best six-game win streak, hosts Minnesota on Saturday at State Farm Center.
• Illinois is in search of the program’s first seven-game win streak since March 2024, a stretch that began with the regular-season finale at Iowa and included the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Championship and run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.   
• At 14-3 overall, Illinois is off to its best start since 2012-13. A win over Minnesota would give the Illini its best 18-game record since also starting 15-3 in 2011-12.  
• Illinois is 5-1 in Big Ten play, looking to improve to 6-1 for the second time in the Brad Underwood era, joining the 2021-22 season that ended with a Big Ten Championship. 
• Illinois is 6-2 away from home, including 4-0 in true road games following Wednesday’s 79-68 win at Northwestern. The Illini are 4-0 on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
• The Fighting Illini are riding a five-game road win streak dating back to last season, the program’s longest since also winning five straight league road games from Dec. 23, 2020 through Feb. 20, 2021.
• Illinois is currently fifth in kenpom, the second-highest rating of the Underwood era. The Illini finished the 2020-21 season at No. 4.
• Illinois is No. 13 in the latest AP and coaches polls. The Illini have reached as high as No. 8 (Nov. 17) this season. Illinois has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in each of the last seven seasons under Brad Underwood.
• Illinois is the tallest team in the nation, with an average height of 79.5 inches (kenpom).
• Keaton Wagler’s scoring average of 16.1 points is on pace to break the Illini freshman season scoring record currently held by Kiwane Garris, who averaged 15.9 ppg in 1993-94.
• Andrej Stojakovic is seven points away (993) from joining Kylan Boswell (1,186) in the 1,000-career point club. 
• Four Fighting Illini average at least 12 points per game, tied for second nationally: Keaton Wagler (16.1), Kylan Boswell (14.6 ppg), Andrej Stojakovic (13.9) and David Mirkovic (12.0). 
• Illinois ranks first nationally with seven players averaging at least four rebounds: David Mirkovic (8.4 rpg), Keaton Wagler (5.2), Zvonimir Ivisic (5.0), Tomislav Ivisic (4.6), Andrej Stojakovic (4.5), Kylan Boswell (4.2), and Ben Humrichous (4.0).  
• Illinois ranks third in the nation in offensive efficiency by kenpom (128.0). 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 ranks second in the NCAA and first in the Big Ten with a free-throw percentage of 80.2%. Last year the Illini shot 76.2% at the free throw line, which was the second-best season mark in school history.
• Illinois is averaging 85.6 points, ranked third in the Big Ten. The Illini led the B1G in scoring last season (83.6 ppg). 
• The Illini feature the No. 3-rated offense in the country (128.0) and No. 19 defense (97.2) by kenpom.
• Illinois ranks first in the nation in defensive free throw rate (19.9) and fourth in fewest fouls per game (13.2).
• Illinois is averaging 15.5 second chance points per game (263), which leads the Big Ten.
• Illinois has made 10+ 3-pointers in 12 games this season, which leads the Big Ten. 
• Illinois is 11-1 when making double-digit threes (lone loss to Alabama).
• Illinois is No. 9 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, third-best in the Big Ten behind Michigan (1) and Purdue (5). Illinois is 7-3 on the season combined in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, and 7-0 combined in Quad 3 and Quad 4 matchups. Saturday’s game vs. Minnesota is Quad 3 based on the NET rankings. 
• Illinois’ total of four Quad 1 wins is tied for seventh-most in the NCAA (through games played Jan. 14). 
• Illinois is No. 5 in the kenpom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin +30.83. The Illini have had a kenpom rating of 35th or better each of the last six years under Brad Underwood with a high of No. 4 in 2020-21. Illinois posted consecutive top-20 rankings the last two seasons: 10th in 2023-24 and 17th in 2024-25.
• At its current scoring pace (85.6 ppg), this year’s Illini would 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 30 wins over top-25 opponents since 2019-20, with 21 of those wins coming in ranked-vs.-ranked matchups. Illinois’ 30 top-25 victories are tied for 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, and at No. 19 Iowa.   
• Illinois is currently 3-3 this season vs. Top 25 teams. With five ranked Big Ten teams in the most recent AP poll, the Illini’s current schedule could feature as many as 10 ranked games during the regular season. 
• Illinois entered 2025-26 as the winningest team in Big Ten Conference play since 2019-20, with 81 league wins (tied with Purdue). The Illini (86 wins) now sit one game behind the Boilermakers (87) in the win column over the last seven seasons. The Illini lead the conference with 38 road wins in league play during that span. When including the conference tournament, Illinois is also one game behind Purdue for the most total wins against Big Ten opponents over this span with 93.
• As a team, Illinois ranks in the top three in the Big Ten, and among the top 50 programs nationally in 10 categories: The team leads the Big Ten with an .802 free-throw percentage (second in the NCAA) and 13.32 fouls per game (fourth), and is second in the league with a +10.8 rebound margin (ninth in NCAA) and a +18.1 scoring margin (14th). The Illini are third in the B1G with 28.7 defensive rebounds per game (18th in NCAA), 5.2 blocks per game (18th), 41.8 total rebounds per game (19th in the NCAA), 29.5 3-point attempts per game (23rd), a scoring offense of 85.6 points per game (42nd), and 13.1 offensive rebounds per game (49th). 
• Among players with at least 20% possessions used, Keaton Wagler ranks sixth nationally – and first among freshmen – in offensive rating at 136.5, while backcourt running mate Kylan Boswell is 26th at 131.6 (kenpom).
• Illinois has claimed five of nine Big Ten Freshman of the Week selections this season. Keaton Wagler has earned a league-leading three honors, while David Mirkovic has garnered two nods. 
• Keaton Wagler is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, his second straight and league-best third honor of the season. Wagler led the Illini to two wins last week, averaging a team-high 18 points with six rebounds and 3.5 assists. He recorded a game-high 17 points with seven rebounds and three assists in a home win over Rutgers, then led all scorers with 19 points and added five rebounds and four assists in the Illini’s Quad 1 win at No. 19 Iowa. He entered the week having scored in double-figures in eight straight games, including all five Big Ten contests, before exploding for 22 points in the Wednesday’s win at Northwestern. 
• Freshman G Keaton Wagler leads the Illini and ranks among the Big Ten leaders with: 77 free-throws made (8th), 92 free-throw attempts (10th), 273 total points (11th), 36 3-pointers made (11th), 63 total assists (12th), an .837 free-throw percentage (12th), 2.12 3-pointers per game (13th), 16.1 points per game (14th), and 3.7 assists per game (14th). 
• 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, Mirkovic leads the Illini, ranks inside the top 10 in the Big Ten, and is among the NCAA leaders with: 142 total rebounds (fourth in B1G, 53rd in NCAA); 5.8 defensive rebounds per game (fourth, 53rd); five double-doubles (fifth, 53rd); 8.4 total rebounds per game (fifth, 57th); and 2.5 offensive rebounds per game (ninth, 151st); and is third on the team behind Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell with an 81.5% free-throw percentage (18th in the Big Ten). 
• Senior G Kylan Boswell is the Illini’s active career leader with 1,186 career points (678 at Illinois), with eight 20+ point games and 36 career double-digit scoring games in Orange and Blue. Boswell leads the team with five games this season with 20+ points this season, and has eclipsed the 20-point mark eight times over the last two years.
• Junior G Andrej Stojakovic transferred to Illinois with a reputation as a prolific scorer and is averaging 13.9 points on 51.7% shooting. Stojakovic has four 20-point performances, highlighted by a season-high 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 four games this season. 
• Twin 7-footers Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic rank among the top shooting big men in college basketball. Zvonimir is third in the NCAA among 7-footers with seven games this season with multiple 3-pointers, while Tomislav ranks fourth at six contests with multiple treys. Tomislav is tied for first in the NCAA among 7-footers at 1.6 3-pointers per game, while Zvonimir ranks fifth at 1.1 triples per contest.
• Zvonimir Ivisic ranks fourth nationally in block rate at 14.5%. He ranks second in the Big Ten in both total blocks (40) and blocks per game (2.35), 18th and 19th in the nation, respectively. His current average would rank second all-time in Illinois’ record book behind Derek Holcomb, who averaged 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. MINNESOTA

• Saturday is the 200th meeting in the series between Illinois and Minnesota, the second-most for the Illini vs. any opponent in program history behind Wisconsin (209). 
• The Illini are 131-68 all-time vs. Minnesota, including a 76-19 advantage in home contests in the series.
• Illinois has won eight straight games in the series, overall, with a five-game win streak at home.
• The eight-game win streak is Illinois’ second-longest active streak against a Big Ten opponent. The Illini have beaten Michigan nine-straight times.
• The current eight-game win streak is Illinois’ longest against Minnesota since setting the series record with 20 straight wins from March 4, 1999 through March 15, 2008.
• Head coach Brad Underwood is 9-2 vs. Minnesota, including a 5-0 mark at State Farm Center. 
• Illinois is 39-16 (.709) all-time as a ranked team when facing Minnesota.

ILLINI IN THE NET

• Illinois is No. 9 in the NCAA NET ranking though games played Jan. 14. 
• The Illini’s No. 9 rating is the third-best mark in the Big Ten Conference behind Michigan (1) and Purdue (5). 
• The Illini are currently 4-3 vs. Quad 1, 3-0 vs. Quad 2, 0-0 vs. Quad 3, and 7-0 vs. Quad 4.
• Illinois’ four Quad 1 wins rank tied for seventh nationally. 
• The Illini’s remaining 14-game regular-season schedule breaks down to: 
  » Quad 1 (6): at Purdue (5), at Nebraska (11), at Michigan State (13), at USC (46), at UCLA (45), and vs. Michigan (1).  
  » Quad 2 (3): vs. Washington (57), vs. Wisconsin (38), and vs. Indiana (36). 
  » Quad 3 (4): vs. Minnesota (84), vs. Northwestern (76), vs. Oregon (111), and at Maryland (172). |
  » Quad 4 (1): vs. Maryland (172).

ILLINOIS WHEN RANKED

• Wednesday’s win at Northwestern marked the 17th game this season ranked in the Top 25 for the No. 13 Illini. 
• Illinois is 666-270 (.759) all-time when ranked in the AP Top 25. The program is 363-54 (.871) at home, including a 285-41 (.874) mark at State Farm Center, 164-150 (.522) on the road, and 139-64 (.685) at neutral sites. 
• Under head coach Brad Underwood, Illinois is 104-46 (.693) when ranked.