9. Illinois (17-3)
At the beginning of this week, Illinois lost Kylan Boswell to a hand injury that’ll keep him shelved for the next month. With Illinois riding a recent win streak, including a few impressive performances, it felt just like the latest gut punch for a team that seems to never be at full strength. However, Brad Underwood and this team haven’t shied away from challenges and even shorthanded really stood out on the national stage this week.
Wednesday’s effort against Maryland was notable, as the Illini won 89-70 against the Terrapins for another important league win. Andrej Stojakovic carried the load with 30 points and 9 rebounds while David Mirkovic added 15 points and 9 rebounds. However, that was all outdone by Saturday’s effort as Illinois went to Purdue and left West Lafayette with an 88-82 upset win. Keaton Wagler had one of the most impressive performances in program history with 46 points against the Boilermakers.
It’s almost impossible to convey just how impressive Wagler was over the weekend and how important this team’s performance was when it mattered most. Illinois fought for that win and now have five road wins in league play and an 8-1 record in the Big Ten. They boast one of the nation’s most efficient offenses and have proven that it’s a well-oiled machine even when injured. Next up is a home date with Washington on Thursday.
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