Big Ten Tournament

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vs. Big Ten Tournament

3/10/2026 | TBA


Busey Bank Illini Sports Network


Mar. 10 (Tue) / TBA


vs. Big Ten Tournament

History

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – No. 11 Illinois outlasted host Maryland on Sunday afternoon at XFINITY Center, capturing a 78-72 road win to close out the regular season and secure a top-four seed and a triple-bye into the upcoming Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals.

Three Illini scored in double-figures, led by a clutch 22-point, 11-rebound double-double from freshman F David Mirkovic that proved to be the difference in a back-and-forth battle. Mirkovic’s performance buoyed the Illini early in the game, and held off Maryland throughout while starting guards Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell chipped in with 11 each.  

Illinois (24-7, 15-5 B1G) and Maryland (11-20, 4-16 B1G) fought for 40 minutes, to the tune of 13 ties and four lead changes. Though they shot just 21% (5-14) from 3-point range, the Illini dominated down low with a 42-20 scoring edge in the paint, overcoming a 30-point outburst by UM freshman G Andre Mills.

Check back for more.

Next up, Illinois will return to United Center in Chicago for the 2026 Big Ten Tournament which opens Tuesday. The Illini have earned a triple-bye into Friday’s quarterfinals as either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed. Illinois’ final seed will be determined Sunday evening by the outcome of Iowa at Nebraska.

HIGHLIGHTS

PRESS CONFERENCE

POSTGAME NOTES

Players


David Mirkovic posted a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double while adding three assists and a steal.

Team-leading seventh double-double of the season

Second with 20+ points following his historic 27-points, 21-rebound effort in win vs. Colgate on Nov. 14.


24th game of the season with 10+ points, third consecutive.

Became the 10th Illinois freshman in program history to score 400+ points.
Moved to 10th on the Illini’s list of total points by a freshman with 409.


Led Illinois in scoring for the fourth time, and finished as the Illini’s top rebounder for the team-high 14th time, this season.  


Keaton Wagler tallied 11 points – all in the second half – with three rebounds, three assists, one block, and a career-high three steals.

Team-leading 28th double-digit scoring effort of the season.

10+ points in 23 consecutive outings, averaging 19.4 ppg during that span.
Closes the regular season by pushing his Illinois freshman record for total points to 554.

Season average of 17.9 ppg is 2.0 ppg  ahead of Illini freshman record (15.9) set by Kiwane Garris in 1993-94.




Hit five free-throw (5-7) to finish the regular season with 155 makes at the charity stripe, the most by an Illini freshman in program history.  


Kylan Boswell scored 11 points and tied for the team lead with three assists.

40th game as an Illini in double-figures scoring (most among active Illinois players), 16th of the season.

Team


Illinois finishes the regular season 24-7 (15-5 B1G) and secured a triple bye into Friday’s quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament at United Center at United Center in Chicago.

24 regular-season wins are the most for the program in the last 20 years since the 2006 squad, led by seniors Dee Brown and James Augustine, won 25 regular-season games.


Illinois’ 15-5 Big Ten record is the team’s best since the 2021-22 Illini finished 15-5 to earn a share of the regular-season championship.

Ties for the second-most league wins in program history.  


The Illini have won 14+ Big Ten games eight times in program history, four under Brad Underwood.

Underwood owns five of the nine winningest B1G seasons in program history with 16 wins in 2021, 15 in 2026 and 2022, 14 in 2024, and 13 in 2020.


Illinois won its eighth Big Ten road game, tying the program record set in 2020-21.
The #11 Illini are 676-274 (.712) all-time when ranked inside the AP Top 25.


The Illini have the most wins in Big Ten play since 2019-20 with 96 victories.

Sunday’s win is the Illini’s league-leading 42nd B1G road victory over the last seven seasons.
Including conference tournaments, the Illini have a league-leading 103 wins over Big Ten teams the last seven seasons and are tied for the lead with three B1G championships during that span.


Illinois has outrebounded its opponent in 27 of 31 games this season, going 23-4 when winning the battle on the glass.