Illinois Basketball is Back in the Ap Top 10

A nine-game running win streak and a statement victory in West Lafayette have pushed Illinois Basketball back into the national top-10. After knocking off No. 4 Purdue on the road, the Fighting Illini have risen to No. 9 in Monday’s updated AP Top 25 (1/26), fueled by Keaton Wagler’s record-breaking 46-point outing on Saturday (1/24).

Along with Illinois, four other Big Ten programs currently sit inside the top 25: #3 Michigan, #5 Nebraska, #7 Michigan State, and #12 Purdue. At the moment, the Illini are tied for second in the Big Ten with Michigan and Michigan State, trailing only coach Fred Hoiberg’s undefeated Huskers for the top spot in the conference. Nebraska handed Illinois their lone conference loss back in mid-December, thanks to a Jamarques Lawrence buzzer-beater that sealed an 83–80 win in Champaign.

That said, plenty of opportunity remains for Brad Underwood’s squad to get even and make its case as the Big Ten’s top team. A rematch with 20–0 Nebraska is set for February 1st, followed by key matchups against Michigan State (2/7) and Michigan (2/27) to set the stage for a pivotal stretch heading into the back half of the season.

How long can Illinois Basketball continue this current momentum? Thursday’s (1/29) home matchup against struggling Washington is certainly a great opportunity to extend their win streak. Plus, with Kylan Boswell expected to be back mid-February, Illinois may only get better.

Note: In addition to a #9 ranking in the AP Poll, Illinois has climbed to #6 in the NET. At 17–3 overall, Illinois is 6–3 in Quad 1 matchups. Additionally, the Illini are 11–0 against Quad 2–4 opponents.

NEW AP POLL!

1. Arizona
2. UConn
3. Michigan
4. Duke
5. Nebraska
6. Gonzaga
7. Michigan State
8. Iowa State
9. Illinois
10. Houston

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 26, 2026

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