en-us SportSpyder - The Latest Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball News https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/news Live from New York for the NBA Draft, Illini Inquirer publisher Jeremy Werner chats about Keaton Wagler's journey to Tuesday's big moment in Brooklyn, three-... Mon, 22 Jun 2026 20:52:04 GMT Illini Inquirer: Illinois on 247Sports https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57029306 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57029306 false false Just two months after leading Michigan to its first national championship since 1989, Dusty May is headed to the NBA, agreeing to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN. The move comes on the heels of one of the most remarkable coaching rises in recent memory and could have significant implications […] Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:41:33 GMT Cam Meyer https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57028464 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57028464 false false The three-time Journal Star Runner of the Year leaves Colorado for the Big Ten Conference. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:20:53 GMT Adam Duvall https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57028213 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57028213 false false Illinois guard Keaton Wagler catches up with reporters on the eve of the NBA Draft in New York City on Monday. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:51:57 GMT Illini Inquirer: Illinois on 247Sports https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57027155 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57027155 false false The 6-foot-5 Southlake Carroll wide receiver chose Illinois over TCU and Arkansas Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:42:41 GMT Jeremy Werner https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57027042 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57027042 false false Keaton Wagler is expected to become the third top-10 NBA Draft pick for the Illini in the modern era Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:42:23 GMT Jeremy Werner https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57024115 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57024115 true false Wagler, No. 261 in his recruiting class, is the rare one-and-done freshman who didn’t set out with that as the goal. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:44:50 GMT CJ Moore https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57023215 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57023215 true false Will Illinois' other 2025-26 freshman star have a further breakout sophomore season? Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:21:15 GMT SCOTT RICHEY srichey@news-gazette.com https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57023065 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57023065 false false The 2026 NBA Draft is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23, and the Illinois basketball team awaits to see where one of our beloved will be selected. Keaton Wagler came t Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:23:13 GMT Rees Woodcock https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57022735 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57022735 false false The first 10 picks in Tuesday's NBA draft could all be college freshmen for the first time. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer are among the draft's top players. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:12:01 GMT Tim Casey https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57022665 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57022665 false false Even with plenty of returning players, Illinois isn't question free ahead of the 2026-27 season Sun, 21 Jun 2026 15:11:23 GMT SCOTT RICHEY srichey@news-gazette.com https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57017176 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57017176 false false By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer June 21, 2026 After successful years in both football and men’s basketball, this offseason feels longer than most. As a way to try and make it go by smoother, IlliniGuys is looking to the past to reflect, pile up some nostalgia, and ask the question: “Where are they now?” For the first iteration, we’re going back to 2017. It’s head coach Brad Underwood’s first year in Champaign, fresh off a 20-13 season that ended with a trip to the NCAA Tournament with Oklahoma State. Underwood’s first Illini squad that year had ten players averaging more than 10 minutes per game, which contrasts with eight players playing double-digit minutes in the past three seasons. In the 2017-18 season, the Illini went 14-18, finishing tied for 11th in the Big Ten – the lowest- ever finish with Underwood at the helm. With the table set, here’s a look at where four of the most notable Illini from nine years ago are now. Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:39:02 GMT larryilliniguys-com https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57016657 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57016657 false false Illinois basketball came so close to getting to the mountaintop of the college basketball world in 2026. Making it back to the Final Four after multiple decades Sun, 21 Jun 2026 11:45:18 GMT Rees Woodcock https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57016112 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57016112 false false So, while the 2026 NBA Draft is quickly approaching, I stumbled upon what Illinois basketball might have in the 2027 rendition. This year, the Illini will have Sun, 21 Jun 2026 03:01:24 GMT Rees Woodcock https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57014645 https://sportspyder.com/mcb/illinois-fighting-illini-basketball/articles/57014645 false false