The Illini came up a little short (and a touch slow) – until they didn't. A loss, in this case, may be a chance to level up over the long haul.

Illinois opens as a double-digit favorite vs. the Washington Huskies men's basketball team

Illinois basketball got a record-setting performance in an upset victory over Purdue. Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 46 points to lead the No. 11 Fighting Illini to an 88-82 victory against No. 4 Purdue at Mackey Arena on Saturday.

The 2025 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and a four-star point guard has scheduled a visit to Purdue in mid-February. He is a member of the 2027 class.

The 11th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini invade Mackey Arena on Saturday afternoon for a Big Ten Conference affair with the No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET with TV coverage on FOX and streaming on-demand.

The Boilermakers had a winless week, dropping at home as a freshman had the best individual performance by a visitor in Mackey Arena history. Here's what we learned:

Inside the scenes after Illinois basketball's stunning win at Purdue: hugs, water, history

For the third time this season, head coach Shauna Green's star freshman forward has been awarded one of the Big Ten's highest honors