How to Watch: Illinois vs. Northwestern
Game Time: 8 p.m. Wednesday
TV Channel: BTN
Streaming: FoxSportsGO
Odds: ESPN Matchup Predictor gives Illinois a 90.9% chance to win
Illinois Riding High, Eyes Season Sweep of Northwestern
The Illinois Fighting Illini are rolling. At 19-3 overall and 10-1 in Big Ten play, they’ve hit their stride at the right time - and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. After a gritty 78-69 win over Nebraska, the Illini now turn their attention to a familiar foe: the Northwestern Wildcats.
This in-state rivalry has been historically one-sided, and the numbers back it up - Illinois leads the all-time series 145-46. Their most recent meeting on January 14 wasn’t exactly a blowout, but the Illini pulled away late to secure a 79-68 win in Evanston. That game marked Illinois’ sixth straight win and their fourth road victory of the season, a testament to how well this group is executing under pressure.
And at the heart of it all? Senior guard Kylan Boswell.
Boswell’s All-Around Impact
Boswell has been doing a little bit of everything for Brad Underwood’s squad - scoring, facilitating, defending, and, just as importantly, leading. Against Northwestern in mid-January, Boswell turned in one of his most complete performances of the season. He scored 13 points on efficient shooting, added four rebounds and six assists, and played 37 minutes of high-level basketball.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. Boswell was also tasked with guarding Nick Martinelli, the nation’s leading scorer, and he delivered. Martinelli had to work for every look, and Boswell’s defensive intensity helped set the tone for an Illini defense that’s been steadily improving.
This wasn’t a one-off, either. Just before the Northwestern game, Boswell locked down Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, another high-octane scorer. Back-to-back games, back-to-back defensive masterclasses.
“He’s our best defender,” said Illinois big man Tomislav Ivisic. “We rely a lot on him.
He’s doing a great job. We just need him - he is our leader.”
Leadership You Can Feel
Boswell’s leadership goes beyond the X’s and O’s. Late in the second half of the Northwestern game, after a flagrant foul by Keaton Wagler, it was Boswell who stepped in - tapping Wagler on the head, calming the situation, and keeping the team focused.
Moments like that don’t show up in the box score, but they matter. They reveal who your team trusts when things get tense. And when Illinois needed a spark late, Boswell delivered again - stripping Martinelli in the post, letting out a roar, and chest-bumping a teammate as the Illini crowd erupted inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
That win was Illinois’ first at Northwestern since 2022, and Boswell’s fingerprints were all over it.
What’s Next for the Illini
With Boswell setting the tone and Underwood pulling the strings, Illinois is climbing fast. They’ve cracked the top five on KenPom, and with upcoming matchups against Minnesota and Maryland, the Illini have a real shot to keep building momentum before a heavyweight clash with Purdue.
The Big Ten title race is heating up, and Illinois is right in the thick of it - powered by a veteran guard who’s doing all the little things that add up to winning.
Wednesday’s rematch with Northwestern isn’t just another conference game. It’s another chance for Illinois to show they’re built for the long haul - and another opportunity for Kylan Boswell to remind everyone why he’s the heartbeat of one of the nation’s hottest teams.