Illinois Heads West for Key Big Ten Swing, Led by Rising Freshman Star
Illinois is heading west with momentum-and something to prove.
The 10th-ranked Fighting Illini (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten) are in the thick of a tight Big Ten title race, and this week’s two-game swing through Los Angeles could play a major role in shaping how the standings shake out. First up: a Wednesday night showdown with USC, followed by a Saturday visit to UCLA.
Illinois enters the trip in a logjam near the top of the conference, tied in the loss column with No. 7 Purdue and No.
9 Nebraska, all chasing No. 1 Michigan.
The stakes are clear: every game from here on out has postseason seeding implications, and the Illini know it.
They’re also coming off a statement win.
After back-to-back overtime losses at Michigan State and at home against Wisconsin knocked them off the conference’s top perch, Illinois bounced back in a big way on Sunday, thumping Indiana 71-51 in Champaign. It was a dominant, wire-to-wire performance-and one that showcased the emergence of freshman David Mirkovic as more than just a contributor.
Mirkovic poured in a career-best 25 points in Big Ten play and was a force on both ends. That performance marked his ninth straight game scoring in double figures since being inserted into the starting lineup, and it came with a little extra fire. After the Wisconsin loss, Mirkovic took it upon himself to own the setback, texting head coach Brad Underwood and taking responsibility for not being at his best.
Underwood saw a different level of focus in practice-and it translated immediately. “He was dominant on both ends,” Underwood said. “It’s as focused defensively as I’ve seen him.”
That defensive intensity wasn’t just about Mirkovic. The Illini held Indiana to just 51 points, the third-lowest total they’ve allowed all season.
And it wasn’t a fluke-just two weeks ago, they held Northwestern to 44. Illinois currently ranks 49th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 68.2 points per game.
But it’s not just the defense that’s fueling this team. Offensively, Illinois is one of the more balanced squads in the country.
Five players are averaging double figures, led by Keaton Wagler’s 18.5 points per game. Kylan Boswell chips in 14, Andrej Stojakovic adds 13.7, Mirkovic is right there at 13, and Tomislav Ivisic rounds it out with 10.5.
Stojakovic has missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain, and his status for the USC game remains up in the air. His absence has been felt, but Illinois has managed to stay steady thanks to its depth and defensive consistency.
As for USC (18-7, 7-7 Big Ten), the Trojans are trying to climb back into the conference race after a tough road loss at Ohio State. That 89-82 defeat snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped them to .500 in league play.
Still, there’s talent-and firepower-on this roster.
Freshman Alijah Arenas has been electric since returning from a knee injury. After a slow start-30 total points in his first four games-he’s exploded for 29, 24, and 25 in his last three.
He’s averaging 26 points over that stretch and 15.4 since joining the regular rotation. His return has given USC a much-needed scoring punch, especially in the absence of Rodney Rice, who was averaging 20.3 points per game before a season-ending shoulder injury in December.
Chad Baker-Mazara (18.3 ppg) and Ezra Ausar (15.7) continue to carry the offensive load, while forward Jacob Cofie has quietly become a steady two-way presence. He’s averaging just under 10 points and over seven boards per game, and he’s hit double figures in three of the last four outings.
Against Ohio State, USC had five players score at least 12, with Arenas leading the way. Now, after a week-long break, the Trojans are looking to reset and take advantage of a rare four-game stretch in Los Angeles-with three of those at home.
“It’s been a long year so far,” assistant coach Earl Boykins said. “The three long trips we’ve taken this year are a lot. It’s going to be good for them to get the break and for us to get in the gym and get back to the basics.”
Illinois, meanwhile, is hoping their own basics-defense, depth, and a surging freshman-travel just as well as they play at home. With the Big Ten race heating up and March looming, every possession matters. And this West Coast swing could go a long way in determining just how high the Illini can climb.