Keaton Wagler’s name doesn’t stay quiet for long during Illinois broadcasts - and for good reason. The freshman point guard has quickly gone from under-the-radar recruit to one of the most impactful players in the Big Ten. Every time he steps on the floor, he’s rewriting the expectations for a player once offered by just two high-major programs: Illinois and Minnesota.
That storyline takes center stage this weekend as No. 13 Illinois (14-3, 5-1 Big Ten) hosts Minnesota (10-7, 3-3) in Champaign. With both teams on the rise, the spotlight naturally falls on Wagler - the 6-foot-6 freshman who’s not just holding his own in the Big Ten, but thriving.
Wagler came into college ranked No. 150 in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports. Now?
He’s ranked by KenPom as the fourth-best player in the entire conference, trailing only Purdue’s Braden Smith, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, and former Illini standout Morez Johnson Jr., now also at Michigan. That’s elite company - and Wagler’s making it look routine.
His latest performance was another reminder of just how quickly he’s adapted to the college game. After dealing with back spasms before Illinois’ 79-68 win at Northwestern, Wagler erupted for 20 of his team-high 22 points in the second half. That kind of resilience is becoming his trademark.
“Nothing fazes him,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. “I asked him at halftime, ‘Are you alright?’
He goes, ‘Yeah, I’ll be good. I’m just a little bothered.’
Then he shrugs it off and goes out and does what he does. We’ve come to expect it.”
And that wasn’t a one-off. Just a game earlier, Wagler scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half to help Illinois grind out a 75-69 win at Iowa. He’s not just producing - he’s delivering in pressure moments, on the road, against conference opponents.
Through 17 games, Wagler leads Illinois in scoring (16.1 points per game) and assists (3.7), while ranking second in rebounds (5.2). He’s doing it efficiently too - shooting 46.2% from the field, 41.4% from deep, and 83.7% at the line. Those are veteran-level numbers from a freshman who wasn’t even a top-100 recruit.
Of course, Wagler isn’t doing it alone. Illinois boasts one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the Big Ten.
Kylan Boswell (14.6 ppg), Andrej Stojakovic (13.9), David Mirkovic (12.0), and Tomislav Ivisic (10.5) all bring scoring punch and versatility, creating space and opportunity for each other. It’s a system that allows Wagler to thrive - and one he elevates with his poise and playmaking.
On the other side, Minnesota might be wishing they had landed Wagler when they had the chance. The freshman committed back in September 2024, when Ben Johnson was still running the show in Minneapolis. Now under Niko Medved, the Gophers are finding their identity - and doing it without their starting point guard.
Chansey Willis, the team’s floor general, went down with a broken foot on Thanksgiving against Stanford. But instead of unraveling, Minnesota has doubled down on its identity: ball movement, spacing, and unselfish offense.
The Gophers now lead the nation in assist rate, with 75.5% of their made field goals coming off a pass. That’s not just a stat - it’s a reflection of Medved’s system, one he’s honed at Colorado State, Drake, and Furman.
Senior forward Cade Tyson is the face of that offense, averaging 21.1 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting nearly 40% from three. But he’s not doing it alone.
Minnesota has four players averaging double figures, and they’re combining that offensive rhythm with a defense that gives up just 66.8 points per game. That’s a recipe for contention, and it’s why the Gophers have become a legitimate Big Ten threat earlier than expected.
Still, they’ve hit some bumps lately. After a five-game win streak, Minnesota dropped back-to-back heartbreakers at home.
First came a 70-69 overtime loss to Southern California. Then, on Tuesday, the Gophers gave up an 11-point second-half lead and lost to Wisconsin on a buzzer-beating three from John Blackwell.
Head coach Niko Medved wasn’t interested in moral victories.
“I struggle with moral victories,” he said. “That’s not what we’re here for.
I thought this game was here for us to win. The last two were.
We just didn’t get the job done.
“But our guys are giving us everything they have. They’re playing connected.
They’re fighting like crazy. They’re giving themselves a chance to win these games.”
And that’s what makes Saturday’s matchup so compelling. Illinois is riding the wave of a breakout freshman who’s already playing like a seasoned vet. Minnesota is a gritty, well-coached team that moves the ball as well as anyone in the country and refuses to back down.
Keaton Wagler might be the headliner, but both teams are bringing plenty to the table. Expect a battle in Champaign - and don’t be surprised if the freshman phenom adds another chapter to his growing legend.