Big Ten Midweek Recap: Illinois and Nebraska Keep Rolling, USC Stumbles in Arenas’ Debut
It was a light midweek slate in the Big Ten, but that didn’t stop the drama from unfolding. A handful of games delivered plenty of intrigue, from a top recruit’s long-awaited debut to statement wins by two teams with serious conference title aspirations. Let’s break down what went down across Wednesday and Thursday night.
Illinois Shows Off Its Depth in Win Over Maryland
Final: No. 11 Illinois 89, Maryland 70
Illinois was missing one of its biggest weapons in Kylan Boswell, but you wouldn’t have known it watching the way the Fighting Illini handled Maryland. This team continues to lean on its depth, and on Wednesday night, it was Andrej Stojakovic who stepped into the spotlight.
Stojakovic delivered a complete performance-30 points, 4-of-7 from deep, and two blocks on the defensive end. It wasn’t just the scoring, it was the poise.
He looked comfortable filling Boswell’s shoes, and if he can maintain this level of play, Illinois is going to be a tough out, even against top-tier opponents. That’ll be tested soon enough, with Purdue looming on the schedule.
Nebraska Pushes Win Streak to 23, But Suffers a Key Injury
Final: No. 7 Nebraska 76, Washington 66
Nebraska just keeps stacking wins. The Cornhuskers extended their unbeaten streak to 23 games with a solid win over Washington, and once again, Pryce Sandfort was at the heart of it. Sandfort poured in his third straight 20-point game, continuing to prove he’s one of the most reliable scorers in the conference.
But the win came with a price. Braden Fager left the game with a sprained ankle, and his absence could test Nebraska’s depth moving forward.
The good news? This team has shown it can absorb adversity.
The Cornhuskers have been getting production up and down the roster, and that’s what championship-caliber teams do.
Washington didn’t go quietly. Hannes Steinbach was a force, finishing with 21 points and 12 boards, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Zoom Diallo added an efficient 18, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Huskies from dropping their fifth game in six tries.
Northwestern Stuns USC in Alijah Arenas’ Debut
Final: Northwestern 74, USC 68
All eyes were on Alijah Arenas as he made his long-awaited debut for USC-but by the final buzzer, the story wasn’t his return. It was the Trojans getting stunned by a Northwestern team that’s been near the bottom of the Big Ten standings.
Nick Martinelli torched USC for 22 points, continuing his hot shooting streak and leading the Wildcats to a signature upset. USC, meanwhile, simply couldn’t find the bottom of the net. The Trojans shot just 38.5% from the field and never found a rhythm offensively.
For a program hoping to make waves in its first Big Ten season, this one stings. The Trojans have a solid overall record, but conference play has been a different story entirely. Between UCLA’s upset of Purdue earlier in the week and this loss to Northwestern, it’s been a humbling stretch for the LA schools.
Wisconsin Keeps Climbing With Dominant Win Over Penn State
Final: Wisconsin 98, Penn State 71
Don’t look now, but Wisconsin is heating up. The Badgers rolled into Penn State and left with a 27-point win, pushing their overall record to 14-5. This is a team that struggled through parts of non-conference play, but they’ve clearly found their stride.
The Badgers are playing with confidence, moving the ball well, and getting contributions from multiple players. It’s not just about winning games-it’s how they’re winning them. Thursday’s performance was a complete effort on both ends of the floor.
Top Performers
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
Stojakovic’s 30-point night was more than just a scoring showcase-it was a statement.
With Boswell sidelined, Illinois needed someone to step up, and Stojakovic delivered in every facet. He was efficient from deep, aggressive on defense, and showed the kind of two-way game that gives Illinois fans real hope for a deep March run.
Hannes Steinbach, Washington
Even in a loss, Steinbach stood out.
The freshman big man continues to impress, putting up 21 points and 12 rebounds against one of the best teams in the country. He stretched the floor with his shooting and held his own in the paint.
Washington may be struggling, but Steinbach is a bright spot with a big future.
The Big Picture
Nebraska and Illinois are proving they have the depth and the firepower to contend at the top of the Big Ten, even while navigating injuries. Wisconsin is quietly building momentum and looks like a team that could be dangerous down the stretch.
Meanwhile, USC’s transition into Big Ten play hasn’t gone according to plan. The talent is there, but the consistency isn’t-and that’s something they’ll need to figure out fast if they want to make noise in this new conference landscape.