What an unbelievable performance! Freshman Keaton Wagler exploded for a career-high 46 points — including nine made 3-pointers — to lead No. 11 Illinois to a stunning 88–82 road victory over No. 4 Purdue at Mackey Arena! 😱💪🏀📌 What went down in this game:• Wagler was unstoppable, shooting 13-for-17 overall, 9-for-11 from deep, and 11-for-13 at the line.• His 46 points set the Mackey Arena record for most by an opponent and marked one of the greatest road scoring performances in Illinois history.• Illinois hit a barrage of threes as a team and pulled off a signature upset on the road.• This win keeps Illinois rolling with momentum in Big Ten play and cements Wagler’s status as one of college basketball’s hottest young stars.Tune in with Cody Delmendo as he reacts to Illinois huge win and what it means for their NCAA Tournament seeding and their Big Ten regular season title chances.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini

Illinois basketball faces a major test after Kylan Boswell suffered a fractured hand in practice, sidelining one of the Illini’s most important guards. Boswell’s leadership, defense, and playmaking have been central to Brad Underwood’s system—but now Illinois must adapt fast.In this episode, Cody breaks down what Boswell’s injury means, how long Illinois could be without him, and how the Illini can survive and stay competitive in the Big Ten. Who steps up in the backcourt? How does the rotation change? And can Illinois maintain its identity without its floor general?We’ll analyze lineup adjustments, key players who must take on bigger roles, and whether this adversity could actually make Illinois stronger heading into the heart of the season.

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Tomorrow night, the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini hit the road to take on the Northwestern Wildcats in a BIG Big Ten showdown! Illinois comes into this matchup riding a season-best five-game win streak and looking to extend their momentum against a familiar rival.The Illini boast one of the best offenses in the conference and are clicking on both ends of the floor, eager to add another chapter to their rivalry with Northwestern. Will Illinois continue their surge and keep the streak alive, or will Northwestern pull off a home upset? Let’s break this one down!Cody breaks down the last two wins for Illinois over Rutgers and Iowa and the growth they've displayed in January in this edition of From Beyond Champaign.

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Illinois basketball is turning the page to a new year with big expectations and even bigger questions. After a strong start and plenty of national buzz, the Illini are stepping into the heart of the season where hype turns into reality.In this episode, Cody breaks down where Illinois stands right now after straight wins to close out 2025, what’s working, what needs to improve, and the biggest storylines to watch as Big Ten conference play heats up. Can this team stay consistent, handle the pressure, and prove they belong among the elite?

SORRY I'M LATE ON UPLOADING THE AUDIO.

Illinois went into the matchup as the favorite, but Nebraska had other plans. In a shocking Big Ten showdown, the Cornhuskers pulled off a huge upset over the Illini 83-80, flipping expectations and shaking up the conference picture.From clutch plays to momentum-shifting moments, this game had everything — and Illinois couldn’t recover when it mattered most. Was this Nebraska’s statement win, or a major missed opportunity for Illinois?Cody reacts to the loss and more on this edition of From Beyond Champaign.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini

The Illinois Fighting Illini pull off a huge road win at the Ohio State Buckeyes — final score 88-80 — to kick off Big Ten play with a statement.Keaton Wagler leads Illinois with 23 points and big plays down the stretch. David Mirkovic steps up with 22 points and 8 rebounds, fueling the Illini starting lineup. Balanced scoring from the Illini — including Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivisic — proves clutch in a hostile environment. Despite a monster night from Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton (34 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists), Illinois’ composure at the free-throw line and late-game execution sealed the win.This marks Illinois’ first Big Ten win of the season and another important road victory — their 35th in conference play since 2019-20, the most in the league.Tune in with Cody as he gives his takeaways on the Illini win.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini

What. A. Win. The Illinois Fighting Illini came through in a huge way, knocking off Tennessee Volunteers 75-62 in a physical, hard-fought battle at Music City Madness. Balanced scoring paced the Illini: Tomislav Ivisic and Keaton Wagler dropped 16 points each, while Kylan Boswell added 15 and David Mirkovic put up 10. The Illini’s defense stood firm — holding the Vols to just 62 points, the fewest allowed by Illinois in a top-25 nonconference win in nearly two decades.Ohio State will is the next test. They’ve looked sharp early in conference play with a win over Northwestern, and this will be Illinois' first true road-game challenge of the season. Can Illinois keep this momentum going?Cody digs into it all on this episode of From Beyond Champaign.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini

The UConn Huskies dominated Illinois Fighting Illini in a wire-to-wire win, but Illinois showed flashes — here’s what stood out.The Huskies held the Illini to just 32.1% shooting overall and a brutal 20.7% from three. Illinois just couldn’t find rhythm or consistency from deep.Illinois’ offense lacked creativity & adjustments — Even when their big men (like Tomislav Ivišić) got opportunities inside, Illinois reverted back to low-percentage, stagnant three-point attempts instead of attacking the mismatches. That choice undermined their comeback attempts.Illinois showed grit with a 16-2 second-half run and some fight, but poor shot selection and lack of discipline made their comeback attempt too little, too late.In this episode, Cody Delmendo gives his biggest takeaways from the loss a few days later and offers some perspective headed into Tennessee next weekend.

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