It has been a long time since I have sweated an Illinois basketball result.
The Illini went into the Northwestern game up in Evanston and notched win No. 6 in a row. The last time we lost a game was to the now-No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers.
While the Wildcats made the game close on paper, I honestly didn’t feel nervous in this contest. Illinois had control for the entire game. There wasn’t a single player I had an issue with, as everyone played decently well and contributed to this victory.
Illinois was down three points about halfway through the first half. That is when we started to get into gear. Northwestern battled, but Illinois still took a 38-33 lead into halftime. That lead blossomed in the second half. The Illini lead hit double-digits less than four minutes into the second half, and we never looked back. Illinois ended up winning the game, 79-68.
Here are five big observations from the Illinois basketball win over Northwestern
1. Illinois once again kept a star player in check
It has been the name of the game for Illinois as of late. We go into a game against a weaker team, but that team has an elite player who can put up a number on any given night.
In the game prior to the win over Northwestern, Illinois held Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz to just 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the field. This is a player who averages 17.7 points per game.
Illinois was then going up against the Wildcats’ talented senior, Nick Martinelli. He has put up big numbers on us in the past, and he is averaging 23.8 points per game. I mentioned before the game that if Illinois was able to hold Martinelli to his season average, then we would win this game.
Well, fast forward to the day after, and that prediction rang true. Martinelli finished with a pedestrian 20 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field. He wasn’t his same electric self, as Illinois’ size and speed go to him throughout the contest.
If Illinois can continue this trend, especially against good teams, then we have a chance to go far in March and maybe even April. In years past, average teams got the best of us with their one good player. That isn’t happening anymore.
2. Jake Davis continues being a key cog for Illinois
I think this is like the third straight observations article that I have mentioned Jake Davis. When you have a player like Davis playing this well, you have to mention him.
Davis is now in his third season in the college ranks, and he isn’t a starter. Most players who have that resume would transfer out and look for a place where they can start.
That isn’t Davis, though. He is someone who is selfless and is doing what is best for the team. In turn, it is actually turning out to be great for him and his game, too.
Against Northwestern, Davis was once again a sparkplug for Illinois. He gave the program six points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal in 20 minutes of action. This includes going 2-of-3 from the field and 1-of-2 from three-point range.
To me, what is great about Davis is that his “bad games” are when he doesn’t make mistakes. In the game against Iowa, Davis didn’t record a single point in 12 minutes. Here is the thing, though. He didn’t make mistakes. He was out there playing sound defense, and his only stat for the game was one steal. He didn’t take bad shots, he didn’t turn the ball over, and he wasn’t a liability.
Davis knows his role. He has had at least six points in three out of the last six games for Illinois. His quality production off the bench is exactly what this team needs right now.
3. The Illini got good Tomi on Wednesday night
Illinois’ starters are experienced, and they need to step up in each game. We can’t afford to have bad play from the starters, or we are going to let average teams make some noise.
Tomislav Ivisic is a starter for the Illini who has been hot and cold this season. When Ivisic is on, he is one of the most dynamic players in the college game. When he is off, it is hard to watch, as he clanks three-pointers and can’t pull down a rebound for his life.
Thankfully, Illinois got the good Tomi against Northwestern. He went out there and put on a masterful display that saw him drop 21 points, seven rebounds, and one assist while shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-10 from three-point range.
The 21 points for Ivisic were tied for his season-high, and the four three-pointers made are the most he has hit during the 2025-26 campaign.
What is crazy is the fact that we saw Ivisic put up those massive numbers on the heels of giving Illinois just seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in the game prior.
Illinois is going to need Ivisic to be on his game, especially with some big conference games and the NCAA tournament coming up. I want to see good Tomi more consistently.
4. This game was proof, size does matter
One of my big keys entering the game against Northwestern was how much Illinois’ size would make a difference. Honestly, this has been included in numerous articles this season.
Illinois is a monstrous team. We boast guards who are 6-foot-6. Our wing is 6-foot-7. We have two big men in the paint who are 7-foot-1, and then we bring in the 7-foot-2 guy off the bench. I haven’t even mentioned a 6-foot-9 forward who lumbers around the court.
Some people in this world say size doesn’t matter, but against the Wildcats, it mattered in a huge way.
Northwestern could not handle Illinois’ size. I know the rebounding margin doesn’t show that the Illini had the size advantage, but my eyes tell me differently.
Ivisic was 4-of-5 from two-point range. Those were all around the hoop, as he would easily flip the ball over his head and into the bucket. He also finished with seven rebounds, which tied for second-most of the season for a big man who isn’t great at rebounding.
I believe Illinois’ size helps them greatly when shooting and defending the three-point arc. Our 7-foot-1 big man can step out and knock shots down. Northwestern couldn’t process that they had to cover him on the perimeter.
It was a great game for Illinois, and a big reason we kept the Wildcats at arm’s length was the tremendous size we boasted in the lineup. Size truly does matter.
5. I have full confidence in an Illinois true freshman
Is it an observations article without Keaton Wagler being mentioned? I mean, I feel like Illinois fans are witnessing a comet going through the sky, and we have to savor what we are seeing before it’s gone.
Wagler is special. I can’t say it enough. I have said this in the past about other players, but I don’t think I have ever truly enjoyed watching a player play the game this much in my life. He is so good and pure at basketball.
Northwestern got to feel Wagler’s wrath on Wednesday night. It is funny because I imagine the Wildcats probably thought they were doing a great job on Wagler. He had two points at the half.
What is great about Wagler is that he affects the game more than just points. Sure, he only had two points, but he still had four rebounds and an assist in the first 20 minutes of action.
Illinois needed his services, though. We needed him to put on the cape and do his thing, and he went to work.
In the second half alone, Wagler had 20 points, two assists, and one rebound. He was 7-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. It honestly felt like he was just cruising through the first half, and he flipped a switch at halftime.
I am enjoying every second Illinois has of Wagler. On the trajectory he is going, this kid isn’t going to be in Champaign after this lone season. Soak it in, Illini fans.