With a big-time win over then-No. 11 Texas Tech and a 3-0 start to the season, the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is garnering a lot of steam with nearly a month until conference play tips off.
Two big pieces of those wins have been a pair of experienced players on the roster: Senior guard Kylan Boswell and junior transfer guard Andrej Stojakovic.
In Illinois's most recent win, an 81-77 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Boswell and Stojakovic combined for a resounding 45 points, earning more than half of the Fighting Illini's point total. Stojakovic actually came off the bench to score a team-leading 23 points.
Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic are a two-headed monster
Over the first three matchups of the season, Boswell has averaged 21 points per game, as Stojakovic has averaged 16 PPG. They have been joined by junior center Tomislav Ivisic and freshman Keaton Wagler to lead the team in scoring, but the combination of Boswell and Stojakovic has been lethal.
Before the season even tipped off, Boswell spoke highly of Stojakic, and that hype wasn't uncalled for as the transfer, who played a year at Stanford and one at Cal, has lived up to the expectations.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has also spoken highly of the pair, repeatedly touching on the fact that Boswell is an undeniable leader for the squad, especially since this is his third year with the Fighting Illini.
"Kylan Boswell doesn't get enough credit nationally for how good he is defensively," Underwood said after the win over the Red Raiders. "He went from guarding their point guard to their five man."
So far, the Illini have defeated their opponents by an average of 35.0 points, shutting down offenses and excelling on their own offensive end of the court. In the first two games, Illinois scored 113 points, beating Jackson State by 58 points and Florida Gulf Coast by 43 points.
In the postgame press conference after the Texas Tech matchup, the bond between Boswell and Stojakovic was more apparent than ever (despite their gelling being more than obvious when they're on the court).
Just witnessed a hell of a basketball game in Champaign with the Illini taking down Texas Tech in a top-15 clash.
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) November 12, 2025
A lot of heart, toughness, physicality, and buckets from Andrej Stojaković and Kylan Boswell.
Combined for 45 to stave off a 35-point onslaught from JT Toppin. pic.twitter.com/awN2NKcWYe
"Big shoutout to me for doing that," Boswell joked about reportedly pestering Stojakovic to transfer to Illinois.
"I guess I'm glad he harassed me," Stojakovic said in response. "I feel very grateful for my decision."
Up next, Boswell, Stojakovic, and the rest of the Fighting Illini are scheduled to face the Colgate Raiders on Friday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. CT. The non-conference matchup will be available on the Big Ten Network+.