No. 9 Illinois Faces Washington in Clash of Elite Offenses

Freshman guard Keaton Wagler leads Illinois' high-powered attack against Washington's rebounding prowess.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:39pm

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The 9th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, led by freshman sensation Keaton Wagler, host the Washington Huskies in a matchup of two of the nation's most efficient offenses. Wagler is coming off a 46-point performance and will look to continue his hot streak against a Washington team that features one of the top rebounders in the country in freshman Hannes Steinbach.

Why it matters

This game features a clash of two teams with contrasting styles - Illinois' elite 3-point shooting and offensive efficiency against Washington's dominant rebounding. The outcome could have implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament seeding and momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

The details

Illinois is led by freshman guard Keaton Wagler, who is averaging a team-high 17.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. Wagler is coming off a 46-point outburst in a win over then-#4 Purdue. The Fighting Illini are the nation's most efficient offense, thanks to their 36.0% 3-point shooting on 30.7 attempts per game. They also excel on the offensive glass, grabbing 40.1% of their own misses. Washington counters with freshman forward Hannes Steinbach, who leads the Big Ten and ranks 4th nationally in rebounding at 11.2 per game. The Huskies will look to limit Illinois' 3-point opportunities and second-chance points.

  • Illinois hosts Washington on Thursday, January 28, 2026.
  • Keaton Wagler scored 46 points in Illinois' win over Purdue on Saturday, January 25, 2026.

The players

Keaton Wagler

A freshman guard for Illinois who is averaging a team-high 17.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. He is coming off a 46-point performance against Purdue.

Hannes Steinbach

A freshman forward for Washington who leads the Big Ten and ranks 4th nationally in rebounding at 11.2 per game.

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini, who has praised Wagler's elite skills and processing ability.

Danny Sprinkle

The head coach of the Washington Huskies, who recognizes the challenge of defending Illinois' 3-point shooting.

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What they’re saying

“He's super-high IQ. He is an elite, elite, elite, elite processor. I mean, he sees things.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois

“I thought Keaton was like nothing I've seen in my 39 years, especially in a Top 5 or Top 10 matchup.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois

“Any time you can shoot the three, it just opens up everything. The more threes you're making, it's hard to match them with twos.”

— Danny Sprinkle, Head Coach, Washington

What’s next

The outcome of this game could have significant implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament seeding and momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

The takeaway

This matchup features a clash of contrasting styles, with Illinois' elite 3-point shooting and offensive efficiency going up against Washington's dominant rebounding. The performance of players like Keaton Wagler and Hannes Steinbach could be the key to determining which team comes out on top.