Illinois Basketball Fans Show Strong Support on the Road

Illini fans travel well, outnumber USC supporters at Galen Center

Feb. 27, 2026 at 3:15am

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The Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team received strong support from their fans during a road game against USC, with an estimated 2,000 Illini fans packing the Galen Center in Los Angeles. Head coach Brad Underwood praised the fan turnout, calling it "another great thing about Illinois basketball" and saying the fan support makes his job "the best in college basketball."

Why it matters

Illinois basketball has built a strong national following, with passionate fans who travel well to support the team on the road. This level of fan engagement is a key advantage for the program and helps create a home-court atmosphere even when playing away from Champaign.

The details

The Illini cruised to a 101-65 victory over USC, with seven players scoring in double figures. Sophomore Andrej Stojakovic led the way with 22 points in his return from an ankle injury. Point guard Kylan Boswell, a Champaign native, was amazed by the sea of orange and blue in the stands, noting it was a far cry from his freshman year at Arizona when the Galen Center was packed with USC red.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team, who is in his 10th season leading the program.

Kylan Boswell

The Illinois point guard, who is a Champaign native.

Andrej Stojakovic

The Illinois sophomore forward who scored a team-high 22 points in the win over USC.

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What they’re saying

“That's nuts. I remember being a freshman here, and the 'SC game, playing for Arizona, it was packed red. And now seeing us, just how we're traveling ... yeah, it's pretty surreal. Just another great thing about Illinois basketball is how much our fans love us and care about us. But, yeah, it's pretty crazy to see we're all the way in California and there's more orange and blue than 'SC red.”

— Kylan Boswell, Illinois point guard

“I don't know how else to say it. I've got the best job in the country, and a large piece of that is because of our fans and their support. It was great at the hotel to see so many. I love when [Illinois associate athletic director] Joey Biggs sends out that we don't have any more tickets. That's a great thing. And this goes back years, so our fans support us. I can't say thank you enough. You make it fun, and you make it the best job in college basketball, in my opinion.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois head coach

What’s next

The Illini will next face a tough road test against No. 8 UCLA on Saturday, February 22nd.

The takeaway

Illinois basketball's passionate fan base is a key advantage for the program, as the team can count on strong support even when playing away from their home arena. This level of fan engagement helps create a home-court atmosphere that can boost the team's performance on the road.