Feb 15, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Preventing Illini ahead David Mirkovic (0) seems to go as Indiana Hoosiers ahead Reed Bailey (1) defends throughout the second half at State Farm Middle. Necessary Credit score: Ron Johnson-Imagn Photos Tenth-ranked Illinois will take a swing by means of Los Angeles for a pair of essential Massive Ten Convention video games this week, the primary on Wednesday night time towards Southern California.
The Preventing Illini (21-5, 12-3 Massive Ten) start the week in a three-team tie for second place within the league’s loss column, knotted with No. 7 Purdue (21-4, 11-3) and No. 9 Nebraska (22-3, 11-3), simply behind No. 1 Michigan (24-1, 14-1).
USC (18-7, 7-7) sits within the center of the convention pack.
Illinois slipped from the highest of the convention with back-to-back time beyond regulation losses at Michigan State on Feb. 7 and to Wisconsin on Feb. 10, however the Illini bounced again on Sunday with a 71-51 residence rout of Indiana.
David Mirkovic scored 25 factors towards the Hoosiers, his ninth consecutive double-figure point-scoring efficiency because the freshman was inserted into the beginning lineup. The 25 factors represented his private greatest in Massive Ten play.
The tone-setting effort got here after Mirkovic took duty for the loss to the Badgers.
Illini coach Brad Underwood mentioned, “I get an unimaginable textual content from Mirk after the Wisconsin recreation — taking the blame for it as a result of he wasn’t mentally what he thought was at his greatest. (Mirkovic) practiced at a unique degree, and that confirmed off (towards Indiana). He was dominant on each ends, and it is as targeted defensively as I’ve seen him.”
The 51 factors to which the Illini held Indiana had been the third-fewest Illinois allowed this season, simply two weeks faraway from limiting Northwestern to 44 factors.
Together with sturdy protection — Illinois ranks No. 49 nationally at 68.2 factors allowed a contest — the Illini have thrived with balanced offense. Mirkovic heads into Los Angeles as one of 5 Illinois scorers averaging in double figures per recreation.
His charge of 13 factors per recreation joins Keaton Wagler at 18.5, Kylan Boswell at 14, Andrej Stojakovic at 13.7 and Tomislav Ivisic at 10.5. Stojakovic missed the previous two video games as a result of of a excessive ankle sprain, and his availability for the Wednesday contest was unsure.
After opposing the Trojans, Illinois performs at UCLA on Saturday earlier than returning residence to oppose Michigan on Feb. 27.
Amongst USC’s season-long regulars, Chad Baker-Mazara leads the way in which with 18.3 factors per recreation, whereas Ezra Ausar provides 15.7. Rodney Rice (20.3 ppg) sustained a season-ending shoulder damage in December. Alijah Arenas, who returned from a knee damage final month, has appeared in six video games and has averaged 26 over the previous three.
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Jacob Cofie (9.9 factors, 7.2 rebounds per recreation) reached double-figure scoring in three of the Trojans’ previous 4 outings.
Cofie was one of 5 Trojans to notch no less than 12 at Ohio State on Feb. 11, led by Arenas’ 25. Arenas is posting 15.4 factors per recreation since becoming a member of the lineup the final month, bouncing again from a knee damage sustained in a automobile accident.
The primary-year blue-chip prospect began slowly, scoring 30 mixed factors in his first 4 appearances however since ran off video games of 29 and 24 earlier than the 25 in an 89-82 loss to the Buckeyes.
The setback snapped USC’s three-game successful streak and dropped the Trojans to .500 within the Massive Ten. USC goals to use its week-long break because the loss to regroup, enjoying its subsequent 4 in Los Angeles and three of the quartet at residence.
“It has been a protracted 12 months to date. I feel it is a much-needed break for the blokes,” USC assistant coach Earl Boykins mentioned per the varsity’s web site. “The three lengthy journeys we have taken this 12 months are loads. It is going to be good for them to get the break and for us to get within the fitness center and get again to the fundamentals.”
–Subject Stage Media
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