Illinois basketball dropped three spots to No. 10 in the newest USA TODAY Network coaches poll, released Monday, Feb. 16.
Illinois (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten) looks to put together a new win streak after two Big Ten Conference games this past week, at home versus Wisconsin and Indiana. They have a big road game Saturday against UCLA.
Advertisement
The Illini are one of six Big Ten teams ranked in the poll. Illinois is behind No. 1 Michigan, No. 7 Purdue and No. 9 Nebraska, while ahead of No. 15 Michigan State and No. 25 Wisconsin.
Illinois ranking: Preseason rankings, polls high on Illinois basketball’s chances in 2025-26
Illinois basketball goes 1-1 last week
-
Wisconsin 92, Illinois 90 (OT): Wisconsin erased a six-point halftime deficit to hand Illinois its second home loss of the season. All five Illini starters — Keaton Wagler (34 points), Tomislav Ivisic (19 points), David Mirkovic (12 points), Jake Davis (11 points) and Ben Humrichous (10 points) — scored in double figures.
-
Illinois 71, Indiana 51: The Illini played a near perfect game, turning it over just twice and scored 14 points off turnovers. Mirkovic (25 points), Wagler (18 points) and Ivisic (14 points) paced the Illini, who hit seven 3-pointers, had seven steals and outrebounded the Hoosiers, 23-21.
Dec 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) during the second half against the Southern University Jaguars at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Illinois basketball schedule this week
-
Wednesday, Feb. 18: 9 p.m. vs. USC, Galen Center, Los Angeles
-
Saturday, Feb. 21: 7 p.m. vs. UCLA, Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles
Illinois KenPom rankings: No. 6 | Last week: No. 4
All rankings entering Monday.
-
Offensive efficiency: No. 1
-
Defensive efficiency: No. 28
Illinois Net rankings: No. 5 | Last week: No. 4
All rankings entering Monday.
Poll as of Feb. 16, 2026. First-place votes in parentheses.
Advertisement
Others receiving votes
Kentucky 30; Alabama 24; Villanova 13; North Carolina State 13; Tennessee 10; Utah State 8; Texas A&M 7; Georgia 3; Santa Clara 1.
Who votes in the college basketball coaches poll?
The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2025-26 season: Adrian Autry, Syracuse; John Becker, Vermont; Randy Bennett, Saint Mary’s; Jeff Boals, Ohio; Alvin Brooks, Lamar; Pat Chambers, Florida Gulf Coast; Scott Drew, Baylor; Dan Earl, Chattanooga; Jonas Hayes, Georgia State; Donte’ Jackson, Alabama A&M; Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa; James Jones, Yale; Greg Kampe, Oakland; Eric Konkol, Tulsa; Brad Korn, Southeast Missouri State; Anthony Latina, Sacred Heart; Jim Les, UC Davis; Greg McDermott, Creighton; Nick McDevitt, Middle Tennessee; Mike McGarvey, Lafayette; Dan Monson, Eastern Washington; Chris Mooney, Richmond; Mike Morrell, UNC Asheville; Nate Oats, Alabama; Eric Olen, New Mexico; Matt Painter, Purdue; Paul Sather, North Dakota; Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut State; Zach Spiker, Drexel; Brett Tanner, Abilene Christian; Stan Waterman, Delaware State.
Advertisement
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: College basketball rankings: Illinois in Feb. 16 coaches poll, KenPom, NET
