Illinois basketball vaulted up four spots to No. 6 in the newest USA TODAY Network coaches poll, released Monday, Feb. 2.
Illinois (19-3, 10-1) has won 11 games in a row, including two Big Ten Conference games this past week, at home versus Washington and at Nebraska. They have a big game Saturday at No. 10 Michigan State.
The Illini are one of five Big Ten teams ranked in the poll. The Illini are behind No. 2 Michigan, while ahead of No. 9 Nebraska, Michigan State and No. 12 Purdue.
Illinois basketball scores two big victories
- Illinois 75, Washington 66: Keaton Wagler (22 points), David Mirkovic (19 points) and Ben Humrichous (14 points) led three Illini players in double figures to their 10th win in a row, defeating the Huskies at State Farm Center in Champaign. Illinois is now 11-1 overall at home and 4-1 in Big Ten play.
- Illinois 78, Nebraska 69: Wagler scored 23 of his 28 points in the second half as Illinois claimed back-to-back road wins over a top-5 opponent in program history. He was one of four double-figure scorers as the Illini have now won 11 in a row and last loss to the Cornhuskers at the buzzer on Dec. 13.
Illinois basketball schedule this week
- Wednesday, Feb. 4: 8 p.m. vs. Northwestern, State Farm Center, Champaign
- Saturday, Feb. 7: 3 p.m. at Michigan State, Breslin Center, East Lansing, Michigan
Illinois KenPom rankings: No. 5 | Last week: No. 5
All rankings entering Monday.
- Offensive efficiency: No. 1
- Defensive efficiency: No. 24
Illinois Net rankings: No. 6 | Last week: No. 6
All rankings entering Monday.
- Quad 1 record: 7-3
- Quad 2 record: 3-0
- Quad 3 record: 2-0
- Quad 4 record: 7-0
USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for Feb. 2
Poll as of Feb. 2, 2026. First-place votes in parentheses.
- Arizona (31)
- Michigan
- UConn
- Duke
- Gonzaga
- Illinois
- Iowa State
- Houston
- Nebraska
- Michigan State
- Kansas
- Purdue
- Texas Tech
- BYU
- Vanderbilt
- Florida
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Clemson
- Saint Louis
- Arkansas
- St. John’s
- Louisville
- Miami (OH)
- Texas A&M
Others receiving votes
Iowa 52; Tennessee 50; UCF 15; Alabama 15; Villanova 13; Kentucky 9; North Carolina State 4; Utah State 2; Georgia 2; Saint Mary’s 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.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: College basketball rankings: Illinois rises in coaches poll, KenPom, NET