Illinois basketball fell one spot to No. 11 in the newest USA TODAY Network coaches poll, released Monday, Feb. 23.
Illinois (22-6, 13-4 Big Ten) looks to put together a new win streak after two Big Ten Conference games this past week, on the road versus USC and UCLA. The Illini have a big home game Friday against Michigan.
The Illini are one of five Big Ten teams ranked in the poll. Illinois is behind No. 3 Michigan, No. 8 Purdue and No. 10 Nebraska, while ahead of No. 13 Michigan State.
Illinois basketball goes 1-1 last week
- Illinois 101, USC 65: Andrej Stojakovic scored a game-high 22 points and was one of seven Illinois players in double figures, including David Mirkovic (14 points), Kylan Boswell (12 points), Jake Davis (12 points), Ben Humrichous (12 points), Keaton Wagler (10 points) and Tomislav Ivisic (10 points). Boswell added eights assists.
- UCLA 95, Illinois 94 (OT): The Illini suffered their third overtime loss of the season, seeing Donovan Dent go coast-to-coast for the game-winning basket as time expired. Illinois led by as many as 23 points midway through the first half. Wagler went for 18 points and eight rebounds. Illinois is now 7-2 on the road.
Illinois basketball schedule this week
- Friday, Feb. 27: 7 p.m. vs. Michigan, State Farm Center, Champaign
Illinois KenPom rankings: No. 4 | Last week: No. 6
All rankings entering Monday.
- Offensive efficiency: No. 1
- Defensive efficiency: No. 30
Illinois Net rankings: No. 4 | Last week: No. 5
All rankings entering Monday.
- Quad 1 record: 7-5
- Quad 2 record: 6-1
- Quad 3 record: 4-0
- Quad 4 record: 5-0
USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for Feb. 23
Poll as of Feb. 23, 2026. First-place votes in parentheses.
- Duke (27)
- Arizona (4)
- Michigan
- Houston
- Iowa State
- UConn
- Florida
- Purdue
- Gonzaga
- Nebraska
- Illinois
- Virginia
- Michigan State
- Kansas
- St. John’s
- Texas Tech
- Arkansas
- Alabama
- North Carolina
- Louisville
- Vanderbilt
- Tennessee
- BYU
- Saint Louis
- Miami (OH)
Others receiving votes
Wisconsin 35; Villanova 25; Georgia 18; Utah State 7; Iowa 6; Saint Mary’s 5; Miami (FL) 5; Clemson 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: Illinois basketball slips in poll with big game ahead versus Michigan