Illinois’ Keaton Wagler gets kudos from Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg, Brad Underwood criticism

Illinois’ Keaton Wagler gets kudos from Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg, Brad Underwood criticism originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The newly-ranked No. 5 Illinois Fighting Illini continue to be one of the hottest teams in college basketball. It’s due in large part to their freshman guard Keaton Wagler propelling them offensively.

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Following a 78-69 win against the now-No. 9-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers Sunday, Cornhuskers coach Fred Hoiberg raved about Wagler’s recent success alongside why he is a difficult matchup to prepare for.

“Listen, [Keaton] Wagler’s playing as a first-team All-American right now,” Hoiberg told reporters. “They’re just getting the ball in his hands and letting him go to work and iso. And they’ve got shooting all around him.”

Hoiberg noted that since the Illini have been making waves nationally with each win, Wagler has gotten a bulk of the attention. But for those paying close attention to the Illini, this is an old, yet consistently good habit.

“Well, he’s been doing it all year,” Hoiberg said. “He finds a way to get to the rim. He gets to the line – and he got to the line 12 times [today].”

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Wagler’s coach, Brad Underwood, said that with nine games to go before the Big Ten Tournament commences in Chicago, Wagler’s ceiling isn’t quite there just yet.

“His [shooting] percentage would be really good if we quit throwing him the ball at the end of the shot clock, and he has to jack them from half-court,” Underwood told reporters.

Nonetheless, both coaches have solid arguments about the five-time Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week. Of course, Hoiberg may or may not get another crack at Wagler’s Illini barring respective tournament seedings. But it’s clear the respect is there.

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The Cornhuskers (20-2, 9-2 Big Ten) will try to snap their two-game skid Saturday against the Rutgers Scarlett Knights…

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Publish date : 2026-02-03 06:32:00

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