Awards Thread

[Dan]

Welcome to the season honors & awards thread.


Keaton Wagler
Sporting News Second-Team All-American [link]
AP Second-Team All-American [link]


Big Ten Announces 2026 Men’s Basketball Postseason Honors
https://bigten.org/mbb/article/59585/
https://fightingillini.com/news/202...hree-illini-earn-all-big-ten-recognition.aspx

Keaton Wagler: Big Ten Freshman of the Year & First Team All-Big Ten
David Mirkovic: All-Freshman Team
Kylan Boswell: All-Defensive Team

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030999544880873659

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031013167367688377

 

[PizzaHutParkingLot]

I hope Mirk sneaks on to All-B1G Third Team

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031400274481332584

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031400697703321712

 

[NarrowJ]

B1G All-Conf players the last 6 seasons and their corresponding RSCI ranking:

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Boswell All Defensive team.

 

[lstewart53x3]

B1G All-Conf players the last 6 seasons and their corresponding RSCI ranking:

View attachment 48155

Incredible talent identification by this staff.

Some misses too, for sure, and some of the highest ranked players didn’t finish out their careers here (Skyy, Ace, Morez, etc).

And KJ was definitely equivalent to a top 25 recruit.

But still, to have 10 first team all B1G guys and just 3 of them (including KJ) were top 50 recruits is very impressive.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

These interviews are just awful. Hoibreg wins coach of year from coaches and may wins from media.

 

[ChiefGritty]

B1G All-Conf players the last 6 seasons and their corresponding RSCI ranking:

View attachment 48155

Wagler on an elite list there

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Keaton freshman of the year.

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031411049027547539

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031411044459888964

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Phenomenal interview from Wags.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031401532122361953

 

[Scoregasm]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031401532122361953

 

[Dan]

Big Ten Announces 2026 Men’s Basketball Postseason Honors
https://bigten.org/mbb/article/59585/
https://fightingillini.com/news/202...hree-illini-earn-all-big-ten-recognition.aspx

Keaton Wagler: Big Ten Freshman of the Year & First Team All-Big Ten
David Mirkovic: All-Freshman Team
Kylan Boswell: All-Defensive Team

 

[Illini in Italy]

I love that Keaton is 1st team All-B1G. But I'd like to know which dumba$$ coach didn't vote him as 1st Team. He should have been unanimous.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

I don’t understand how Boyd is behind Stirtz AND Smith for 1st team?

 

[kyillinifan]

Congrats to all Illini players who made the list. Glad to see Kylan land 1st team D.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Really not loving what POY has turned into. Best player on the best team way too often, no recognition of any other factor.

Both the b10 and b12 player of the years I have massive issues with, especially b12.

P.S. someone explain to me how Braden Smith had a better season than Nick Boyd?

 

[BrownTown]

How did anyone NOT vote for Mirk and Steinbach for All Freshmen?

Both should have been 'Unanimous Selection'

 

[pruman91]

congrats to Keaton , Mirko-Man and Kylan.............................

 

[pruman91]

I voted fears to the UN-honorable mention team............I really really did...................

 

[BrownTown]

Really not loving what POY has turned into. Best player on the best team way too often, no recognition of any other factor.

Both the b10 and b12 player of the years I have massive issues with, especially b12.

P.S. someone explain to me how Braden Smith had a better season than Nick Boyd?

Name recognition... Glad the voters got Keaton Wagler right though not unanimous?

I wonder if we see a similar trend with All-American voting?

 

[RockfordIllini]

B1G All-Conf players the last 6 seasons and their corresponding RSCI ranking:

View attachment 48155

In fairness. Kasparas was probably a top 20-30 level equivalent but just wasn’t rated because he came from overseas. But the point stands. We’ve certainly maximized our talent.