Keaton Wagler, Big Ten Player of the Year?

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#101      
Curbelo Fanboy
Obviously a very talented player. The thing that sticks out is he is so under control. Very poised in the way he moves on the court. Never seems rushed or forces things. There was a play in the first half yesterday where he drove the lane & the help rushed at him. Instead of going into the contact he paused for a second, let the over aggressive defense go by & then just finished the move. Very high level basketball IQ.

I've not seen a freshman at Illinois before where in the last 5 minutes I am demanding to just give him the ball & let him work. He will drive to the hole if it's there, dish if he gets covered or shoot the deep ball if left wide open.

No one knows where this season will end, but it appears he might be good enough to lead the Illini all the way to April.
 
#102      
Illinisnake
Keaton has Drose type of demeanor; dude is cold blooded and definitely a top 5 pick in the 2026 NBA draft for sure. He is 6’6” and plays at a pace that isn’t normal for a kid his age. I promise you he is 1 and done, Underwood would never let him turn down this opportunity, it’s also good for the program. If he continues to play at the rate he is, it would be criminal for him to not win B1G player of the year.

Best freshman to ever play at Illinois, enjoy him while he’s here.
 
#103      
Chief Illiniwek's Family
posted 12 mins ago on SI site
 

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#104      
ChiefGritty
WhereDoWeStandWithStorr? said:
And even he didn’t win player of the year. Tough when you’re a freshman.
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Russell, Greg Oden and Jared Sullinger immediately sprung to mind as BTPOY-level freshmen. They lost to Alando Tucker, JaJuan Johnson, and Frank Kaminsky respectively, each having All-American level seasons that were also senior capstones as legendary players on great teams, sort of career achievement awards for guys that were longtime icons in the conference.

The obvious analog there would be Braden Smith, except (1) Smith has already won the award before and (2) unlike those others are he or his team even having their best season?

The winner has not been determined yet, nor should it be. Our guy is in the fight.
 
#105      
mysterio2525
I feel like jace Richardson last year deserves some recognition. he was the best player on a team that won the league by 3 games. he also started slow and plays on a team less condusive to individual stats.
 
#106      
PleaseMakeABowlGame
mysterio2525 said:
I feel like jace Richardson last year deserves some recognition. he was the best player on a team that won the league by 3 games. he also started slow and plays on a team less condusive to individual stats.
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Yes, good season, but you have to realize the bar is Keaton Wagler. In that regard, he's no where close. There's hardly a handful that are.
 
#108      
Fly Illini Fly!
www.si.com

Ranking the Top 10 Men’s College Hoops Freshmen: Surprise Addition to Top Five

Kansas guard Darryn Peterson also makes his debut on the list after being limited due to injuries in a class that is historic for its depth.
www.si.com www.si.com

No. 2:

"Wagler’s 46 points against Purdue was the best game by any player in college basketball this season, and he followed that up well with 22 points and eight assists vs. Washington and 28 points, five rebounds and five assists vs. Nebraska. He’s the engine of an Illinois offense that currently ranks as the most efficient unit in the KenPom era, and one NBA scout Sports Illustrated spoke with views him as a viable candidate to land in the top five of the draft in June."
 
#109      
AirNeazy
rdk573 said:
Has there ever been a case where a team won the big ten title with the best player on that team a freshman who did not win the award???
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Pretty wild to me that we've only had 3 B1G POYs in 40 years with all the great teams we've had. And all 3 in a single 5 year time period at that.

We're due for some history, lets have the first freshman to win the award.
 
#114      
Dan
Updated IL weekly Big Ten award honorees:

Keaton Wagler
Feb 2nd: Freshman of the Week
Jan 26th: Co-Player of the Week
Jan 26th: Freshman of the Week
Jan 12th: Freshman of the Week
Jan 5th: Co-Freshman of the Week
Dec 15th: Freshman of the Week

David Mirkovic
Nov 17th: Freshman of the Week
Nov 10th: Freshman of the Week
 
#115      
illinifan1987
Dr Copejam said:
It’s time to discuss Keaton Wagler as not only bigten freshman of the year, but bigten player of the year.

Smith was the favorite, but so far Purdue has underachieved. I think he stacks up to any Michigan player. Nebraska? Who’s better than Keaton? Michigan State can probably push Fears, but he’s not Keaton. Keaton is legitimately the best player in the conference right now.
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Just stopped by to drop off this beauty...
Tongue Goat GIF
 
#116      
illinifan1987
Dan said:
Updated IL weekly Big Ten award honorees:

Keaton Wagler
Feb 2nd: Freshman of the Week
Jan 26th: Co-Player of the Week
Jan 26th: Freshman of the Week
Jan 12th: Freshman of the Week
Jan 5th: Co-Freshman of the Week
Dec 15th: Freshman of the Week

David Mirkovic
Nov 17th: Freshman of the Week
Nov 10th: Freshman of the Week
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Only 2 more to tie Kofi! I think he'll clean sweep it the rest of the season (y)
 
#123      
Fly Illini Fly!
What am I missing… why didn’t he get player of the week?

Fears put up those numbers in a home loss. Stirtz had those stats against an abysmal Oregon team.

We went on the road and knocked off #5 Nebraska and the guy had 23 in the second half — not to mention 22, 5reb, 8ast, 1TO against Washington. Shouldn’t he at least be co?
 
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#124      
mysterio2525
Fly Illini Fly! said:
What am I missing… why didn’t he get player of the week?

Fears put up those numbers in a home loss. Stirtz had those stats against an abysmal Oregon team.

We went on the road and knocked off #5 Nebraska and the guy had 23 in the second half — not to mention 22, 5reb, 8ast, 1TO against Washington. Shouldn’t he at least be co?
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because they reward tripping and dirty plays
 
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