No. 3 Illinois hosts Baylor tonight, Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m. Central at State Farm Center. The exhibition streams on B1G+, not the Big Ten Network television channel. Check your B1G+ access before tipoff.
Fifteen points, five rebounds and five assists will get your attention in an NBA debut. Keaton Wagler gave us that on Wednesday. Now comes the part I really want to see: what happens when the next opponent has a regular-season game to study?
He’s not the only former Illini giving us a reason to keep the remote close. Ayo and Terrence up in Minnesota, Kasparas has an opening in Milwaukee, and our current Illini are back at State Farm Center tonight. There are plenty of points to count. I’m more interested in which opportunities turn into something they can keep.
Our guys in the NBA
A quick calendar check: the numbers below are from Wednesday, October 21. Thursday, October 22, had Cleveland–Philadelphia and Denver–Oklahoma City, not another round of games for the eight former Illini covered here. No new game is not the same thing as a DNP.
Keaton has another chance to settle in
Wagler finished his Clippers debut against Sacramento with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in 29 minutes. That’s a pretty nice way to introduce yourself.
The scoring is fun, but the five assists are worth coming back to. Getting a teammate a good shot gives a young guard another way to help when his own shot isn’t falling. I’m interested in whether he can keep making those decisions without feeling that every possession needs to become a personal highlight.
The Clippers face the Lakers tonight. A good second game doesn’t have to mean a bigger scoring total. It might mean handling a different defensive look, getting the ball out on time and being ready when it comes back.
Ayo and Terrence give us two reasons to watch Minnesota
Minnesota beat Miami 131–106 on Wednesday. Ayo Dosunmu had 16 points, five rebounds and three assists in just under 29 minutes. Terrence Shannon Jr. added 10 points, a rebound and an assist in just under 20.
I like having two Illini to follow on the same team. I also want to see the minutes before I start making grand declarations about anybody’s role. Who is on the floor with Ayo? Where does Terrence get his chances to attack? Do those combinations look different in a closer game?
Those are the things I’m watching as Minnesota visits Orlando tonight. A useful stretch can be more revealing than one spectacular finish, even if the finish is the part we immediately send to somebody.
For a longer Shannon fix, this is the Timberwolves’ official 2025–26 best-of video, published May 27. It’s an archive, not Wednesday’s highlights:
Kasparas got minutes; Riley is still waiting for his turn
Kasparas Jakučionis had 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and a block in 26 minutes for Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Bucks lost to Washington 128–116. Will Riley was listed as DNP–Coach’s Decision for the Wizards.
Those are different starting points, and we shouldn’t blur them together because both guys wore orange and blue. Kasparas has a performance to build on. Riley needs an opportunity. One night doesn’t settle either story.
Friday’s viewing order
All times Central. These are team games, not guarantees that every player will appear. Check current availability and your provider’s local blackout rules.
3 p.m.: Chicago at Milwaukee, Kasparas. An early start today.
6 p.m.: Minnesota at Orlando, Ayo and Terrence.
6 p.m.: Toronto at Washington, Riley.
6 p.m.: Atlanta at Charlotte, Boswell.
9 p.m.: Memphis at Golden State, Podziemski.
9 p.m.: Clippers at Lakers, Wagler.
Back home against Baylor
No. 3 Illinois hosts Baylor tonight, Friday, October 23, at 7 p.m. Central at State Farm Center. The exhibition streams on B1G+, not the Big Ten Network television channel. Check your B1G+ access before tipoff.
Putting up 105 points at Cincinnati was a pretty enjoyable introduction. Andrej Stojakovic scored 24 and Stefan Vaaks had 19 in that October 17 exhibition win. Tonight, I’m looking past the total: can Illinois finish defensive possessions, take care of the ball and still get good looks when the first action doesn’t work?
Baylor comes in after beating Florida 82–76 in overtime on October 18. Kayden Mingo scored 31. That’s enough to make me interested in how Illinois contains the ball, not just how many threes we make at the other end.
Here’s Brad Underwood’s October 22 press conference before Baylor:
For the other side, Baylor’s October 20 men’s basketball media-day Q&A:
One availability note: The Champaign Room reported Thursday that David Mirković would remain out against Baylor. That’s the report, not a new return-date prediction. I would rather get another look at the players available than turn an exhibition into a deadline for somebody’s recovery.
This Day in Illini History
October 23, 2011: A little October optimism at Assembly Hall
Fifteen years ago today, 6,144 fans came to Assembly Hall for the Orange & Blue Scrimmage. Meyers Leonard led the way with 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting and seven rebounds. Sam Maniscalco and Tyler Griffey each scored 17, while Brandon Paul had 15 points and seven assists.
Maniscalco even supplied a 30-footer at the buzzer to win the second quarter. The teams changed each quarter, so this wasn’t a normal game with a stable Orange lineup beating a stable Blue lineup. It was a chance to try combinations and give everybody something to talk about before the games counted.
That feels like a pretty good reminder for tonight. Enjoy the dunks. Notice who makes the next pass. Be encouraged by something specific. We don’t have to decide the entire season before November gets here.
Let’s go, Illini!!