CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler has tallied several weekly honors for his historic, 46-point performance at Purdue on Saturday, leading the Illini to an 88-82 win.
His individual effort earned him Naismith National Player of the Week honors, alongside BYU's AJ Dybansta.
Our @jerseymikes Naismith Men’s College Co- Players of the Week are BYU’s 𝐀𝐉 𝐃𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐚 and Illinois’ 𝐊𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫 🏀
— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) January 26, 2026
The @illinimbb freshman posted a Mackey Arena record by a visiting player with 46 points, drilling a school‑record 9 threes and shooting… pic.twitter.com/R9pP8feQbF
Wagler was also named Big Ten Freshman and Player of the Week. This season, he has earned freshman honors 4 times, the most by an Illini player since Kofi Cockburn claimed seven rookie awards in 2019-20.
Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week: Keaton Wagler
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 26, 2026
🟠 Averaged 29.5 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in a pair of wins last week as Illinois extended its winning streak to nine straight games.
🔵 Had one of the greatest performances in college basketball history with 46… pic.twitter.com/CitsYR8740
In addition, College Insider awarded Keaton with the Lute Olson award National Player of the Week. Field of 68 and NCAA March Madness also selected him as the Player of the Week.
Keaton's performance in West Lafayette was one for the history books. He shot 13-17 from the field, 9-11 from 3-point range, and 11-13 from the free throw line. Behind his shooting effort Wagler achieved the following...
- The most points scored in a road win over a top-10 opponent in AP poll history.
- The most points ever scored by a freshman in a road game against an AP top-25 team.
- The most points ever scored by a Big Ten player against an AP top-5 team.
- Tied the most points by a player in a win over a top-5 team AP poll history.
- The most points ever scored by a Big Ten freshman.
- Set the Mackey Arena scoring record for a visiting player.
- Set the Illinois freshman single-game scoring record.
- The second-highest scoring performance in the 121-year history of Illini Basketball.
- The most points in a Big Ten road game in 47 years.
- The best shooting percentage (.764) in a 45+ point game against an AP top-25 team in the last 30 years.
- The most points on 17 FGA in college basketball in the last 13 seasons.
- The most points by a Big Ten player since at least 2010-11.
- Set the Illinois school record with nine 3-pointers.
Illinois returns to the State Farm Center to play Washington on Thursday.
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