The No. 5 Illinois Fighting Illini put an 11-game win streak on the line vs the Northwestern Wildcats Wednesday night.

The Illini have nine games left, each of which are meaningful in the Big Ten race. But these three matter more than all others.

Read what our lineup of guests had to say on Monday's show. Calling in: Illini legend John Wright Sr., college hoops analytics guru Ken Pomeroy and UI professors Malaika McKee (on Teen Summit 2.0) and Joe Janzen (on ag).

The Illinois Fighting Illini have been lighting up the court in recent weeks, and their success has resulted in a big jump up the AP Top 25 rankings. Thanks to a big week that saw them triumph over Washington at home and then No.

Every Illini participant brought something to the table in Sunday's win over the Cornhuskers, but some graded out better than others

Illinois forward David Mirkovic, right, drives as Northwestern forward Tre Singleton guards during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Keaton Wagler has been on fire recently and it has resulted in Illinois winning two straight road games against top five teams.

Illinois basketball is on fire right now, and the top teams should be hearing our foot steps, as we are getting close to the elite programs.

ESPN's Jay Bilas explains why Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler looks years ahead of his age

Follow along as the Oregon women's basketball team takes on Illinois on Feb. 4 at Matthew Knight Arena.

The Illini are shooting their shot with Nasir Anderson, widely considered the top point guard in the class of 2027