Illinois and Michigan State Score Men’s Basketball Weekly Honors

Co-Player of the Week & Freshman of the Week
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
G – Fr. – 6-6 – Shawnee, Kan. – Shawnee Mission Northwest

• Averaged 29.5 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in a pair of wins
• Scored 46 points on 13-17 shooting, including 9-11 from three-point range and 11-13 from the free throw line, in an 88-82 win at Purdue
• Posted the second-highest scoring performance in Illinois history, set the Illinois freshman single-game scoring record, and broke the program mark with nine three-pointers
• It was the most points scored by a Big Ten player against an AP top five team and the most in a road win over a top-10 opponent in AP poll history
• Claims his first Player of the Week and fourth Freshman of the Week honor this season
• Last Illinois Player of the Week: Terrence Shannon Jr. (February 19, 2024)
• Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Keaton Wagler (January 12, 2026)

Co-Player of the Week
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State 
G –So. – 6-2 – Joliet, Ill. – Joliet West

• Averaged 15.5 points and 11.0 assists as the Spartans claimed a pair of wins
• Paired 17 points and a career best 17 assists in a 91-48 win over Maryland, second most assists in program history
• Added 14 points and five dimes in Michigan State’s 68-52 victory at Oregon
• Scores first career Player of the Week honor
• Last Michigan State Player of the Week: Aaron Henry (March 8, 2021)

2025-26 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Jan. 26
P: Keaton Wagler, ILL
P: Jeremy Fears, MSU
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Jan. 19
P: Diggy Coit, MD
P: John Blackwell, WIS
F: Braden Frager, NEB

Jan. 12
P: Braden Smith, PUR
P: Nick Boyd, WIS
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Jan. 5
P: Morez Johnson Jr., MICH
P: Braden Smith, PUR
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL
F: Hannes Steinbach, WASH

Dec. 22
P: Tariq Francis, RUT
P: Skyy Clark, UCLA
F: Braden Frager, NEB

Dec. 15
P: Lamar Wilkerson, IND
P: Pryce Sandfort, NEB
F: Keaton Wagler, ILL

Dec. 8
P: John Blackwell, WIS
F: Hannes Steinbach, WASH

Dec. 1
P: Yaxel Lendeborg, MICH
F: Kayden Mingo, PSU

Nov. 24
P: Diggy Coit, MD
F: Braden Frager, NEB

Nov. 17
P: Braden Smith, PUR
F: David Mirkovic, ILL

Nov. 10
P: Tucker DeVries, IND
P: Bruce Thornton, OSU
F: David Mirkovic, ILL