From Beyond Champaign - A Illinois Basketball Podcast

Michigan's Morez Johnson Revenge Game in painful loss for Illinois fans

The No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini fell to No. 3 Michigan Wolverines 84-70 at the State Farm Center in Champaign in a pivotal Big Ten matchup. Michigan’s balanced attack and dominant paint play helped them pull away in the second half and clinch the Big Ten regular-season title on the road.Michigan took control in the second half and extended a tight early contest into a decisive victory. Former Illini Morez Johnson Jr. led the Wolverines with a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double. Illinois’ Keaton Wagler put up 23 points in the losing effort, but the Illini couldn’t match Michigan’s physicality inside. The Wolverines snapped a long losing streak to Illinois and secured an outright Big Ten crown with the win. Cody Delmendo goes in onto what went wrong, what is wrong with Andrej Stojakovic, and his thoughts on Morez Johnson's Revenge Game.

After their collapse at UCLA, can Illinois bounce back against Michigan?

SORRY I FORGOT TO UPLOAD EARLIER. Illinois just suffered a brutal 95–94 overtime loss to UCLA, blowing a 23-point lead and watching a coast-to-coast buzzer-beater end their night at Pauley Pavilion. Fans are still reeling from the collapse and the implications it could have on the rest of the season, especially with a big matchup against Michigan looming.In this episode, Cody breaks down:✅ What went wrong in that huge lead✅ The mental and strategic challenges the Illini now face✅ Whether Illinois has what it takes to regroup and take down Michigan

Can Keaton Wagler and Illinois bounce back against Wisconsin?

The #5 Illinois Fighting Illini saw their 12-game winning streak come to a heartbreaking end with an 85–82 overtime loss at No. 10 Michigan State. Illinois battled all night, but missed shots and key late plays ultimately swung the game in favor of the Spartans. Illinois shot just 36.6% from the field and 27.8% from three, and even though Keaton Wagler still contributed 16 points (many at the foul line), it was one of his toughest shooting nights of the season.In this episode, Cody breaks down:• What went wrong in East Lansing — turnovers, missed looks, and offensive struggles.• How the loss affects Illinois’ Big Ten positioning.• Why this isn’t a season-ending setback — and how the Illini are still a dangerous squad even when shots aren’t falling.Now the Illini turn their focus to the Wisconsin Badgers at home. This is a chance to reset, lock in on fundamentals, and play Illinois basketball — tough defense, selfless offense, and smart shot selection. A bounce-back performance starts with confidence and energy on both ends of the floor.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjFlR1A5N2RfUTdfTFZURm1SWjNfLWMyZ2l3Z3xBQ3Jtc0tubjltbk5YRUEwdFd6UDctYXpUYkI4MVdfaTlhdWxqUkFvRU16SmhyWGw3dXlHMmZlanZTaWpkWHU2ZlVIUFhlSVdmZ0E2LTN5eXZmOEtjM05UdUhxdFh4MGdlU25NanVhR1JGaWEwcGtCSDdXbkJ0QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fcody.illini&v=SAFqHw-XcTw]

Keaton Wagler leads Illinois to 11th straight wins in top 10 victory at Nebraska

Illinois showed up with energy, execution, and toughness from start to finish, making a statement against a tough Nebraska squad to extend their winning streak to 11. From clutch plays to momentum-shifting moments, this one had everything fans love to see. The Illini defense set the tone all game—flying to the ball, forcing tough possessions, and shutting the door when it mattered most. Nebraska struggled to find any rhythm as Illinois controlled the pace on that end of the floor.Then came Keaton Wagler’s second half. 🔥Clutch plays, timely buckets, and complete confidence—Wagler stepped up in a big way and helped seal the win going for 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.Tap in with Cody Delmendo as he reacts to another huge road win for Illinois, who are now tied for the top spot in the Big Ten.

Keaton Wagler's 46 points CARRIES Illinois to win at Purdue

What an unbelievable performance! Freshman Keaton Wagler exploded for a career-high 46 points — including nine made 3-pointers — to lead No. 11 Illinois to a stunning 88–82 road victory over No. 4 Purdue at Mackey Arena! 😱💪🏀📌 What went down in this game:• Wagler was unstoppable, shooting 13-for-17 overall, 9-for-11 from deep, and 11-for-13 at the line.• His 46 points set the Mackey Arena record for most by an opponent and marked one of the greatest road scoring performances in Illinois history.• Illinois hit a barrage of threes as a team and pulled off a signature upset on the road.• This win keeps Illinois rolling with momentum in Big Ten play and cements Wagler’s status as one of college basketball’s hottest young stars.Tune in with Cody Delmendo as he reacts to Illinois huge win and what it means for their NCAA Tournament seeding and their Big Ten regular season title chances.LINKS: https://linktr.ee/cody.illini [https://linktr.ee/cody.illini]