The daily pitch from Sports Editor : Oct. 28, 2026

Oct. 28—➜ . The award goes to the top shooting guard in men’s college basketball.

. Wagler is averaging 13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals at the start of his NBA career.

➜ .

yards per carry by Illinois running back . That has the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley native tied for second in the Big Ten in that category with UCLA running back . Only Northwestern running back is averaging more yards per carry, with Himon II at 9.8 on just 38 carries. Laughery has rushed for a team-high 514 yards on 75 carries and two touchdowns this season for the Illini.

➜ . Reminder: this game doesn’t count toward whatever record the Illini produce during the 2026-27 season. The third and final exhibition game for Brad Underwood’s team tips off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday from State Farm Center.

➜ . The lone tune-up for the upcoming 2026-27 season has Shauna Green and her Illini hosting the Prairie Stars at 6 p.m. on Friday in the only exhibition game for Illinois.

➜ . Illinois (14-7, 6-4 Big Ten) vies for its third straight win when it hosts the Wildcats (7-14, 0-10) at 8 p.m. Thursday.

➜ Andrej Stojakovic, Zvonimir Ivisic and David Mirkovic.

➜ “Young Sheldon.”

➜ Christmas.