Illinois looks to reload after Final Four run as Keaton Wagler’s draft window opens

Illinois is treating this offseason as both a reset and a continuation. The Fighting Illini used last season to challenge expectations, finishing third in the Big Ten with a 28-9 record and advancing to the NCAA Tournament Final Four. Now, as summer approaches, the focus shifts to who will absorb the scoring and playmaking responsibilities after major departures.

The clearest change centers on point guard Keaton Wagler. The summer preview notes that Wagler is entering the 2026 NBA Draft and is projected to be selected in the mid-to-late lottery. It also frames what Illinois is losing in measurable terms: 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Those numbers suggest a guard who contributed across multiple facets, not simply scoring from the perimeter.

With Wagler’s departure looming, the Illini have another graduating piece to replace. The preview also points to Kylan Boswell, a 6-foot-2 guard who is graduating. It lists his production as 12.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, underlining that Illinois will need new touches for both scoring and secondary ball-handling as it prepares for next season.

Even with uncertainty about specific roster composition, the offseason task is straightforward for an Underwood-coached program: find an on-court engine that can run the offense in a similar rhythm to what the two guards provided. If Wagler’s role is removed, Illinois will need more than one player to cover the playmaking. If Boswell’s production is gone, the Illini will also need someone who can shoulder efficient guard scoring while fitting into the team’s spacing and defensive priorities.

The summer context matters because a team that reaches the Final Four typically has heightened recruiting visibility and expectations, but the roster reality can become more challenging quickly. Illinois’ ability to translate tournament-level performance into a consistent regular-season identity will likely depend on how well the staff develops internal options and how quickly new players can learn the team’s defensive communication and offensive reads.

For fans, the near-term watch points are practical. The Illini’s summer depth at point guard and at primary ball-handler will define how stable the offense looks in early exhibition runs and nonconference play. Additionally, the guard rotation’s balance will matter, since Illinois will be asking new roles of players who did not have to carry that level of responsibility immediately after the Final Four.

The offseason preview frames departures as the central storyline, but it also places Illinois in a position to build quickly. When a program has proven it can contend at the highest level, the question becomes whether it can keep its style intact while replacing production. Illinois will try to do exactly that as it moves through the summer and begins forming a clear picture of what the backcourt will look like in 2026-27.