Dec 13, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) drives the ball around Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Pryce Sandfort (21) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
When Nebraska visited Illinois on Dec. 13, Jamarques Lawrence swished a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to give the Cornhuskers their most prestigious win of the season.
While the memory of that knockout punch still stings for No. 9 Illinois (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten) as it visits No. 5 Nebraska (20-1, 9-1) for a Big Ten first-place showdown Sunday in Lincoln, Neb., the Fighting Illini also haven’t forgotten all the body blows administered by Pryce Sandfort that set it up.
Sandfort scored 26 of his career-high 32 points in the first half as Nebraska sped to a 14-point first-half lead. While the Illini caught up by halftime, Sandfort’s early blitz made the Illini uncomfortable throughout as they led for just 16 seconds on their home floor.
And for that, the Illini are grateful.
Since that 83-80 loss to Nebraska, Illinois has won 10 in a row to climb to No. 7 in the NET rankings.
“I think that was an eye-opening moment,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “I didn’t think we were very focused on what it took to win. And they whipped us. … Our mental mistakes in that game were very high.”
“The Nebraska loss started it all,” added Illini freshman forward David Mirkovic, who averages 12.5 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds. “We changed our mentality after that. Coach was, I mean, we deserved that he got to be mad after that loss. We changed our mentality. We started living for each other, playing harder defense, communicating more.
“When we give our best and try to play as hard as possible, points find us and we win.”
Illinois boasts the nation’s most efficient offense per KenPom.com with 130.3 points per 100 possessions.
Freshman guard Keaton Wagler (17.7 points, 4.2 assists), the reigning Big Ten and national player of the week, has received the lion’s share of praise recently, but the Illini feature five players in double figures.
“I think they play to a certain standard that they hold themselves accountable to,” Underwood said. “I appreciate that. I think that players buying into all their roles, and players being willing to sacrifice for the great of the team and commit to that, that’s all a part of it.”
Underwood could also have been describing the vibe at Nebraska, where the Huskers have earned their highest Associated Press ranking in school history by finding a way regardless of who’s on the court.
Yes, their 20-0 start came to an end Tuesday at No. 3 Michigan, but the Huskers led for 36:18 despite playing without two of their top three scorers in Rienk Mast (flu) and Braden Frager (ankle).
The only difference between Nebraska’s trips to Illinois and to Michigan? Lawrence’s last-second 3-point attempt, which would have tied the game, went off the rim against the Wolverines instead of swishing through.
“I give our guys all the credit in the world for the fight that they showed in that game from start to finish,” said Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg. “Listen, that team is projected by a lot of people to win a national championship. You got no Braden, you got no Rienk, you got no Ugie (Ugnius Jarusevicius), you got no Connor (Essegian) — and you fight ’em all the way to the finish and you lose by a basket.
“I mean, that shows the character of our team. And it also shows we can compete with anybody in the country… For our guys, it should be a confidence-builder.”
Mast (14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds) should be good to go against Illinois, but Frager (12.2 points) figures to need more time. Illini guard Kylan Boswell (14.3 points, 3.4 assists) will miss his fourth straight game with a broken right hand.
–Field Level Media
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![Madrid Open 2026: Sabalenka, Swiatek enter third round Aryna Sabalenka shook off some rust to post her first victory of the season on clay and extend her winning streak to 13 matches on Thursday at the Madrid Open.The world number one, who was playing her first match since she completed the Sunshine Double by winning Indian Wells and Miami last month, committed 26 unforced errors in her 7-5, 6-3 win over American Peyton Stearns in the second round in the Spanish capital.The defending champion, in search of a fourth career title at the Caja Magica, converted four of 12 break points against Stearns, double-faulted five times, and dropped serve twice, before she made it over the finish line to set up a third-round meeting with Romanian Jaqueline Cristian. Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her round of 64 match against Peyton Stearns of the United States of America.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her round of 64 match against Peyton Stearns of the United States of America.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
“I’m super happy to start with a win, even though maybe the tennis wasn’t that good, but I felt like with every game I was playing, the better I was playing, so I really hope in the next one I bring a better performance,” said Sabalenka, who has won a remarkable 24 of her 25 matches so far in 2026.Earlier, Iga Swiatek made quick work of her opening test in Madrid, breezing past Daria Snigur 6-1, 6-2 at the Caja Magica.The Polish fourth seed needed just 61 minutes to move past Snigur, who was coming off the first tour-level main draw victory of her career on clay over Daria Kasatkina.The Ukrainian qualifier saved four match points against Kasatkina on Wednesday, and secured the win by clinching the longest first-to-seven tiebreak at tour-level in eight years with a 15-13 scoreline.Snigur had little fight left in her for her clash with Swiatek, who barring a brief blip early in the second set was in fierce form as she continues her quest for a first clay-court title since she claimed a fourth Roland Garros crown nearly two years ago.“I’m very happy. Madrid is a special place to play, because of how special the tournament is, but also because of the conditions, so I’m happy that I adjusted well to them and was solid and just playing my game,” said Swiatek, who is contesting her second tournament under the guidance of her new coach Francis Roig. Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Swiatek, a champion in Madrid in 2024, swatted away three break points to open up a 5-0 lead inside 23 minutes and closed out the set eight minutes later after Snigur finally got on the board.Snigur enjoyed a much stronger start to the second set, finding the rhythm on her backhand to put pressure on Swiatek, who got broken for the first time in the contest to fall behind 0-2.The Ukrainian’s advantage was short-lived though as Swiatek struck right back and swept the next six games to book a third-round meeting with Ann Li.Meanwhile, Hungarian world number 63 Anna Bondar upset seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-4 to claim the first top-10 victory of her career.Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.Ex-world number one Naomi Osaka began her clay-court campaign with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Colombia’s Camila Osorio. She’ll play Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina for a spot in the last 16.Unheralded Paraguayan starsIn men’s action, Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo said he felt like he was living “a movie” after he dispatched former world number three Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4.The 21-year-old cracked the top 100 for the first time last month – following a 14-1 start to the season at the Challenger level – and is making his Masters 1000 debut this week. He is the first Paraguayan to compete in Madrid Open history and will next take on American 17th seed Learner Tien.“For me this is unbelievable. It looks like a movie, I don’t know what’s happening,” Vallejo told Tennis TV. “The other day I played on Manolo Santana centre court. Today I played here. I used to watch him (Dimitrov), all the highlights. The points that he did against me today, I used to watch it on TV and to play against him… wow, I can’t understand what’s happening. I’m just trying to enjoy all this.”Former world number three and 2019 Madrid runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas eked out a 3-6, 7-6[6], 7-6[4] win against American lucky loser Patrick Kypson.Currently ranked 80 in the world, the two-time Grand Slam finalist will square off with eighth-seeded Alexander Bublik in round two.The soon-to-be-retiring Gael Monfils lost his opener 6-3, 6-4 to Camilo Ugo Carabelli, marking his last time competing at the Madrid Open.Published on Apr 23, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sabalenka #Swiatek #enter](https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/u1bgih/article70898865.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-23T150504Z_1589292658_UP1EM4N15WEVX_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MADRID.JPG "Madrid Open 2026: Sabalenka, Swiatek enter third round Aryna Sabalenka shook off some rust to post her first victory of the season on clay and extend her winning streak to 13 matches on Thursday at the Madrid Open.The world number one, who was playing her first match since she completed the Sunshine Double by winning Indian Wells and Miami last month, committed 26 unforced errors in her 7-5, 6-3 win over American Peyton Stearns in the second round in the Spanish capital.The defending champion, in search of a fourth career title at the Caja Magica, converted four of 12 break points against Stearns, double-faulted five times, and dropped serve twice, before she made it over the finish line to set up a third-round meeting with Romanian Jaqueline Cristian. Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her round of 64 match against Peyton Stearns of the United States of America.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her round of 64 match against Peyton Stearns of the United States of America.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
“I’m super happy to start with a win, even though maybe the tennis wasn’t that good, but I felt like with every game I was playing, the better I was playing, so I really hope in the next one I bring a better performance,” said Sabalenka, who has won a remarkable 24 of her 25 matches so far in 2026.Earlier, Iga Swiatek made quick work of her opening test in Madrid, breezing past Daria Snigur 6-1, 6-2 at the Caja Magica.The Polish fourth seed needed just 61 minutes to move past Snigur, who was coming off the first tour-level main draw victory of her career on clay over Daria Kasatkina.The Ukrainian qualifier saved four match points against Kasatkina on Wednesday, and secured the win by clinching the longest first-to-seven tiebreak at tour-level in eight years with a 15-13 scoreline.Snigur had little fight left in her for her clash with Swiatek, who barring a brief blip early in the second set was in fierce form as she continues her quest for a first clay-court title since she claimed a fourth Roland Garros crown nearly two years ago.“I’m very happy. Madrid is a special place to play, because of how special the tournament is, but also because of the conditions, so I’m happy that I adjusted well to them and was solid and just playing my game,” said Swiatek, who is contesting her second tournament under the guidance of her new coach Francis Roig. Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Swiatek, a champion in Madrid in 2024, swatted away three break points to open up a 5-0 lead inside 23 minutes and closed out the set eight minutes later after Snigur finally got on the board.Snigur enjoyed a much stronger start to the second set, finding the rhythm on her backhand to put pressure on Swiatek, who got broken for the first time in the contest to fall behind 0-2.The Ukrainian’s advantage was short-lived though as Swiatek struck right back and swept the next six games to book a third-round meeting with Ann Li.Meanwhile, Hungarian world number 63 Anna Bondar upset seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-4 to claim the first top-10 victory of her career.Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.Ex-world number one Naomi Osaka began her clay-court campaign with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Colombia’s Camila Osorio. She’ll play Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina for a spot in the last 16.Unheralded Paraguayan starsIn men’s action, Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo said he felt like he was living “a movie” after he dispatched former world number three Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4.The 21-year-old cracked the top 100 for the first time last month – following a 14-1 start to the season at the Challenger level – and is making his Masters 1000 debut this week. He is the first Paraguayan to compete in Madrid Open history and will next take on American 17th seed Learner Tien.“For me this is unbelievable. It looks like a movie, I don’t know what’s happening,” Vallejo told Tennis TV. “The other day I played on Manolo Santana centre court. Today I played here. I used to watch him (Dimitrov), all the highlights. The points that he did against me today, I used to watch it on TV and to play against him… wow, I can’t understand what’s happening. I’m just trying to enjoy all this.”Former world number three and 2019 Madrid runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas eked out a 3-6, 7-6[6], 7-6[4] win against American lucky loser Patrick Kypson.Currently ranked 80 in the world, the two-time Grand Slam finalist will square off with eighth-seeded Alexander Bublik in round two.The soon-to-be-retiring Gael Monfils lost his opener 6-3, 6-4 to Camilo Ugo Carabelli, marking his last time competing at the Madrid Open.Published on Apr 23, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sabalenka #Swiatek #enter")
![Madrid Open 2026: Sabalenka, Swiatek enter third round Aryna Sabalenka shook off some rust to post her first victory of the season on clay and extend her winning streak to 13 matches on Thursday at the Madrid Open.The world number one, who was playing her first match since she completed the Sunshine Double by winning Indian Wells and Miami last month, committed 26 unforced errors in her 7-5, 6-3 win over American Peyton Stearns in the second round in the Spanish capital.The defending champion, in search of a fourth career title at the Caja Magica, converted four of 12 break points against Stearns, double-faulted five times, and dropped serve twice, before she made it over the finish line to set up a third-round meeting with Romanian Jaqueline Cristian. Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her round of 64 match against Peyton Stearns of the United States of America.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her round of 64 match against Peyton Stearns of the United States of America.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
“I’m super happy to start with a win, even though maybe the tennis wasn’t that good, but I felt like with every game I was playing, the better I was playing, so I really hope in the next one I bring a better performance,” said Sabalenka, who has won a remarkable 24 of her 25 matches so far in 2026.Earlier, Iga Swiatek made quick work of her opening test in Madrid, breezing past Daria Snigur 6-1, 6-2 at the Caja Magica.The Polish fourth seed needed just 61 minutes to move past Snigur, who was coming off the first tour-level main draw victory of her career on clay over Daria Kasatkina.The Ukrainian qualifier saved four match points against Kasatkina on Wednesday, and secured the win by clinching the longest first-to-seven tiebreak at tour-level in eight years with a 15-13 scoreline.Snigur had little fight left in her for her clash with Swiatek, who barring a brief blip early in the second set was in fierce form as she continues her quest for a first clay-court title since she claimed a fourth Roland Garros crown nearly two years ago.“I’m very happy. Madrid is a special place to play, because of how special the tournament is, but also because of the conditions, so I’m happy that I adjusted well to them and was solid and just playing my game,” said Swiatek, who is contesting her second tournament under the guidance of her new coach Francis Roig. Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Swiatek, a champion in Madrid in 2024, swatted away three break points to open up a 5-0 lead inside 23 minutes and closed out the set eight minutes later after Snigur finally got on the board.Snigur enjoyed a much stronger start to the second set, finding the rhythm on her backhand to put pressure on Swiatek, who got broken for the first time in the contest to fall behind 0-2.The Ukrainian’s advantage was short-lived though as Swiatek struck right back and swept the next six games to book a third-round meeting with Ann Li.Meanwhile, Hungarian world number 63 Anna Bondar upset seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-4 to claim the first top-10 victory of her career.Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.Ex-world number one Naomi Osaka began her clay-court campaign with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Colombia’s Camila Osorio. She’ll play Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina for a spot in the last 16.Unheralded Paraguayan starsIn men’s action, Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo said he felt like he was living “a movie” after he dispatched former world number three Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4.The 21-year-old cracked the top 100 for the first time last month – following a 14-1 start to the season at the Challenger level – and is making his Masters 1000 debut this week. He is the first Paraguayan to compete in Madrid Open history and will next take on American 17th seed Learner Tien.“For me this is unbelievable. It looks like a movie, I don’t know what’s happening,” Vallejo told Tennis TV. “The other day I played on Manolo Santana centre court. Today I played here. I used to watch him (Dimitrov), all the highlights. The points that he did against me today, I used to watch it on TV and to play against him… wow, I can’t understand what’s happening. I’m just trying to enjoy all this.”Former world number three and 2019 Madrid runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas eked out a 3-6, 7-6[6], 7-6[4] win against American lucky loser Patrick Kypson.Currently ranked 80 in the world, the two-time Grand Slam finalist will square off with eighth-seeded Alexander Bublik in round two.The soon-to-be-retiring Gael Monfils lost his opener 6-3, 6-4 to Camilo Ugo Carabelli, marking his last time competing at the Madrid Open.Published on Apr 23, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sabalenka #Swiatek #enter](https://i3.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/u1bgih/article70898865.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-23T150504Z_1589292658_UP1EM4N15WEVX_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-MADRID.JPG?ssl=1 "Madrid Open 2026: Sabalenka, Swiatek enter third round Aryna Sabalenka shook off some rust to post her first victory of the season on clay and extend her winning streak to 13 matches on Thursday at the Madrid Open.The world number one, who was playing her first match since she completed the Sunshine Double by winning Indian Wells and Miami last month, committed 26 unforced errors in her 7-5, 6-3 win over American Peyton Stearns in the second round in the Spanish capital.The defending champion, in search of a fourth career title at the Caja Magica, converted four of 12 break points against Stearns, double-faulted five times, and dropped serve twice, before she made it over the finish line to set up a third-round meeting with Romanian Jaqueline Cristian. Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her round of 64 match against Peyton Stearns of the United States of America.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in action during her round of 64 match against Peyton Stearns of the United States of America.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
“I’m super happy to start with a win, even though maybe the tennis wasn’t that good, but I felt like with every game I was playing, the better I was playing, so I really hope in the next one I bring a better performance,” said Sabalenka, who has won a remarkable 24 of her 25 matches so far in 2026.Earlier, Iga Swiatek made quick work of her opening test in Madrid, breezing past Daria Snigur 6-1, 6-2 at the Caja Magica.The Polish fourth seed needed just 61 minutes to move past Snigur, who was coming off the first tour-level main draw victory of her career on clay over Daria Kasatkina.The Ukrainian qualifier saved four match points against Kasatkina on Wednesday, and secured the win by clinching the longest first-to-seven tiebreak at tour-level in eight years with a 15-13 scoreline.Snigur had little fight left in her for her clash with Swiatek, who barring a brief blip early in the second set was in fierce form as she continues her quest for a first clay-court title since she claimed a fourth Roland Garros crown nearly two years ago.“I’m very happy. Madrid is a special place to play, because of how special the tournament is, but also because of the conditions, so I’m happy that I adjusted well to them and was solid and just playing my game,” said Swiatek, who is contesting her second tournament under the guidance of her new coach Francis Roig. Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Swiatek, a champion in Madrid in 2024, swatted away three break points to open up a 5-0 lead inside 23 minutes and closed out the set eight minutes later after Snigur finally got on the board.Snigur enjoyed a much stronger start to the second set, finding the rhythm on her backhand to put pressure on Swiatek, who got broken for the first time in the contest to fall behind 0-2.The Ukrainian’s advantage was short-lived though as Swiatek struck right back and swept the next six games to book a third-round meeting with Ann Li.Meanwhile, Hungarian world number 63 Anna Bondar upset seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-4 to claim the first top-10 victory of her career.Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic eased past Petra Marcinko 6-4, 6-2 and will next take on Russian 18th seed Diana Shnaider in round three.Ex-world number one Naomi Osaka began her clay-court campaign with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Colombia’s Camila Osorio. She’ll play Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina for a spot in the last 16.Unheralded Paraguayan starsIn men’s action, Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo said he felt like he was living “a movie” after he dispatched former world number three Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4.The 21-year-old cracked the top 100 for the first time last month – following a 14-1 start to the season at the Challenger level – and is making his Masters 1000 debut this week. He is the first Paraguayan to compete in Madrid Open history and will next take on American 17th seed Learner Tien.“For me this is unbelievable. It looks like a movie, I don’t know what’s happening,” Vallejo told Tennis TV. “The other day I played on Manolo Santana centre court. Today I played here. I used to watch him (Dimitrov), all the highlights. The points that he did against me today, I used to watch it on TV and to play against him… wow, I can’t understand what’s happening. I’m just trying to enjoy all this.”Former world number three and 2019 Madrid runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas eked out a 3-6, 7-6[6], 7-6[4] win against American lucky loser Patrick Kypson.Currently ranked 80 in the world, the two-time Grand Slam finalist will square off with eighth-seeded Alexander Bublik in round two.The soon-to-be-retiring Gael Monfils lost his opener 6-3, 6-4 to Camilo Ugo Carabelli, marking his last time competing at the Madrid Open.Published on Apr 23, 2026 #Madrid #Open #Sabalenka #Swiatek #enter")
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