Illinois Basketball Availability Report for Michigan: Is Keaton Wagler a Go?

Wagler's wonky shoulder may not be 100 percent, but he is available to play in Friday's home game against the Wolverines

Feb 10, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) tries to control the ball in front of Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) during the second half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Less than a week ago, in Illinois' overtime loss at UCLA last Saturday, Illini guard Keaton Wagler suffered a nasty spill that sent him off the floor and into the locker room holding his left shoulder. It was a brief scare that seemed to end minutes later when Wagler returned to the game and finished with team highs of 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

But in Illinois coach Brad Underwood's Thursday press conference, the injury was brought up – and Underwood was non-committal about Wagler's status.

"He's had a lot of treatment," Underwood said of Wagler. "There's no doubt it was a hard, hard fall. It's a part of basketball. I think it shows how tough he is. It was a pretty good stinger – a little jolt through the shoulder and neck. But he's dedicated. He's tougher than heck."

Will Keaton Wagler play against Michigan?

Underwood never offered a straight answer about Wagler's availability for Friday's home game against Michigan (7 p.m. CT, FOX), though his non-response and the fact that Wagler returned to Saturday's game to play – and play well – seemed indication enough that the injury wasn't severe.

The Big Ten availability report release Friday afternoon several hours before tip-off at Champaign's State Farm Center confirmed it: Wagler wasn't listed on the report, meaning that even if his wonky shoulder isn't quite 100 percent, he should be a full go for the Wolverines.

Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell may be a tad banged up, but neither landed on the availability report for tonight. Looks like green lights all around. pic.twitter.com/VywWnQm8q5

— Jason Langendorf (@JasonLangendorf) February 27, 2026

Kylan Boswell, who ran into a nasty pick against the Bruins, was bloodied and also briefly left the floor in the game. He, too, failed to appear on Friday's availability report, which means the No. 10 Illini (22-6, 13-4 Big Ten) will have their full eight-man rotation up and running for the Wolverines (26-2, 16-1). Against the conference leaders and No. 3 team in the nation, they'll need it.