Speculation. After a very disappointing end to the season for the Fighting Illini, the word “speculation” has been a popular word surrounding Brad Underwood’s squad. We have been wondering which members of this team would be returning to the school to continue their career in the navy and orange, and which ones would be departing for the league or the transfer portal.

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the fans of this proud program, with the likes of Kylan Boswell leading the headlines coming out of Champaign. But THANKFULLY…….we finally have some news regarding our senior PG.

Run it back. 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/adl7OE9P6N

— Kylan Boswell (@BamBam_Boz) April 2, 2025

BOZ IS STAYING HOME! The Champaign native will be keeping his feet PLANTED in the State Farm Center, and will be returning to the team for the 2025-2026 season. He is the first major name from last year’s roster to confirm that he would be staying with the team, with the likes of Morez Johnson Jr. and Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn deciding to opt for the portal.

Boswell, for those of you who are unaware, was a major piece of the puzzle for Illinois’ run to the tournament last season. In the 35 games that he played, the former Arizona Wildcat put up a solid stat-line consisting of;

12.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 42.7 FG%

He was a legit “baller,” as the kids like to say nowadays. He was such an important part to this team’s success, to the point where he was LITERALLY the only thing that kept them afloat in their loss to Kentucky in this year’s NCAA Tournament. He was the living embodiment of “you go, we go,” putting up 23 points on 64% shooting from the field.

It was a performance that made us fans proud to have him on our squad, and anxious that he would possibly depart for the league. But NOW, after weeks of speculation……our prayers have been answered. #4 is not going anywhere!

This is HUGE NEWS for the program as a whole. This team needed to secure a “veteran voice” of some kind, to help carry on the culture that Brad Underwood established a number of years. ago. With Tre White and Ty Rodgers reportedly testing the waters in the portal, Brad Underwood needed an upperclassman to help lead this team next season. And he got one!

Now, let’s build around Kylan Boswell, and run it back. Avenge the travesty that was the Kentucky game. But in the end, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.