It's spooky season, so want to give Illinois fans a scare? Here’s an idea: Name any Big Ten guard from the 2025-26 campaign. We’ll go first: Jeremy Fears Jr., Nick Boyd, John Blackwell, Donovan Dent. Shall we go on?

OK, just one more – an honorable mention: Kayden Mingo. As a Penn State freshman guard, Mingo poured in 16 points against the Illini while adding five assists (and four steals, for good measure) in a too-close-for-comfort Illinois win.

On Friday, Illinois will again run into Mingo, now donning a Baylor uniform. So what can the Illini’s performance against Mingo tell us? Let’s break it down:

Will Baylor's Kayden Mingo torch Illinois, a la Cincinnati guard Tylen Riley?

Cincinnati Bearcats guard Tylen Riley (10) shoots from three point range in the first half of the CareSource Invitational exhibition game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. The Bearcats won 79-68.…