Illinois has a little bit of everything, a chemistry experiment evolving on fast forward as the Fighting Illini kick off the season against Fairleigh Dickinson on November 2.
Picked third in the preseason Top 25, Illinois isn’t the same team that went to the Final Four in April. And that might be the scary part.
“Teams will have to figure out with us, our ability to get downhill, create space, and shoot threes, and kind of pick your poison,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said of the 2026-27 club.
Keaton Wagler was an All-American as a freshman and entered the NBA draft. The 19-year-old was selected No. 5 overall by the Clippers in a meteoric rise from unheralded recruit to the ball-dominant leader of Illinois’ best team in two decades.
Without him, Illinois does have adjustments to make.
Opponents? They have some to changes to consider, too.
Playing a marquee scrimmage in mid-October at Cincinnati without All-American David Mirkovic (foot), Illinois averaged 1.31 points per possession and had 14 3-pointers. They beat the Bearcats 105-96 behind Andrej Stojakovic’s 28 points and freshman Quentin Coleman. Coleman had 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Stefan Vaaks had 19 points and is in the argument as the best shooter on the roster.
Fairleigh Dickinson was 11-21 last season and not equipped to do much about Illinois’ vast arsenal.
But Illinois draws Penn, Texas Tech and Duke within the first five games of the season and all three can present challenges to Underwood’s chemistry test.
The Knights go from Champaign, Ill., to Indianapolis for a matchup with Butler and play Nebraska, Villanova, Oklahoma and Indiana as part of a rigorous opening month.
Fifth-year FDU coach Jack Castleberry has 10 new names on his roster joining a core that features returning NEC rookie of the year David Jevtic. A 6-foot-8 guard from Serbia, Jevtic averaged 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season.
“Our returning players will have a pivotal impact on this year’s squad,” Castleberry said. “Their game experience, understanding of our system and culture, combined with the major skill growth they’ve shown this offseason, is going to be a significant factor in our success.”
Among the newcomers is Pavle Stosic, who also hails from Serbia and has made college basketball stops at Pepperdine, Utah State and Gonzaga.
Mirkovic returned to practice on Oct. 13 and is easing back into the mix after foot surgery in August.
He’s expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.
–Field Level Media
