The poll results are in: Here’s a closer look at No. 3 Illinois.
3. ILLINOIS
2025-26 record: 28-9
Outlook for 2026-27: Though second-team All-American guard Keaton Wagler went one-and-done to the NBA, Brad Underwood retained three starters and two other key players from last year’s Final Four team. Underwood believes this team is so deep that he switched to a breakneck “no plays” offense designed to take advantage of his skilled players.
What we like: The Illini averaged 99.0 points in their three exhibitions while making 40 of 96 3-point attempts (41.7%) — and they did it without preseason All-American power forward David Mirkovic. Illinois’ spread attack creates plenty of open space for Andrej Stojakovic, freshman Quentin Coleman, Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks and others to attack.
Trouble ahead: The 6-foot-9 Mirkovic has no timetable for returning from the foot surgery he underwent in early August. He then suffered another health setback when he underwent an emergency appendectomy Saturday night, Underwood said Sunday. Mirkovic will miss Monday’s season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson. There isn’t another natural power forward with experience, so the Ivisic twins, Tomislav and Zvonimir, must do more on the glass and as rim protectors.
Top newcomer: Coleman, a 6-foot-4 freshman from St. Louis, averaged a double-double while playing for Team USA at the U18 AmeriCup this summer. He slashes, shoots and defends, and currently is projected to become Illinois’ second one-and-done lottery pick in as many years.