The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll says Illinois ranks No. 17 nationally. KenPom.com’s algorithms declare the Illini are No. 6. BartTorvik.com say Brad Underwood’s squad belongs at No. 8.
While it’s clear Illinois sits among college basketball’s best, it’s unclear when the Illini will have available all the players that led to these lofty plaudits.
There’s a reasonable chance one or two of Illinois’ expected starters will not play when SWAC contender Jackson State visits Champaign, Ill., on Monday to open the season.
Junior forward Andrej Stojakovic, who averaged 17.9 points last year at Cal, has been out for weeks since suffering a knee injury in practice. He has been working out but did not play Saturday when Illinois dropped a 96-86 decision to defending national champion Florida in a “secret scrimmage” held in Orlando, Fla.
Point guard Mihailo Petrovic, the 22-year-old Serbian who has excelled professionally in Europe, finally got cleared to play by the NCAA on Monday — but he has been struggling with a hamstring injury that limited his minutes against Florida.
On the plus side for Illinois, 7-foot-1 Tomislav Ivisic saw action less than three weeks after undergoing a tonsillectomy. The left-handed stretch five averaged 13.0 points and 7.7 rebounds last year.
He and senior guard Kylan Boswell (12.3 ppg, 3.4 apg) are the top returnees from last year’s crew that went 22-13 and reached the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
Stojakovic, Petrovic and Ivisic are part of the “Balkan Five” that Underwood has assembled this season. Hoping to relive the program’s run to the Elite Eight in 2023-24 — when Illinois’ rotation featured three fifth-year seniors and two fourth-year players — Underwood tried to find as much size and experience as possible.
That’s why the other two new arrivals in the Balkan Five are 7-foot-2 Arkansas transfer Zvonimir Ivisic — Tomislav’s older brother by four minutes — and 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward David Mirkovic. The 19-year-old from Montenegro boasts significant international experience, which he showed off in the Oct. 19 exhibition against Illinois State with Stojakovic, Petrovic and Tomislav Ivisic out.
Mirkovic piled up 19 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while hitting two 3-pointers in 30 minutes. Over the summer, Underwood said Mirkovic’s game has drawn comparisons to Houston Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun.
“We see his offensive stuff every day,” Underwood said. “He’s a unique guy for that size and that physicality. He’s not just a (play on the) block guy. He was a point guard for many years and I’ve been really impressed with his playmaking … It wouldn’t shock me at some point if he’s a big that had a triple-double.”
Jackson State has big plans to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. The Tigers, pegged to finish third in the SWAC’s preseason poll, welcome back three crucial pieces from the squad that lost last year’s SWAC title game by four points.
Senior guard Daeshun Ruffin, a 2021 McDonald’s All-American who started his career at Ole Miss, was voted the SWAC’s Preseason Player of the Year after averaging 15.7 points and 4.2 assists last season.
“He should have been player of the year at the end of (last) year,” Jackson State coach Mo Williams said. “Unfortunately, rules didn’t allow that last year … Even though he had a really good year, I expect a better year. His body is better this year. His confidence is better and his mindset is better — and understanding that he’s getting ready to be a professional athlete.”
Jayme Mitchell (10.4 ppg) and Dorian McMillian (10.2) also return.
