By IlliniGuys Staff

January 25, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood confirmed Saturday afternoon that sophomore center Tomislav Ivisic has contracted mononucleosis and will miss Sunday's home game against Northwestern.

The news was first reported by CBS' Jon Rothstein and several other outlets.

The 7-foot-1 center missed Thursday's loss to Maryland and Underwood said afterwards that he wasn't sure of his availability this weekend.

Underwood said Ivisic, who was on the bench in street clothes on Thursday, is no longer contagious.

The native of Croatia has been Illinois' second best player this season, leading the team in rebounds with 8.5 per game and second to Kasparas Jakucionis in scoring with 13.5 point per contest. He recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds in Illinois' win at Indiana on January 7th before scoring 13 points in the loss at Michigan State last Sunday.

His absence leaves 6-foot-10 freshman Morez Johnson Jr. as the only other active center and forced Underwood to play stretch forward Ben Humrichous and little used sophomore forward Carey Booth at center against the Terrapins.

Illinois faces Northwestern on Sunday at 2:00pm CT. The game can be seen on Big Ten Network. The Illini lost to the Wildcats 70-66 in Evanston last month.