Basketball

With so many roles and player options on this Illinois roster, Andrej Stojakovic may have identified himself as the Illini’s closer in 2025-26 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Despite always promoting positionless players in the Brad Underwood era, Illinois has always valued one position of importance on a basketball roster - closer.

In a program that has already identified late-game, go-to options such as Ayo Dosunmu, Terrance Shannon Jr. and even last year with veteran Kylan Boswell and the one-and-done freshmen of Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley, Andrej Stojakovic has now made an early-season argument for that to be his role in the 2025-26 season.

By IlliniGuys Staff November 11, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

November 11, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The #11 Texas Tech squad comes to Champaign on Tuesday night in a showdown of top 15 teams. Both teams are 2-0 and come in with high hopes for the season. Illinois will be without big man Tomislav Ivisic, but should get guard Mihailo Petrovic back for this one as Brad Underwood said he is dressing. That should help as the Illini look to get a home win against a ranked non-conference opponent.

Here are the particulars.

Setting the Stage
#14 Illinois (2-0) vs. #11 Texas Tech (2-0)
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: FS1 – Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play), Steve Smith (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notable
*No. 14 Illinois hosts the third contest of a four-game, season-opening homestand on Tuesday night, welcoming No. 11 Texas Tech to State Farm Center (7:30 p.m. CT / FS1). Illinois carries a four-game home winning streak.

*The Fighting Illini are off to a 2-0 start to their 121st season of men’s basketball with blowout wins over Jackson State (113-55) and Florida Gulf Coast (113-70). Illinois is looking to start 3-0 for the fifth time under Brad Underwood, and the third time in the last four seasons.

*In facing No. 11 Texas Tech, Illinois is in search of its highest ranked win since a 109-77 victory at No. 9 Oregon last season (Jan. 2, 2025). Illinois is aiming for its highest ranked home win, meanwhile, since beating No. 11 Wisconsin, 80-67, at State Farm Center on Feb. 2, 2022.

*Forward David Mirkovic was named Monday as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after back-to-back double-doubles to open his college career against Jackson State (19 points, 14 rebounds) and Florida Gulf Coast (18 points, 11 rebounds) while becoming the first Illini freshman to record a double-double in his college debut since Kofi Cockburn in 2019. Mirkovic averaged 18.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists on the week.

*Senior Kylan Boswell enters Tuesday’s game 21 points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career (979).

*Illinois has 27 victories over ranked opponents since the start of the 2019-20 season, another highlight of the job Brad Underwood has done rebuilding the Fighting Illini program.

*The Illini’s 27 ranked wins since 2019-20 are tied for ninth nationally over the last six-plus seasons:

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer November 11, […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

November 10, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Phenom Hoops Report)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois men’s basketball program continues to pursue some of the nation’s best high school talent this fall, targeting players who fit Brad Underwood’s system.

While the Illini have missed out on a few major recruiting targets, they secured a key commitment from 6-foot-6 wing Lucas Morillo, a rising player whose national ranking has continued to climb.

Next on the commitment watch list is highly regarded 6-foot-6 wing Adam Oumiddoch from Overtime Elite. Oumiddoch is set to announce his college decision Wednesday, with Illinois, Oregon, LSU, St. John’s, and Villanova among his final choices.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]

The new-look Illinois lineup and rotation found itself in a tight game against upstart Illinois State highlighting the good, bad and very encouraging future of this Illini squad.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 9, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There are going to be times early in this 2025-26 season where Shauna Green won’t agree that new isn’t better and she certainly won’t think it’s fun.

The Illinois women’s basketball’s 75-65 win over Illinois State on Sunday will likely be one of those times.

“It’s a constant learning every single possession of my life,” Green said in describing her feelings of still trying to figure out this 2025-26 roster. “

Yes, in a complete reversal of last season’s depth issues, Illinois

By IlliniGuys Staff November 9, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Illinois vs. Illinois […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 8, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – It was, in head coach Shauna Green’s words, one of the harder basketball games to watch, but it was a game that helped prepare the Illinois women’s basketball team for a season in a multitude of ways.

If you weren’t able to catch Tuesday night’s game because it was on Big Ten Plus, or you just had other plans, you may be wondering why a 91-67 season-opening win over Southeast Missouri State may have been hard to watch. Tracing your finger down to the team’s row in the box score for the personal fouls column will tell you why: the officiating crew called 58 personal fouls across 40 minutes of game time.

“It was tough to watch for everyone, I think, but it is what it is,” Green said

Illinois All-Big Ten center Tomislav Ivisic’s future status is […]

By IlliniGuys Staff November 7, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

November 7, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

A familiar face comes to Champaign with Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night when former Penn State coach Pat Chambers graces the sidelines. Chambers was 7-5 against Illinois over 9 seasons and will be looking for a major upset in this one as he attempts to make his mark at FCGU. The Illini are looking to take care of business as they prepare for a gauntlet of difficult games in the next 2 months heading into Big Ten play.

Here’s a preview of what to expect.

Setting the Stage
#17/14 Illinois (1-0) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (1-0)
Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
Stream: Peacock – Paul Burmeister (Play-by-Play), Nick Bahe (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notable
Illinois enters Friday’s contest having won three consecutive games at State Farm Center overall….. Illinois is looking to start 2-0 or better for the seventh straight season under head coach Brad Underwood…..Friday’s matchup is the first meeting in the series between Illinois and Florida Gulf Coast. FGCU coach Pat Chambers previously served at Penn State, where he was 7-5 against the Illini during nine seasons…. Friday marks the Fighting Illini’s first matchup all-time vs. Florida Gulf Coast….Brad Underwood has never coached against the Eagles in his 13-year career as a head coach.

By Kedric Prince - Staff Writer

November 6, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The “other” true freshman guard that no one seemed to talk much about leading up to the season is Brandon Lee from The Patrick School in New Jersey. Lee joins the Illinois men’s basketball program with a strong family legacy. His father, Butch Lee, starred at Marquette and was named the Most Outstanding Player in the 1977 NCAA Tournament.

Brandon Lee built his own impressive resume before arriving in Champaign. He scored over 2,000 points during his high school career and, in 2024, finished as the third-leading scorer in the EYBL circuit, averaging 23 points per game. He was also named Breakout MVP of the 17U division.

IlliniGuys caught up with Lee for a Q&A session during the preseason as he adjusts to life in college basketball.