Is Illinois’ Tomislav Ivisic Being Overlooked Heading Into 2026-27?

In the 2025 offseason, there was a buzz in Champaign. After Illinois exited the 2025 NCAA Tournament in the second round and Illini coach Brad Underwood reconstructed his roster, there was a mildly optimistic expectation of a step forward in 2025-26.

And who did many believe was going to lead the charge? It certainly wasn’t Keaton Wagler or David Mirkovic, both of whom wound up being top-three scorers for the Illini as freshman. The general consensus was that Tomislav Ivisic, who in 2024-25 put up 13.0 points (on 62.0 percent shooting from two-point range and 35.7 percent from three), 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 blocks, would be the go-to option alongside transfer Andrej Stojakovic.

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In Ivisic’s first collegiate campaign, he was Illinois’ primary option when guard Kasparas Jakucionis wasn’t on the floor (until Will Riley blossomed late in the season). So it was only natural to assume the Illini would heap an even heavier load on Ivisic given that he had a full season under his belt and a full offseason of training.

Instead, Ivisic’s scoring, rebounding and passing numbers all dropped despite his playing only 1.4 fewer minutes per game. The culprit: Ivisic wasn’t involved in nearly as much action, and as a result he struggled to find his role with the 2025-26 Illini.

Fast-forward to the present day, and there are already outside expectations forming around every projected starter, including five-star guard Quentin Coleman, returners Stojakovic and Mirkovic and, of course, prized Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks. The noise around Ivisic? Crickets.

Why Tomislav Ivisic is overlooked entering 2026-27

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) reacts after losing to the Connecticut Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The issue last season: The Illini, like every othert college hoops…

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Publish date : 2026-06-18 05:01:00

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