What Illinois Basketball Would Need From Zvonimir Ivisic as a Starter

The average minutes played by Zvonimir Ivisic in each of his three seasons of college hoops: 11.7, 19.1 and 17.2, respectively. That second season – which he spent at Arkansas – saw him start 19 games. Even then, he cracked the 30-minute mark just four times.

Ivisic also started four games for the Illini a season ago, surpassing 25 minutes just once. You get the idea. At no point in his career has Ivisic been a high-minutes player. Illinois prefers to play Big Z in short spurts – and he appears to be most effective in that role.

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A player who relies heavily on his motor, Ivisic primarily creates value as a defender and rebounder – both of which require lots of energy. And his other key skill – shooting – tends to dwindle as his minutes climb. (Consider: He has played more than 30 minutes five times in his career and, despite being a career 72.0 percent free-throw shooter, went a combined 2-for-7 from the line in those games.)

But if Illini forward David Mirkovic, who just underwent foot surgery, misses game time in 2026-27 (his expected return timetable is still uncertain), then Ivisic will likely be thrust into the starting lineup – or, at the very least, see a sharp uptick in his minutes. Will Big Z be ready for prolonged action, and what do the Illini need to see from him in those minutes?

Zvonimir Ivisic’s starting role if David Mirkovic misses time

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Zvonimir Ivisic (44) shoots the ball against the UConn Huskies during the first half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There are two routes Illinois could elect to take if Ivisic is pushed into the lineup at the beginning of the upcoming season:

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1) Expand his responsibilities. Theoretically, without Mirkovic, who is going to be the “mobile” frontcourt defender? Who can the Illini stick on athletic opposing 4s?…

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Publish date : 2026-08-11 22:28:00

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