How will Brad Underwood balance minutes for a loaded Illinois roster?

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Head coach Brad Underwood’s Illini went hunting for promising additions this offseason, and succeeded at doing so, landing multiple elite freshmen and a proven transfer. But with a chunk of Illinois’ veteran core returning to Champaign, Underwood will have to figure out how to carve minutes out for the new faces without disrupting the chemistry of the established vets. 

Quentin Coleman & Stefan Vaaks: 26-30 minutes

Illini fans assume five-star freshman Quentin Coleman will step right into the starting lineup, filling the point guard role that Keaton Wagler left. Alongside him, Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks, coming off an Estonian League Championship and Big East All-Freshman Team selection, will likely step into the shooting guard role after averaging 15.8 points per game while shooting 35% from 3-point range with the Friars last season. 26-30 minutes per game is a realistic expectation for both of the newcomers in the starting five. 

David Mirkovic & Andrej Stojakovic: 28-30 minutes

After his standout freshman campaign in orange and blue last season, David Mirkovic has virtually locked down his spot in Underwood’s ideal starting lineup. Mirkovic started 35 out of Illinois’ 36 games last season.

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Stojakovic though, sat on the bench for 11 games behind Jake Davis during the back end of last season after returning from injury. There’s a question mark as to whether Underwood will replicate that rotation, but given Stojakovic’s scoring production as Illinois’ second-leading scorer last season, it still would be somewhat of a surprise to see him start the season on the bench if he’s fully healthy. Jake Davis earned that spot through rebounding and defensive grit, high IQ spacing and consistent 3-point shooting. But if Stojakovic used this offseason to develop his rebounding and defensive abilities, his ceiling is much higher. 28-30 minutes per game for Stojakovic is a realistic prediction.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 04: Andrej Stojakovic #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini controls the ball in the first half against the Connecticut Huskies in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men’s…

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Publish date : 2026-08-27 20:00:00

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