Big Ten Basketball Preseason Poll and Awards Revealed: Did Voters Get Illinois Right?

On Monday, multiple Big Ten preseason awards were revealed. The league itself released an 11-man All-Big Ten preseason team. And although the conference doesn’t have a preseason poll, The Columbus Dispatch’s annual poll, which is often viewed as the conference’s unofficial preseason measuring stick, also went live Monday.

Two Illini land on All-Big Ten preseason team

Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) passes the ball to forward David Mirkovic (0) in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Of the 11 players selected for honors by the Big Ten, two came from Illinois: David Mirkovic and Andrej Stojakovic. Interestingly, only two players on the list were unanimous selections, and Mirkovic – who seems to have All-American potential – wasn’t one of them. (They were Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., the Preseason Player of the Year, and Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort).

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Were any Illinois players snubbed by preseason awards voters?

Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) reacts to a foul call Saturday, March 21, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament second round game against the VCU Rams at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Not really. Stefan Vaaks, Tomislav Ivisic and Quentin Coleman have All-Big Ten upside, but none of those players should be viewed as preseason selections, even on an 11-man squad.No shame there. The Big Ten is an 18-team league with a ton of talent.

What about Mirkovic failing to earn unanimous status? A couple things to remember: 1) He is returning from foot surgery, and 2) he is projected to make a big leap. We still have to see it. Fears and Sandfort, both previous All-Big Ten selections, have already made theirs. An All-Big Ten selection may be the expectation for Mirkovic, but…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/big-ten-basketball-preseason-poll-104146849.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-06 10:41:00

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