3 Illinois basketball players who could help fill the David Mirkovic void if he misses time

The rumblings of Illinois basketball tipping off are getting stronger and stronger.

This weekend, we finally get some type of Illini action, as the men’s basketball team takes on Cincinnati in an exhibition game. Any Illinois basketball is good Illinois basketball.

Advertisement

Illinois is going to be without David Mirkovic. A summer injury and surgery has led to uncertainty about when Mirkovic will be back on the court, but he did practice for the first time on Monday.

This activity is a positive direction, but what if Mirkovic has to miss some regular season games? The first matchup is on November 2 against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Here are three Illinois basketball players who could help fill the David Mirkovic void if he misses time

Stefan Vaaks

Mirkovic brings a certain skill set to the table that is hard to replicate. I think Stefan Vaaks could pull elements of Mirkovic’s game and replace him for the time being.

Advertisement

I love Mirkovic’s ability to bring the ball up the court or get Illinois’ offense going from anywhere on the court. He can post up on the block, deliver passes, or pick-and-pop from three-point range.

Illinois could get a lot of that from Vaaks early on if Mirkovic misses time. At 6-foot-7, Vaaks is a mismatch for guards on the perimeter, as he is someone who can shoot over defenders but can also guard well with his length.

Vaaks will be able to back his man down easily in the paint with his size. Mirkovic has similar skills. He can shoot well from the perimeter, is a mismatch for his defender, and he can dominate at all three levels. Vaaks will be crucial if Mirkovic misses any time.

Zvonimir Ivisic

If Illinois is without Mirkovic for a minute, that is a big chunk of the offense and rebounding that is missing.

Advertisement

Mirkovic finished last season averaging 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He also shot 37.5% from three-point range. Illinois won’t have that scoring and rebounding, but someone like Zvonimir Ivisic could help put a band-aid on the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-illinois-basketball-players-could-231612445.html

Author :

Publish date : 2026-10-13 23:16:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.