3 Things We Learned From Illinois Basketball’s Exhibition Games

We said it before Illinois basketball’s exhibition games and in the midst of them, and we’ll say it again afterwards: They mean nothing – the wins, losses and scores, that is. But each play, key stretch, half and overall game offers glimpses that can teach us about the Illini.

Now that the program’s three preseason games are in the books, here’s what we saw:

3 takeaways from Illinois basketball’s three exhibition games

Mar 26, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the South Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Quentin Coleman is even better than advertised

Quentin Coleman has yet to log an official minute as a college basketball player, but he is already a superstar. He will almost certainly be Illinois’ second-most valuable player behind preseason All-American David Mirkovic.

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Let’s check off the boxes: Coleman can shoot the cover off the ball – on the catch or off the bounce. He is an excellent downhill navigator and has elite body control and touch. Good ball-handler and space assessor. He’s great at drawing multiple bodies and finding open teammates. In general, he’s a very sound decision maker.

Put plainly: From a talent perspective, Coleman is absolutely off the charts. But then there’s his motor. Are you kidding? Up 40 in Wednesday’s home exhibition game against UIC, Coleman was chasing down rebounds like each was the final possession of the national title game.

Coleman, at 6-foot-4, led the Illini in rebounds in two of their three exhibition games. He was second on the team against the Flames, with seven boards. His defense, as a result of his top-shelf physical traits and all-out effort, is equally effective.

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The Illini are unfathomably deep

Nov 22, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Jason Jakstys (31) and Blake Fagbemi (8) pressure…

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Publish date : 2026-10-29 20:09:00

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