Illinois got its first live look at the 2026-27 team in Saturday’s exhibition against Cincinnati, and the scoreboard told a pretty clean story: a 105-96 win for the Illini. The film story was murkier.
With no televised broadcast, the read on this one came from the highlights the program put out, which means the brightest moments were front and center and the rough edges stayed out of view. Even so, there was enough there to sketch out a few clear takeaways.
The most eye-catching performance belonged to David Coleman. His line - 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists - would stand on its own, but the way he played made it look even better.
He was everywhere: battling on the glass, hounding on defense, and attacking the rim with real urgency. What popped most, though, was how easily he made plays for others.
Coleman repeatedly got downhill without forcing the issue, including two feeds to Tomislav Ivisic for open threes and a transition drive that ended with a kick-out to Jake Davis in the corner. He also showed his scoring range, finishing through contact and dropping in a crossover into a step-back triple.
Illinois looks like it has a real star in him.
Across from him, Petar Stojakovic put together the kind of scoring outing that makes life miserable for defenders. He was a constant problem getting to the rim, using spin moves, bump-lays, baby hooks and simple finishes to pile up points.
The production was there in a big way: 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 at the line. Still, the highlight reel also raised the same question that follows a player like this around - could he involve teammates more often?
Stojakovic rarely seems interested in drawing extra defenders before giving the ball up, even when the help is stacked against him. Last season, he averaged 1.0 assists, and with the shooting around him, Illinois would probably love to see that number creep closer to three per game off simple drive-and-kick opportunities.
The pace question got answered quickly. Illinois looked ready to run, and the answer was yes.
Coleman pushed it. Stojakovic pushed it.
Stefan Vaaks pushed it. Even Tomislav Ivisic got in on it, and that’s where the transition picture gets especially interesting.
The Illini clearly have the personnel to play with tempo, and once David Mirkovic returns, it’ll be worth seeing how he fits into that fastbreak mix. His transition decisions last season were as thrilling as they were nerve-racking, so the big question is whether Illinois lets him initiate the break again.
Ivisic’s night offered another encouraging sign. He went 3-for-4 from deep, but the more important part was the certainty behind it.
Last season, there were plenty of possessions where he looked hesitant. Saturday didn’t have that feel.
When he was open, he let it fly. He also did damage on the block with his familiar left-hand baby hook.
Then came one of the more fun clips from the night: Ivisic bringing the ball up himself and firing a no-look backdoor pass to Vaaks for an and-one. That kind of versatility makes this group hard to pin down.
Freshman Ethan Brown also made a strong first impression. He started, produced 15 points and five rebounds, and did it on 5-for-9 shooting without turning the ball over once.
Brown was active on the offensive glass, finished a putback, showed off a smooth floater and knocked down threes. The shot is the calling card here.
He went 3-for-7 from deep, has a compact jumper and a quick release, and clearly isn’t afraid to let it go. One second-half corner three over a closing Cincinnati big summed up the appeal pretty neatly: Brown looks like the kind of floor spacer who can matter right away for Illinois in 2026-27.
In Other News...
Jerrod Calhoun Just Saw Cincinnatis Biggest Early Test Get Harder
Cincinnati has already had to learn a few things early under new head coach Jerrod Calhoun, and the biggest lesson so far has been how quickly a preseason look can change. The Bearcats are 1-1 in exhibition play after a 105-96 home loss to Illinois, and Calhoun said the team is still sorting through where it stands while trying to build habits, piece together rotations and get a feel for who can handle bigger roles.
The more immediate challenge is that the Bearcats are doing it while managing some injury concerns, even as MJ Collins has returned to game action and remains eligible under a recent executive order. Calhoun also had reason to smile about the way the backcourt responded against Illinois, with Eric Mahaffey taking on the point guard duties in a stretch that showed the staff how flexible this roster may need to be if the early-season tests keep getting tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Get A Massive Homecoming Test With Extra Intrigue Attached
Saturdays homecoming matchup carries plenty of weight before the ball is even kicked, with Cincinnati set to welcome an unbeaten Texas Tech team in the Bearcats 100th Homecoming game. The setting alone gives the afternoon some extra shine, and the timing is even better for the program, with the UC Athletic Hall of Fame also staging its induction ceremony the day before. It should be one of those campus weekends where the game, the alumni buzz and the history all feed into one another.
There is also a layer of intrigue that goes beyond the record books, thanks to the Texas Tech roster connection to former UC quarterback Brendan Sorsby. His presence in the storyline adds a familiar face to an already compelling Big 12 test, even if circumstances will keep him from being part of the on-field drama. For Cincinnati, the assignment is straightforward enough and difficult enough at once: protect home turf on a milestone day and try to turn a celebratory weekend into a meaningful win. [Read more 🡒]
Ty Riley Gave Cincinnati Hope But Exposed An Early Bearcats Concern
Ty Riley offered Cincinnati a real jolt against Illinois, showing exactly why the Bearcats have reason to believe this group can score with more freedom than expected. He was comfortable as both a shooter and a table-setter, and coach Jerrod Calhoun had plenty to like in the way Riley stretched the floor and created for others while the roster's depth still leaves room for optimism.
The concern came at the other end, where Cincinnati had trouble controlling the glass and spent too much of the night chasing Illinois points. Giving up that many clean looks and losing the rebounding battle is the kind of early warning sign that can linger for a team still trying to sort out its identity, even with Calhoun acknowledging the defensive issues and pointing to the Bearcats' long-term potential. [Read more 🡒]