If Illinois needed any early proof that Andrej Stojakovic is ready for a bigger stage, Monday delivered it fast. Against FDU, he barely gave anyone time to settle in before he was already at 20 points, and by the end of the night the message was hard to miss: he looks comfortable, confident and ready to carry more.
Yes, the opponent matters. FDU was blown out 120-45 and shot just 28%.
But Stojakovic’s performance still stood out for how smooth it looked. The hair may have caught your eye first; the way he played should have done the rest.
This is also the first time in his college career that he’s back in the same program for a second season, and that continuity seems to be paying off. He was one of the players who could take over stretches of games last year, got direct feedback from NBA scouts this spring, and now appears to be settling into the veteran role Illinois needs from him.
The coaching staff described him as “intoxicated with winning” and, when asked how he wants to finish his college career, he answered: “Become a national champion. Pretty easy.”
The fit with Illinois is obvious. No one seems better suited to the way the Illini want to play than Stojakovic.
Illinois pushes the pace, runs the floor, rebounds hard and tries to get downhill before defenses are set. That lines up neatly with his game.
At 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, he has the size to finish through contact. What really separates him, though, is how many ways he can score once he gets there.
He can finish with either hand, absorb a bump, spin away from help or work through a double team. Put that into a system built on speed and pressure, and he looks like a player who can pile up points in a hurry.
The added bonus is that his game is expanding beyond scoring. His assist total against FDU matched his career high at Illinois, and that matters because last season there were times when his scoring focus made the offense too predictable.
The ball could stick. Defenses could load up.
That hasn’t been the same story so far. He’s been more willing to drive and kick, move the ball and keep the possession flowing, which gives Illinois more options and also opens up cleaner chances for him to create his own shot.
That was on display in the exhibition against Cincinnati too, when he led the game in scoring with 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting, hit all eight of his free throws and played 28 minutes. It was another efficient outing, and another sign that the role fits.
The one area that still needs work is the three-point shot. Stojakovic doesn’t have to live off the perimeter, but he does need to be better than 24% from deep.
Through three games this year, he’s 2-of-6, which is already a step up from last season. He doesn’t need to launch threes all night, but he does need defenses to respect him out there.
That extra layer matters, especially after last year showed how one-dimensional his game could become at times.
Illinois also needs him more now. Jake Davis is out indefinitely after shoulder surgery, and Brad Underwood said there’s no replacement for him.
David Mirkovic is still working back from foot surgery and an emergency appendectomy. That leaves the Illini short on starters before November is even over.
Still, this is not unfamiliar territory for Stojakovic. When Kylan Boswell broke his hand last January, Underwood leaned on him, and he responded with 30 points, nine rebounds and two blocks against Maryland. This situation is bigger, but the assignment is the same: step up.
So far, he’s doing exactly that. Through the early part of 2026, Stojakovic looks like a different player, one whose skill set has grown and whose appetite for winning has only sharpened after reaching a Final Four just a few months ago.
In Other News...
Quentin Coleman Just Gave Illinois Fans A Reason To Dream Big
Quentin Colemans first official college game gave Illinois something it can build on early, and it came in a way that should resonate with anyone watching the roster take shape. Against Fairleigh Dickinson, the freshman guard filled the box score with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in 23 minutes, all while avoiding turnovers. For a player making his debut, it was the kind of all-around showing that suggests he can help in more than one way right away.
The analytics crowd noticed, too. EvanMiyas Bayesian Performance Rating had Coleman making the biggest jump in the country after the game, vaulting him to No. 28 nationally, and he was hardly alone in the surge. Three other Illinois freshmen also posted notable BPR gains from the same outing, giving the Illini a little more reason to believe their young core may be ahead of schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Already Looks Like A National Title Threat Despite Early Concern
Illinois opened the season with a convincing win over Fairleigh Dickinson even while dealing with key injuries, and the early returns were strong enough to push the Illini to No. 1 in Evan Miyakawas college basketball analytical ranking. For a team that entered the year with some concern about how it would hold up without a full roster, the opener offered a clear reminder of just how high the ceiling can be when the system is clicking on both ends.
Penn is next on the schedule, which should give Illinois another chance to show whether that opening-night performance was a one-off statement or the start of something bigger. The numbers behind the ranking suggest this group already belongs in the national-title conversation, but the real test will come as the competition sharpens and the injury situation continues to be part of the backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Has A Chance To Keep Rolling Before A Future Twist Emerges
Illinois gets Nebraska at Gies Memorial Stadium on November 6 with a chance to keep its momentum rolling after three straight wins. The Fighting Illini are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play, and theyll meet a Cornhuskers team that arrives in the same overall spot but has dropped three in a row.
There is also a larger picture taking shape beyond this weeks matchup, with Illinois and Notre Dame set to play a two-game series in 2027 and 2028. For now, though, the focus stays on Nebraska and on whether the Illini can keep building before that future wrinkle comes into view. [Read more 🡒]