Brad Underwood is sitting on a real opening in 2026, and the path to Big Ten Coach of the Year feels pretty clear: Illinois needs the kind of season that turns promise into hardware.
The biggest box to check is another NBA Draft success story. Underwood’s track record there has already become part of the program’s pitch.
Over the past five years, he has developed five prospects, with four going in the first round. That group includes Dosunmu, Round 2.
Pick 38; Shannon Jr., 1.27; Jakucionis, 1.20; Riley 1.21; Wagler 1.5. Those numbers do more than decorate a résumé.
They tell NBA scouts that Illinois can get players ready for the next level.
The proof has already shown up on the league stage, too. Dosunmu and Shannon Jr. both gave Minnesota Timberwolves fans postseason moments last year, and that only helps Underwood and his staff look sharper.
Now the program has also watched phenom Keaton Wagler make his NBA debut and deliver 15 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench. That kind of start only strengthens the argument that Illinois keeps producing talent.
And with Andrej Stojakovic, Stefan Vaaks and David Mirkovic in the mix, there’s a real chance Underwood lands another first-rounder in Brooklyn - maybe more than one.
The other big swing factor is a freshman breakout, and not the obvious one. Quentin Coleman already looked the part in the first exhibition game, so the spotlight shifts to the lower-profile guys the staff found and developed.
Ethan Brown made a strong early case against Cincinnati. He started over Vaaks, finished with the third-most minutes on the team, and posted 15 points, five rebounds and two assists.
For an under-recruited three-star combo guard, that’s a statement. Illinois was the only high major program to offer him.
There’s also a familiar thread here. Wagler came to Illinois through a similar path, and Tyler Underwood found both players. Brown’s exhibition showing doesn’t lock in anything for the regular season, but it does suggest there’s real upside there.
Lincoln Williams is another freshman worth watching. The three-star late addition committed in June, then started turning heads in summer workouts with athletic plays and defensive flashes.
He only logged seven minutes in the exhibition, but those minutes came in end-of-half situations or when the lead was slipping away. That told the story: Underwood trusted him in “need a stop” moments.
If one of those freshmen pops the way Wagler did, it would say plenty about the staff. It would show Illinois can still win with high school recruits while also working the portal, something plenty of programs have stopped trying to do.
Then there’s the part that would really make the award case official: a conference championship. Illinois is coming in at No. 3 in the AP Preseason Poll, and David Mirkovic being named a preseason All-American adds more fuel to the hype.
Still, the Big Ten is the Big Ten. Six teams reached the Sweet Sixteen last year, which says everything about how brutal the league can be.
Michigan State is the obvious hurdle again. Tom Izzo and the Spartans continue to loom, and Illinois fans know that all too well.
The good news for the Illini is that they only face Michigan State once, at the State Farm Center, and that game doesn’t arrive until Feb. 5.
Underwood has come close to Big Ten Coach of the Year before, and a conference title may have been the missing piece. If Illinois beats Michigan State in February and puts together the kind of season its talent suggests, there’s a strong case that he finally gets the award. The only thing left is hoping nobody like Fred Hoiberg or Ben McCollum sneaks into the race again.
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There was at least a hint of progress against Michigan State, where Illinois did a better job of limiting explosive plays and came up with a key pass breakup late. Bielema has made it clear the focus remains on shrinking those big gains and creating turnovers, two areas that can quickly change the feel of a game when the defense is still trying to settle in. Whether the bye week turns that improvement into something more lasting is the part Illinois will find out soon enough. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Davis Still Holds A Huge Role In Illinois' Next Run
Jake Davis carved out a much bigger place for himself in Illinois 2025-26 season, moving into the starting lineup for 22 games and giving the Illini a reliable wing option when they needed one. His value went beyond the box score, too. A 40.6 percent mark from three made him a real floor-spacer, and his growth on the defensive end helped him become more than just a specialist as Illinois pushed all the way to the Final Four.
Now heading into his senior season, Davis is positioned to remain one of the more important pieces in the rotation. For a team that has seen firsthand how much a dependable shooter and steady veteran can matter in March, his combination of spacing, efficiency and leadership gives Illinois a familiar kind of stability as it tries to make another deep run. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces Its Biggest Test Yet Without Its Starting QB
Illinois heads into its October 24 matchup with Oregon at Gies Memorial Stadium in an unusual spot, with both sides dealing with the absence of their starting quarterback. The Illini will lean on freshman Michael Clayton II in a game that suddenly looks far different from the one circled on the schedule, while Oregon is expected to turn to backup Dylan Raiola as the Ducks come in shorthanded too.
For Illinois, the timing adds another layer of pressure in what was already shaping up as a major measuring-stick game. Injury reports have become central to the buildup, along with the numbers that help frame how each offense may have to adjust, and the expert predictions reflect how much the missing quarterbacks change the feel of the matchup. Even with the uncertainty, this still looks like one of the biggest tests on the Illini calendar. [Read more 🡒]