David Mirković’s offseason work at Illinois is turning heads, and the latest workout photo made that pretty clear.
The Illinois basketball social media team posted a look at the sophomore forward in the weight room, and the picture showed a player who has clearly added size since the season ended. For Illini fans, it was the kind of offseason snapshot that sparks real buzz, because Mirković already looked like a major piece of what comes next in Champaign.
That matters even more after Illinois came up short in the Final Four last season. Head coach Brad Underwood has spent the offseason trying to get the Illini back to that stage and push one step further toward the National Championship. Illinois did lose leading scorer Keaton Wagler to the NBA, but Underwood handled the rest of the roster well, kept key pieces in place, and used the transfer portal to fill in the gaps.
Mirković was one of the biggest keepers.
The 6-foot-9 Montenegro native had a strong freshman season, averaging 13.3 points per game while leading the team with 8.0 rebounds per game. He also shot 48.4% from the floor. With Wagler now in L.A. with the Clippers, the path is open for Mirković to take on a bigger role and potentially emerge as Illinois’ top player next season.
Underwood gave a clearer picture of where things stand this week as summer workouts ramp up. One update was that Andrej Stojaković has not yet returned to the court after having his knee scoped and is still recovering. Underwood did not sound alarmed about that situation.
The other note that stood out was Mirković’s commitment to staying in Champaign all summer instead of going home to play for his national team. He has been working with assistant coach Adam Fletcher and spending plenty of time around the program.
“I think he truly understands the benefits of Adam Fletcher and getting his body right, being in the best shape that he can be,” Underwood told the media.
Underwood made it clear he believes Mirković is ready for a major leap.
“I think he understands he's one of the best players in college basketball, he wants to capitalize on making the most of that opportunity,” Underwood said.
That confidence lines up with what Illinois is seeing in the gym right now. Mirković appears locked in, physically improved, and positioned for a big sophomore season. With a solid roster returning and Underwood back at the helm, Illinois has the look of a team built for another strong run.
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Brad Underwood Is Betting Everything On Illinois Taking The Next Step
Brad Underwood has spent the offseason treating Illinois run to the Final Four as a step, not a finish line. After getting that far last spring, the Illini now look built for another serious push, with Andrej Stojakovi back in Champaign and David Mirkovic among the key returners giving the roster a different kind of continuity heading into next season.
The challenge, of course, is whether Illinois can turn that optimism into the kind of leap Underwood is openly chasing. The Illini are already being viewed as a Big Ten favorite and carry some of the better national championship odds in the country, which means expectations will be attached from the start. The next answer will come not from the hype, but from how quickly this group settles into the pressure that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Underwood Thinks This Illini Team Is Finally Getting Tougher
Brad Underwood spent part of the offseason talking less about scheme and more about the kind of body blow Illinois needs to bring every night. The Illini coach praised strength coach Adam Fletcher for the physical work done in the weight room, and he singled out David Mirkovic as one of the players who has kept making strides in that area. For a team trying to raise its floor going into the new season, that kind of development matters as much as any new wrinkle on the board.
Underwoods bigger point was about edge. He wants more aggressiveness and tenacity on defense, with steals, blocks and general disruption coming from the entire roster instead of being left to one player or one position. Illinois had enough individual rim protection last season to survive in stretches, but the next step is making that toughness part of the group identity, not a nightly exception. [Read more 🡒]