Illinois’ path to another deep run starts on the defensive end, and this year’s group is built to look a little different while keeping the same core goal.
Brad Underwood said the 2026-27 roster gives the Illini more size, length and athleticism than they had a year ago, and he expects that to shape how they play on that side of the floor.
“I think we’re more athletic, I think we’re bigger, I think we’re longer,” Underwood said. “I think our concepts are a little bit different, I think we’re trying to be a little more aggressive.”
That added physical profile is something Illinois defensive coordinator and assistant coach Camryn Crocker sees as a real advantage, especially if the team can use it the right way.
“It’s all going to be about containing, finding ways to protect the rim, and then using that length and athleticism with intelligence to play good team defense,” Crocker said.
The Illini still want the same basic result: take away easy layups, force tougher attempts and stay disciplined while they pressure opponents. The challenge is doing that without Kylan Boswell, last season’s top perimeter defender, who signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets.
Crocker made it clear there isn’t a simple substitute for that kind of player.
“It’s not a one-for-one replacement at all, but you know, we’ll guard collectively and this team has different strengths than last year, so it’s about finding out what our superpower is going to be,” Crocker said.
One player who has drawn attention on the perimeter is senior guard Andrej Stojakovic, who Underwood says has gotten bigger, stronger and more confident. For Stojakovic, the next step on defense is about carrying over the edge he found late last season.
“Continuing to show that I’m aggressive at the point of attack, pressure on the ball, things that gave me that motivation at the end of the season when things ramped up and we were in that state of ultra-focus,” Stojakovic said.
Inside, fifth-year center Zvonimir Ivisic is expected to anchor the rim protection. The 7-foot-2 big man was second in the Big Ten last season with 1.9 blocks per game and totaled 72 blocks.
Asked what he wants to do this year, Ivisic kept it short.
“Block more shots,” Ivisic said with a smirk.
Crocker said Ivisic changes the job description for everyone else on the floor, even while the whole team has to buy into protecting the rim.
“It’s important for everybody on our team to understand that it’s their job to be a rim protector… but don’t get me wrong, you have Z on your team, it makes everybody’s job easier,” Crocker said.
Underwood believes that if this team is going to reach places the program has never been before, defense will have to drive it. He pointed to last year’s late surge as proof.
“I’m excited about what this group can become defensively,” Underwood said. “There’s no doubt what our run was about late in the year, we got really good defensively.”
In Other News...
Illinois Just Faced A Tough Reality In Brady Pettigrew's Visit
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The timing of the trip added an unavoidable dose of reality, since Pettigrew was on hand for a football game Illinois lost to Purdue. Still, the visit underscored how much the Illini want to stay in the mix for a player who is expected to be a basketball recruit and has not reclassified. With UNC, Kentucky, Duke, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State and Arkansas also in the chase, Illinois knows the competition will stay fierce for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
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At 6-foot-4 and 350 pounds, Maileoi arrives with the kind of size Illinois can build around, and he had drawn interest from programs such as Kansas State and California before settling on the Illini. For a team trying to stabilize its offensive line pipeline, his pledge matters as much for what it says about the programs recruiting pitch as it does for the depth chart, because Illinois clearly sees him as part of the next wave up front. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Ran Into A Brutal Reality After Purdue Loss
Purdue left Gies Memorial Stadium with The Cannon, and Illinois was left staring at the sort of result that can reshape an early-season storyline. The Illini did not look sharp on either side of the ball in the Big Ten loss, with the defense surrendering 345 yards and the offense never finding much rhythm.
Katin Houser and the passing game never really settled in, which only added to the frustration for a team that came in trying to steady itself. After dropping three of its first five games, Illinois is now heading into a demanding stretch that includes multiple ranked opponents, leaving little margin for error if this season is going to get back on track. [Read more 🡒]