Illinois got a little more clarity on David Mirkovic’s status after Brad Underwood spoke again following the Illini’s season-opening win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday.
Underwood had already revealed Sunday that the Preseason All-American forward had taken a setback while coming back from a foot injury and needed an emergency appendectomy. On Monday, he addressed the key question about the procedure itself.
“No, there was a slight - what do they call it? I’m the wrong person to ask,” Underwood said in response to a question on whether Mirkovic’s appendix burst.
“But it didn’t burst. But it was laparoscopically removed.”
That detail matters. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a laparoscopic appendectomy is one of the two main types of appendectomy, along with the more invasive open procedure.
If the appendix ruptures, recovery usually takes longer. Since Mirkovic’s appendix did not burst and was removed laparoscopically, the recovery window could be relatively short - potentially as little as a week, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
That said, there are still plenty of moving parts here. Every recovery is different, Illinois has a history of being careful with returns, and Mirkovic is still dealing with the foot injury that had him working back in the first place. He’ll also need to rebuild conditioning, which adds another layer to the timeline.
So while the appendectomy may not end up being the major setback it first sounded like, it’s still not possible to pin down exactly when he’ll be back.
What Illinois does know is what Mirkovic could mean for an offense that already put up 120 points in the opener. Underwood didn’t hide his excitement about getting him back into the mix.
“I go to bed every night dreaming of that,” Underwood said of Illinois' offense once Mirkovic is added to the mix.
He also pointed to the forward’s conditioning and versatility as the biggest things to watch when he returns.
“The biggest thing for him back will be conditioning. I mean he was in such elite shape this summer.
But he was exceptional in all those aspects because it takes two to guard him. And he was on the ball a lot, bringing the ball up the court.
“And then his ability to facilitate and make others better. Got to put a big on him.
You got to put a small on him. And we have the ability to adjust quite a bit.
So I think what we’re doing is not plays, it’s concepts. So I think it’s much easier to fit him back into the mold when that time comes.”
In Other News...
Illinois Blowout Came With A New Injury Concern Fans Will Hate
Illinois put together a lopsided win over Fairleigh Dickinson, rolling to a 120-45 victory that never left much doubt once the game got going. The night was supposed to be about a dominant performance and another chance to build momentum, but it also brought an unwelcome turn when Jake Davis went down with a shoulder injury and did not return.
Brad Underwoods postgame update did little to ease the concern, saying the injury did not sound good even though the full diagnosis was still unknown. For a team coming off such a runaway result, the bigger question now is how long it might have to manage without Davis and what the setback means as Illinois moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Got More Proof This Roster Is Nationally Respected
Illinois keeps collecting signs that the rest of the sport is paying close attention, and the latest comes from the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Tomislav Ivisic, David Mirkovic and Andrej Stojakovic were all named to the Jersey Mikes Naismith Trophy Mens College Player of the Year Watch List, another reminder that this roster is being viewed through a national lens before the season even gets rolling.
For Illinois, the recognition also speaks to how much talent is packed into a group that helped fuel last seasons run to the Final Four. Ivisic, Mirkovic and Stojakovic each bring a different rsum and skill set, but the common thread is clear: the Illini are not just hoping to be good, they are carrying the kind of individual star power that puts them in the same conversation with the countrys top programs. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Already Showed Two Early Changes Fans Will Be Watching
Illinois opened the season against Fairleigh Dickinson with a look that suggested Brad Underwood is still sorting out exactly how he wants this group to function. The Illini mixed in full-court pressure and zone defense, a reminder that the staff is willing to vary the approach early while trying to find the right blend of disruption and discipline on that end of the floor.
Zvonimir Ivisic also drew attention for a different reason, as one of the teams top reserves did not get the kind of early run some might have expected. He played limited minutes and checked in later than other frontcourt options, which adds another layer to the lineup questions Illinois is already exploring as the rotation takes shape. [Read more 🡒]