When Illinois Needs a Bucket, Andrej Stojakovic Delivers
CHAMPAIGN - Illinois’ offense is built on movement, spacing, and exploiting mismatches. It’s a system that thrives on ball screens, smart reads, and team-oriented basketball.
But when the rhythm stalls - as it did in stretches against Michigan State - sometimes you just need a guy who can go get a bucket. That’s where Andrej Stojakovic comes in.
The sophomore wing has quietly become Illinois’ pressure release valve in tight games. Whether it’s Michigan State locking down the pick-and-roll or earlier battles with Texas Tech and Alabama, when the Illini need someone to create something out of nothing, Stojakovic has been that guy.
He’s had to adjust his game this season - and significantly. At Stanford and Cal, he was the focal point, a ball-dominant scorer who had the green light to attack.
At Illinois, on a top-10 team chasing a Big Ten title, the role is different. The touches are fewer, the shots more selective.
He’s averaging over three fewer field goal attempts per game than last season, and his usage rate has dipped by 4%, per KenPom.
Still, he’s finding ways to make an impact. His scoring average has dropped from 17.9 points per game to 13.7, but the trade-off has been wins - and a lot of them. Illinois is 20-4 overall and 11-2 in the Big Ten, already cruising past Cal’s total from last year.
Against Michigan State, when Illinois’ usual offensive flow hit a wall, Stojakovic stepped up. He poured in 17 points on 14 shots, doing most of his damage in the paint - not by dominating the ball, but by picking his spots and attacking when the defense was most vulnerable.
It’s the kind of performance that doesn’t always show up in highlight reels but matters in the margins - especially in March. In a system designed to move the ball and wear teams down, having a player who can break script and create something when the play breaks down is a luxury. Stojakovic has embraced that role, sacrificing volume for efficiency and team success.
And when Illinois needs a bucket, he’s ready.