Illinois may not be built around Zvonimir Ivisic playing heavy minutes, but the possibility is there if the frontcourt picture changes.
Across his three college seasons, Ivisic has averaged 11.7, 19.1 and 17.2 minutes per game. The middle season came at Arkansas, where he started 19 games but still reached the 30-minute mark only four times.
Last season at Illinois, he started four games and topped 25 minutes just once. The pattern is clear: Big Z has always been more effective in shorter bursts.
That fits the way Illinois uses him. Ivisic’s game is driven by motor, and the biggest parts of his value come on defense and the glass.
Those are demanding jobs, and they take energy. His shooting also tends to dip when his workload rises.
In his career, he has gone past 30 minutes five times, and despite being a career 72.0 percent free-throw shooter, he was only 2-for-7 at the line in those games.
The reason this matters now is David Mirkovic. He recently underwent foot surgery, and if he misses time in 2026-27 - his expected return timetable remains uncertain - Illinois could have no choice but to lean on Ivisic much more heavily, possibly even as a starter from the outset.
That creates a real question for the Illini: what exactly do they ask from him if his role grows?
One path is to widen the assignment. Without Mirkovic, Illinois would need someone to handle the mobile frontcourt work, especially against athletic opposing 4s. Between Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir, Zvonimir looks like the more natural answer there.
That would mean asking him to do more than block shots and clean the glass. He would have to hold up on the perimeter, and that’s not a small shift. Still, it’s a move Illinois could need if Mirkovic is unavailable.
The offense could also change around him. Illinois might put him in more ball-screen action, where he already works well as a roll man but also has the ability to pop. Another possibility is giving him more post touches, especially if Tomislav draws the opponent’s top post defender and leaves Zvonimir with an advantage inside.
The problem is obvious: can Illinois pile on more responsibility and still expect the same defensive edge and rebounding punch, especially if his minutes are climbing well beyond what he’s used to?
The other route is simpler. Illinois could keep him in much the same lane he occupied last season: a finisher around the rim, a lob target, someone who can live in the dunker spot or drift to the perimeter. That setup would help preserve his energy for rebounding and defense, the two areas where he matters most.
Even then, it’s a demanding role. If Mirkovic is out, the Illini may need 25 to 30 strong minutes from Ivisic whether the workload is ideal or not. And if he can’t carry that much, Illinois may have to put players into key roles before they’re ready - or before they have the right tools for them.
There is, though, a bigger upside to all of it. If Ivisic can handle more minutes or more tasks, Illinois comes out stronger for it later.
If someone else rises to the challenge, that helps too. And if none of this becomes necessary, it likely means Mirkovic is healthy and the Illini have spent the regular season building toward a real run in March.
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