Illinois fans got an unwelcome sight Friday night at State Farm Center: David Mirkovic was back on the sideline in a boot and scooter during warmups for the Illini’s exhibition against Baylor.
The star sophomore forward and preseason All-American selection had already been out since the beginning of August with a foot injury, and he’d spent nearly a month without the boot on. That had given plenty of people around Illinois reason to believe he was nearing the final stretch of recovery. Instead, he did not suit up for the matchup with Baylor, and the boot being back on suggests the wait may be longer than expected.
Mirkovic also sat out Illinois’ exhibition win over Cincinnati last week, so Friday marked another missed chance to see him back on the floor in orange and blue.
Brad Underwood addressed the situation Wednesday before Mirkovic was seen back in the boot, stressing that the staff is taking the cautious route.
“We always want to air on the side of patience with him in terms of making sure he’s ready for the for the long haul and that nothing reoccurs,” Underwood said.
Underwood also pointed to the upside of these early exhibition games, saying they give him room to look at different lineup combinations and get younger players meaningful minutes. He said those reps help the team develop a shared mindset while sorting out what fits.
“It’s great opportunity for some of these young guys to continue to grow,” Underwood said. “I think I’ll look at more combinations than I will just random substitutions getting guys in the game. I expect us to be a team that plays a lot of guys throughout the season, but especially in these exhibitions.”
In Other News...
Illinois Suddenly Faces A Brutal Test To Keep Bennett Konkey
Bennett Konkeys late-season rise has turned a routine Illinois recruiting win into something a lot more fragile. The four-star commit has put together a standout senior year, and for a program trying to build momentum under Bret Bielema, keeping a player like that in the fold matters well beyond one roster spot.
Then Ohio State entered the picture with a late offer, and now Illinois has a real fight on its hands. For the Fighting Illini, the issue is bigger than one prospect staying or leaving - it is the familiar burden of trying to hold off a national power once a recruit has started drawing wider attention. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Big Win Comes With One Debate Fans Wont Drop
Illinois picked up a signature 21-10 win over Oregon, and the result gave the Illini a much-needed jolt in a game that felt tense well into the fourth quarter. For long stretches, Oregon moved the ball better on paper and still could not turn it into enough points, undone by missed field goals and an offense that never found the end zone.
Collin Dixons late touchdown reception ended up becoming the moment everyone wanted to argue about, since officials reviewed the play before letting it stand. The call held because there was no indisputable evidence that Dixon lost possession, and it turned a close finish into the kind of postgame debate that tends to linger long after a big Illinois win. [Read more 🡒]
Illinis Final Four Return Brought An Early Warning Fans Cant Ignore
The first time Illinois returned to the State Farm Center after its Final Four run, the result was less a celebration than a reminder of how demanding the next step will be. Baylor controlled the exhibition from start to finish in a 95-91 win, with Isaac Williams IV pouring in 28 points while freshman Quentin Coleman led the Illini with 20 in a game that showed plenty of early-season offense, but also plenty of work still to do.
Illinois also was missing several key players, which made the matchup more of a glimpse than a full read on what this group can become. Even so, the tone of the night was hard to miss, with the Illini still sorting through pieces as they continue their exhibition schedule before the regular season begins. [Read more 🡒]