Stefan Vaaks didn’t sound like a player with lingering doubts about his transfer decision.
The Providence transfer, now at Illinois, took a little shot at his former program while speaking Tuesday at the Champaign-Urbana Kiwania Club. Vaaks told the crowd a story about what Providence’s new head coach, Bryan Hodgson, said when he entered the portal.
"The new head coach at Providence said that I'll regret it if I leave Providence, and man, I don't regret it," Vaaks said.
That was the kind of line that leaves no room for ambiguity. Vaaks made it clear he feels good about where he landed, and Illinois fans probably weren’t upset to hear it.
He’s also walking into a situation where the opportunity is real. Vaaks was the only player Brad Underwood brought in from the transfer portal, but that’s because Illinois did most of its roster work by keeping key pieces in place. The biggest departure was freshman Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, along with Kylan Boswell.
Even with those losses, the Illini held onto Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, and Tomislav Ivisic, and they’re also bringing in five-star freshman Quentin Coleman. That gives Underwood four starters already accounted for, with Vaaks filling what looks like the final major opening.
And that opening matters. Vaaks is expected to help replace the production left by Wagler, who led Illinois in scoring last season. The Estonian native arrives off a strong freshman year at Providence, where he averaged 15.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
Coleman is projected to run the point for Illinois, which should give Vaaks plenty of freedom to work from the perimeter or attack inside. That versatility is exactly why he fits so neatly into what Illinois is trying to build.
The Illini reached the Final Four for the first time since 2005 last season, and the pieces around Vaaks make this roster look dangerous again. Underwood kept the core together, added through recruiting and the portal, and now Vaaks looks like the last piece in a team that has a real chance to make another run.
In Other News...
Illinois Has A David Mirkovic Decision That Could Shape The Season
Illinois is still waiting on one of the more important health updates of its preseason, as forward David Mirkovic continues to work back from foot surgery he had at the end of July. He is out of his boot now and moving in the right direction, and Brad Underwood said the recovery has gone well so far while making clear the program is not rushing the process.
For an Illini team trying to build off a Final Four run, Mirkovics status matters because his availability could shape both the frontcourt rotation and the way the roster settles early in the season. Underwood has not put a timetable on the return, which leaves Illinois balancing optimism with patience as it waits to see how quickly Mirkovic can get fully healthy. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Brings A New Identity Into A Matchup Illinois Fears
When Illinois and Duke meet again in this nonconference rematch, the Blue Devils arrive with a different identity than the one the Illini may remember. Duke has moved toward a run-first attack built around sophomore Nate Sheppard, forcing opponents to spend more time bracing for the ground game and less time worrying about the passing script that often defines modern offenses.
For Illinois, that change creates a fresh defensive problem at a time when Bret Bielema is already asking his team to clean up its tackling. The Illini are also trying to protect quarterback Katin Houser, who was efficient in his debut, while Dukes defense will be looking to make his night uncomfortable. It is the kind of early-season matchup that can expose exactly where both teams are still sorting out who they are. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Can Make An Early Statement Against Illinois In One Key Area
Illinois spent Week 1 answering an uncomfortable question about its run defense after UAB found plenty of room on the ground, leaving defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck with an issue that has to be cleaned up fast. For a program that prides itself on stopping the run, that kind of performance only sharpened the focus on the basics, especially after Bret Bielema pointed to tackling as a key reason the defense had so much trouble.
Now comes a Duke offense that can test that weakness in a hurry, and the Blue Devils have already shown they are willing to lean on the ground game. The matchup puts Illinois in a spot where one missed tackle can turn into a long afternoon, and it will be worth watching whether the Illini can answer the early pressure before the game starts to tilt in Duke's favor. [Read more 🡒]