Illinois will have to open the season without its preseason All-American.
Brad Underwood said Sunday that David Mirkovic will not play Monday against Fairleigh Dickinson, and the update on his return got even murkier. Mirkovic had already been dealing with a foot injury, but Underwood revealed he has now had appendicitis as well.
“Obviously, Mirk (David Mirkovic) is going to be out. He has had a continued setback, as he had appendicitis, his appendix removed last night.”
Underwood did not have a timetable for when Mirkovic might be back.
“We don’t know what that means. I can’t give you any further update than that. He was in the emergency room having his appendix removed last night.
For Illinois, it’s a frustrating twist for a player expected to be the centerpiece of a team with national championship aspirations. Mirkovic earned preseason All-American recognition after his play in the regular season and postseason last year, and he was supposed to be the lead dog for the No. 3 team in the country.
Now the Illini are left waiting, and the wait could stretch well beyond the opener. A return by December seems like the earliest realistic possibility, and it wouldn’t be surprising if his first game comes when Big Ten play starts in January.
Even with Mirkovic sidelined, Illinois has enough depth to keep moving. Underwood has built a roster that should be able to absorb the loss, at least for now, without falling apart.
Against Fairleigh Dickinson, Andrej Stojakovic and Tomislav Ivisic are expected to start. Both are among the team’s most experienced players and each has a chance to be in the NBA next season. Behind them are Jake Davis, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Stefan Vaaks, all of whom are entering at least their second season.
Underwood also added multiple four- or five-star recruits over the offseason, giving the Illini more options while Mirkovic recovers. Davis led Illinois in three-point shooting last season, and in the three exhibition games, the worst Illinois shot from deep was 35.9%.
The biggest concern right now is rebounding. That area could cause problems at times, but the belief is Illinois should be able to hold steady until Mirkovic returns. The hope is that when he does come back, the Illini are still sitting as a top-20 team.
In Other News...
Matt Rhule's Emotional Nebraska Moment Adds Tension Before Illinois Matchup
Matt Rhules week took a painful turn after Nebraskas loss to Washington, when he said a fan directed profanity at his 13-year-old daughter. The Nebraska coach addressed the incident publicly while making clear he intends to keep coaching through a difficult stretch, even as the Huskers try to steady themselves after a rough run in Big Ten play.
Now Nebraska has to turn the page quickly with Illinois coming next, and the matchup arrives with the Huskers already carrying three straight conference losses. For a team trying to regain some footing, the emotional backdrop only adds to the pressure around a game that already felt important for both the standings and the mood around the program. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Blowout Came With A New Injury Concern Fans Will Hate
Illinois rolled past Fairleigh Dickinson in emphatic fashion, putting together a 120-45 win that showed just how lopsided the matchup was from the opening stretch. The offense piled up points at will, and for a team trying to build momentum, it was the kind of night that should have been remembered for nothing more than a runaway result.
Jake Davis shoulder injury changed the tone a bit, though, because he did not return after going down during the game. Brad Underwood said afterward that it did not sound good, and while the full diagnosis is still unknown, any injury concern is the last thing Illinois wants to carry out of a blowout like this. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Underwood Just Clarified Illinois Freshmen Who Could Matter Fast
Brad Underwood used a recent appearance on The Illinois Script to take a first real look ahead to the 2026-27 season, and the focus was squarely on the incoming freshmen. The Illinois coach went player by player, outlining what each newcomer brings and where they might fit, from scoring punch and defensive ability to the kind of basketball IQ that can help a young player earn trust quickly.
Quentin Coleman, Ethan Brown, Lucas Morillo, Zavier Zens and Lincoln Williams all got their own profiles in the conversation, which is a useful early snapshot for a roster that will need new pieces to surface fast. Underwoods read on the group suggests there are multiple paths to playing time, and the next step will be seeing which of those traits translates first once the season gets closer. [Read more 🡒]