Under a new Final Four banner in Ubben, fall practice is now underway for the Illini.
Fans got their first glimpse of action ahead of the 2026-27 season with a short video posted by the Illinois Men’s Basketball social media accounts on Monday.
Let’s get this out of the way: it’s early. Nobody should read too much into a few minutes of practice footage, but these are some of the first glimpses of live basketball fans have had since the offseason began.
So, why not have some fun?
Illinois will enter the 2026-27 season with — arguably — the highest expectations in program history, and this is where the work towards meeting those expectations begin.
Here’s what we can take from it.
No Mirkovic
If you blinked, you probably missed it. Potential All-American sophomore David Mirkovic made a quick cameo in the video, standing on the sideline in his #0 jersey. Mirkovic has been out for almost two months following an early August foot surgery, leaving Illinois fans to speculate about a return date. He was in full uniform, but it’s clear he isn’t taking part in live drills yet.
There have been plenty of encouraging signs, though. Earlier this month, Mirkovic was officially out of his walking boot just five weeks after surgery, and Brad Underwood has said he has been doing strength training since early September. Initial reports put his recovery at six to eight weeks, and this week marks exactly eight weeks since the Aug. 4 procedure, so it’s fair to expect his basketball activities to ramp up soon.
Even so, there’s no reason to rush him back. Mirkovic is potentially Illinois’ most important piece on offense, so it makes sense for the Illini to be patient and keep him away from live action until he’s ready.
Hello, Stefan Vaaks
Replacing Keaton Wagler is more than just replacing scoring, you have to find a player that can facilitate and create opportunities for others. It’s clear why Brad Underwood made Stefan Vaaks such a high offseason priority — he can do it all. The 6-foot-7 guard brings positional size and skill that Illinois hasn’t seen in their backcourt in quite some time. Throughout the summer in Champaign, Underwood has praised Vaaks ability to hit from beyond the arc, which we get a glimpse of as he nails a catch and shoot three from freshman Ethan Brown.
But the shooting isn’t the only thing that stood out. Vaaks also flashed his ability to attack the rim, using his size to get downhill and draw the defense before finding Jason Jakstys with a lob. It’s the kind of play Illinois will need from its lead guard, one that puts pressure on the paint and turns a drive into an easy finish for a teammate, something he struggled with at Providence.
He later showed off his playmaking again, setting up Jake Davis for a three. Between the lob to Jakstys and the kick to Davis, Vaaks made the right read both times, and neither play required him to score himself.
That’s what makes him so important to this team. Illinois doesn’t just need someone to fill a spot in the lineup, it needs a “point guard” who can run the offense and get his teammates involved. Vaaks has the size, the shooting, and the passing ability to be exactly that. If he’s as good as the staff has said over the summer, he can be much more than a facilitator, and he has a real chance to be the best offensive player on this team.
A pair of athletic freshman
It’s incredibly hard for a freshman to see the floor, but Illinois has a pair who could earn significant minutes. This entire freshman class has been talked about in high regard this summer, and Quentin Coleman and Lincoln Williams have been the frontrunners.
Explosive guards are something this team needs. Outside of Andrej Stojakovic, the roster leaves more to be desired in terms of athleticism, and the latest practice video shows Coleman and Williams bringing exactly that kind of difference-making pop.
Coleman slashes to the rim a pair of times, starting with a tough layup through a cluster of defenders. He then throws down a jam over fellow freshman Lucas Morillo. Coleman, who is projected to start for Illinois, offers a nice change of pace from the rest of the lineup, and fans should expect to see more finishes like this from him once the season begins.
We’ve known Williams has a different level of athleticism than almost anyone on the roster. In a video Illinois men’s basketball released on its socials in July, he rose up on a lob and slammed it down on Mirkovic. The most recent video gives another small glimpse, as he puts down a two-hand jam.
Fittingly, Coleman threw both lobs. Two of the most athletic players on the roster may already be building some chemistry.
Big Z looks healthy
In early September, Brad Underwood announced that Zvonimir Ivisic had suffered a right hand and wrist injury while in Croatia. The vagueness of the situation worried Illinois fans, and for good reason. Last year, Zvonimir’s athleticism and rim protection truly changed games, and he and Tomislav Ivisic make up perhaps the best frontcourt in the country.
Fans can take a sigh of relief after this video. Big Z catches a lob and finishes with both hands, quietly showing confidence in the injured hand and wrist. Moments later, he rises to meet Stojakovic at the rim and blocks his dunk attempt, which is no easy task. It looks like we’re seeing a fully healthy Zvonimir, and Illinois will desperately need that heading into the season.
Again, it’s early, and a few minutes of practice footage only tells us so much. Still, there’s plenty to like. Vaaks looks like the playmaker Illinois needs to replace Wagler, Coleman and Williams bring the athleticism this roster has been missing, and Big Z appears healthy heading into the season. Once Mirkovic returns to full strength, the Illini will have all the pieces to live up to the highest expectations in program history. Fall practice has only just begun, but the early signs are encouraging
