Illinois cruised to a 92-65 win over Illinois State in their exhibition game at State Farm Center on Sunday. Tomislav Ivisic, Andrej Stojakovic, and Mihailo Petrovic did not play due to injury, but the Illini
freshmen stepped up in a big way.
“I was very pleased with our freshmen,” said head coach Brad Underwood.
Montenegrin freshman David Mirkovic led all scorers with 19 points while knocking down two threes. The 6-foot-9 forward showcased his rare ability to dribble and pass at his size, finishing with 14 rebounds, six assists, and just one turnover.
“He’s got some Nikola Jokic in him,” said Illinois State head coach Ryan Pedon.
Mirkovic wasn’t the only freshman who impressed on Sunday. Brandon Lee came off the bench and played 23 minutes, finishing with 17 points. He went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and added six made free throws.
Lee, a four-star guard from New Jersey, isn’t expected to see extended minutes this season, but he proved his value in his first appearance in front of the home crowd. His tough defense and aggressive drives on offense could make him a valuable contributor for Illinois.
Keaton Wagler has earned praise from the coaching staff and national attention for his play this summer. Brad Underwood even compared Wagler to Illini great Ayo Dosunmu at Big Ten Media Day.
Although those comparisons are premature and admittedly unfair, Wagler still delivered a solid performance in his debut. The former Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year finished with nine points, including two threes.
Illinois was without two of its top three players, but that didn’t stop the Illini from taking care of business. It’s unlikely Illinois will have everyone back for their closed scrimmage against Florida, but that matchup will provide a much tougher test for the freshmen.
