Illini Basketball 2026-2027

[Fly Illini Fly!]

If Andre reverts to his shooting percentage of his first two years in college (~30%) he will be a bigger offensive weapon. To me, his biggest potential area of offensive improvement will be maintaining court awareness on his drives and finding the open man instead of going 1 on 3 in the paint leading to turnovers. This would really improve his draft stock as well.

Two big areas for improvement:

— can’t be a negative AST to TOV guy; 0.8 last year (anything under 1 counts as negative).

— has to become at least a 30% 3pt shooter; 24.4% last year.

If he can do both, on top of what he can do defensively, that’s the best two-way star in the big ten (maybe the country).

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

While we’re at it, points per 100 possessions last season:

Stojakovic — 31.2
Mirkovic — 27.6
Vaaks — 27.8 (on an awful team)

I do think Stojakovic has the leg up here (as of today).

His 3pt% should also increase.

Stojakovic’s 31.2 points per 100 possessions was the 6th highest in a season with Brad at the helm:

#1 — 2022 Kofi at 40.1
#2 — 2024 TSJ at 38.7
#3 — 2021 Kofi at 36.8
#4 — 2018 Leron Black at 33.9
#5 — 2021 Ayo at 32.2
#5 — 2026 Keaton at 32.2
#6 — 2026 Andrej at 31.2

With a little improvement from 3 next year, he could absolutely enter the 32+ club.

He had one of the better scoring seasons we’ve seen recently; just went unnoticed due to scoring “only” 13.5 per game. Reason for that was just playing 26.3 minutes due to health.

 

[hangdog]

Stojakovic’s 31.2 points per 100 possessions was the 6th highest in a season with Brad at the helm:

#1 — 2022 Kofi at 40.1
#2 — 2024 TSJ at 38.7
#3 — 2021 Kofi at 36.8
#4 — 2018 Leron Black at 33.9
#5 — 2021 Ayo at 32.2
#5 — 2026 Keaton at 32.2
#6 — 2026 Andrej at 31.2

With a little improvement from 3 next year, he could absolutely enter the 32+ club.

He had one of the better scoring seasons we’ve seen recently; just went unnoticed due to scoring “only” 13.5 per game. Reason for that was just playing 26.3 minutes due to health.

7th

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Stojakovic’s 31.2 points per 100 possessions was the 6th highest in a season with Brad at the helm:

#1 — 2022 Kofi at 40.1
#2 — 2024 TSJ at 38.7
#3 — 2021 Kofi at 36.8
#4 — 2018 Leron Black at 33.9
#5 — 2021 Ayo at 32.2
#5 — 2026 Keaton at 32.2
#6 — 2026 Andrej at 31.2

With a little improvement from 3 next year, he could absolutely enter the 32+ club.

He had one of the better scoring seasons we’ve seen recently; just went unnoticed due to scoring “only” 13.5 per game. Reason for that was just playing 26.3 minutes due to health.

I don’t think his lesser minutes was all injury. In games he was healthy, he would rarely get 30 or more minutes.

Next year, he was probably guaranteed more minutes and a bigger role.

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

Looks like Vaaks's worst game last year came against Marquette on March 4th. He had 4 points / 1-12 from the field / 0-8 from 3.

 

[NarrowJ]

I don’t think his lesser minutes was all injury. In games he was healthy, he would rarely get 30 or more minutes.

Next year, he was probably guaranteed more minutes and a bigger role.

Having the knee fixed in the offseason tells me it was something he was playing through the entire season in all likelihood.

Remember he missed a month or more last preseason with a bad knee sprain? His subsequent injuries were all lower body stuff too, but I think he was playing on this knee all season that was less than 100%. CH did same thing his last season here; said he was playing on “half my knee” or something iirc.

 

[pruman91]

I haven’t seen anyone say he’s going to be the best player in the country, but he is currently 4th in player of the year betting odds. So it’s not just homer Illini fans who think he will be one of the best players in the country.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

Has anyone considered that Mirk's improvement might also come on the defensive end? Double-double (pts and rebounds) with something around 3 assists a game and improved defense would be pretty nice.

I also think he can get that 2pt% up above 60%. He was good in that area but having had more time with Fletch I think he can be more efficient there. He does that he doesn't need to improve the 3pt% to be a more efficient scorer. Momcilovic hit 67% of his 2pt attempts last season, I think even if he doesn't hit that number Mirk can improve on his 56% (which is already good, don't get me wrong).

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

Has anyone considered that Mirk's improvement might also come on the defensive end? Double-double (pts and rebounds) with something around 3 assists a game and improved defense would be pretty nice.

I also think he can get that 2pt% up above 60%. He was good in that area but having had more time with Fletch I think he can be more efficient there. He does that he doesn't need to improve the 3pt% to be a more efficient scorer. Momcilovic hit 67% of his 2pt attempts last season, I think even if he doesn't hit that number Mirk can improve on his 56% (which is already good, don't get me wrong).

Those are very good places to make betterments. But again, we’re talking MARGINAL improvements. Add up all those improvements and he becomes a significantly better PLAYER….

but his scoring stays around 14-15 points/game rather than the 18+ everyone seems to be projecting. Those projections I’m struggling to see because the improvements you’re seeing - that I’m seeing as well - increase his scoring average by 1 or 2 points as opposed to 5 points.

Kofi’s scoring went from 13 to 17 fresh to soph, but he was 1 of only 2 scoring options on that team (which had a 118 o rating compared to the 131 last year). This team has 5.

Yaxel was outstanding last year, and only averaged 15 a game. I think Mirkovic will have a similar offensive impact (though they are different).

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

I don’t think his lesser minutes was all injury. In games he was healthy, he would rarely get 30 or more minutes.

Next year, he was probably guaranteed more minutes and a bigger role.

It was all injury.

He wasn’t healthy all year, with not one but TWO leg injuries.

Just becomes a point where you can’t strain it too much with heavy workload, as the leg is already vulnerable.

 

[lstewart53x3]

Those are very good places to make betterments. But again, we’re talking MARGINAL improvements. Add up all those improvements and he becomes a significantly better PLAYER….

but his scoring stays around 14-15 points/game rather than the 18+ everyone seems to be projecting. Those projections I’m struggling to see because the improvements you’re seeing - that I’m seeing as well - increase his scoring average by 1 or 2 points as opposed to 5 points.

Kofi’s scoring went from 13 to 17 fresh to soph, but he was 1 of only 2 scoring options on that team (which had a 118 o rating compared to the 131 last year). This team has 5.

Yaxel was outstanding last year, and only averaged 15 a game. I think Mirkovic will have a similar offensive impact (though they are different).

Can you show me more than one post of people projecting 18+ points per game for Mirk?

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

No certainty here, I think any of Stoj, Vaaks, Mirk could lead the team in scoring. I would guess there won’t be a wide margin between the 3. If forced to make up numbers I’d go Stoj 17 and Vaaks/Mirk 15 each.

Yes this is where I'm at. Something like:

Stoj - 16
Mirk - 15
Vaaks - 15

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

Two big areas for improvement:

— can’t be a negative AST to TOV guy; 0.8 last year (anything under 1 counts as negative).

— has to become at least a 30% 3pt shooter; 24.4% last year.

If he can do both, on top of what he can do defensively, that’s the best two-way star in the big ten (maybe the country).

Agreed on the 3s.

The assist to turnovers, the context is he's not asked to be an initiator, and that's why we have Vaaks and Coleman.

But, there was way too many times he would have tunnel vision and cost us possessions.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Monster article (with lots of Illinois):

https://twitter.com/x/status/2080317544817103287

 

[lstewart53x3]

Those are very good places to make betterments. But again, we’re talking MARGINAL improvements. Add up all those improvements and he becomes a significantly better PLAYER….

but his scoring stays around 14-15 points/game rather than the 18+ everyone seems to be projecting. Those projections I’m struggling to see because the improvements you’re seeing - that I’m seeing as well - increase his scoring average by 1 or 2 points as opposed to 5 points.

Kofi’s scoring went from 13 to 17 fresh to soph, but he was 1 of only 2 scoring options on that team (which had a 118 o rating compared to the 131 last year). This team has 5.

Yaxel was outstanding last year, and only averaged 15 a game. I think Mirkovic will have a similar offensive impact (though they are different).

Can you show me more than one post of people projecting 18+ points per game for Mirk?

Too late to edit, so replying again. The search feature isn’t perfect, but I ran a search and from what I found, not only is not everyone saying he’ll average 18+ a game, I couldn’t find a single post saying that.

 

[TheGMan]

Monster article (with lots of Illinois):

https://twitter.com/x/status/2080317544817103287

Hmm article lists Jake Davis as an "excellent cutter." Not sure that's the part of his game that should be highlighted

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Looks like Vaaks's worst game last year came against Marquette on March 4th. He had 4 points / 1-12 from the field / 0-8 from 3.

I'll be honest: the ONLY thing that's holding me back with Vaaks, is his lack of ability to get to the rim. He only attempted 2.1 shots per game at the rim last year.

For context, Keaton was at 3.9. Kylan was at 3.7. Kasparas was at 3.4.

.....

He also only attempted 3.9 twos per game.

Every starter on our team last year minus Tomislav, was above 5.0. In 2025, 4/5 starters were above 5.0 as well (with Tre White at 4.8).

.....

His 51.7% 2pt percentage will improve, I have no doubts. Quite literally every transfer we've gotten has improved their 2pt% after arriving here.

It's the ability to not be purely perimeter oriented, and get downhill for more of those opportunities, that I think he needs to work on.

 

[Bucktown]

Hmm article lists Jake Davis as an "excellent cutter." Not sure that's the part of his game that should be highlighted

It is actually quite valuable. Movement without the ball is a very important part of the offense, especially because Jake is such a dangerous shooter. When he cuts the defense has to pay attention to him which leaves openings for other players.

 

[Combo]

Hmm article lists Jake Davis as an "excellent cutter." Not sure that's the part of his game that should be highlighted

Maybe they're hoping he cuts his hair.

 

[EmeraldCityIllini]

Hmm article lists Jake Davis as an "excellent cutter." Not sure that's the part of his game that should be highlighted

I agree I’m not sure “cutter” in the traditional sense would be what I highlight, although he does get quite a few baseline sneak layups - the Houston game on the mirk pass jumps out.

But he’s excellent at “relocating” for a shooter. He always has the right lead on where to shift on the floor behind the arc - which maybe some people would classify as a form of cutting?

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Hmm article lists Jake Davis as an "excellent cutter." Not sure that's the part of his game that should be highlighted

it also said Vaaks has "uncoachable feel" but in the very next sentence states he has NBA potential if his "feel for the game improves."

 

[WhereDoWeStandWithStorr?]

Hmm article lists Jake Davis as an "excellent cutter." Not sure that's the part of his game that should be highlighted

Is Jake Davis not an excellent cutter?

We rarely see him stationed with zero movement without the ball.

 

[DICKnaggie]

Hmm article lists Jake Davis as an "excellent cutter." Not sure that's the part of his game that should be highlighted

Jake doesn't cut often, but when he does, he is pretty good at it. I'd argue that adding a bit more of that to his game would open him up for even more 3's.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Having the knee fixed in the offseason tells me it was something he was playing through the entire season in all likelihood.

Remember he missed a month or more last preseason with a bad knee sprain? His subsequent injuries were all lower body stuff too, but I think he was playing on this knee all season that was less than 100%. CH did same thing his last season here; said he was playing on “half my knee” or something iirc.

Coleman played 31.5 minutes per game.

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

I'll be honest: the ONLY thing that's holding me back with Vaaks, is his lack of ability to get to the rim. He only attempted 2.1 shots per game at the rim last year.

For context, Keaton was at 3.9. Kylan was at 3.7. Kasparas was at 3.4.

.....

He also only attempted 3.9 twos per game.

Every starter on our team last year minus Tomislav, was above 5.0. In 2025, 4/5 starters were above 5.0 as well (with Tre White at 4.8).

.....

His 51.7% 2pt percentage will improve, I have no doubts. Quite literally every transfer we've gotten has improved their 2pt% after arriving here.

It's the ability to not be purely perimeter oriented, and get downhill for more of those opportunities, that I think he needs to work on.

None of those guys are as perimeter-centric as Vaaks.

Vaaks is here to make threes and make passes. Downhill drives are not his game. We have Andrej, Coleman, Mirk for that.