Illini Basketball 2026-2027

#1      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
Welcome to the Illini Basketball thread :illinois:

Tickets Info


Newcomer First Look Series by IlliniMBB
Ethan Brown
Quentin Coleman
Lincoln Williams
Stefan Vaaks



Reported Non-Conference Games

DateOpponentLocationInfo
Mon, Nov 2Fairleigh DickinsonState Farm CenterLink
Thu, Nov 5PennState Farm CenterLink
Tue, Nov 10at Texas TechUnited Supermarkets Arena (Lubbock, TX)Link
Fri, Nov 13Sam Houston StState Farm CenterLink
Tue, Nov 17at DukeCameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, NC)Link
Fri, Nov 20Eastern IllinoisState Farm CenterLink
Mon, Nov 23WinthropState Farm CenterLink
Fri, Nov 27Western KentuckyState Farm CenterLink
Fri, Dec 4UConnUnited Center (Chicago, IL)Link
Sun, Dec 20MissouriEnterprise Center (St. Louis, MO)Link
Tue, Dec 29SeattleState Farm CenterLink
Sat, Jan 30North CarolinaBridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN)Link


IL Big Ten Opponents
Home & Away: Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin
Home only: Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, UCLA, USC
Away only: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Rutgers, Washington



IL Returnees
David Mirkovic
Tomislav Ivisic
Zvonimir Ivisic
Jake Davis
Andrej Stojakovic
Jason Jakstys
Blake Fagbemi


IL Newcomers

illini-basketball-2026.jpg

[Via]
Landon Davis, Zavier Zens, Lincoln Williams, Ethan Brown, Lucas Morillo, Quentin Coleman, Stefan Vaaks



Last year
Non-conference schedule was released on August 18th
Big Ten schedule was released on September 18th
Time & TV info was released on October 7th
 
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#5      
Big Jack
Fyi anyone interested Duke now has their waiting list uploaded for the Illinois game just remember I told you so whomever gets tickets has to take me with.
 
#7      
DeeIL89
The added upper body strength that Vaaks gained from working out with Fletch should hopefully make him a better defender and rebounder. Mirk's injury sucks but it is encouraging seeing Mirk very upbeat.
 
#8      
Guest
DeeIL89 said:
The added upper body strength that Vaaks gained from working out with Fletch should hopefully make him a better defender and rebounder. Mirk's injury sucks but it is encouraging seeing Mirk very upbeat.
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I don’t think he has any other attitude. Maybe some determination and focus when playing basketball.
 
#9      
RabidDawgClassic
In a previous thread, someone brought up the topic of Illinois' 1915 Helm's Athletic Foundation National Champions title. Personally, I don't understand why the university doesn't claim this as they've clearly claimed similar retroactively awarded National Championships in football -- at least one of them which was also from Helms. No one would be kidding themselves that it's an NCAA Touranament Championship, but I say if we were awarded a natty, we should hang a banner for it.
 
#10      
Illini22
Stefan Vaaks won't be representing Estonia in the World Cup qualifiers at the end of August. The sports director of the Estonian Basketball Federation said:
“We have been in communication with Vaaks since the beginning of July, but the university is not responding, and as of today it does not seem realistic that this will change. Stefan can come to Estonia before the national team window, but during the games the university coach wants him to be with them. Unfortunately, in terms of FIBA, we do not have any leverage to influence the situation."

I think David’s injury probably played a part in the decision to take the precautionary route. In all honesty, though, as much as it sucks from an Estonian perspective, keeping Stefan in Champaign for the best possible preparation and minimising any injury risk is probably the right call long term. I just wish we’d gotten the news a little sooner. Our fans were pretty hyped to see him play, so finding out now rather than a few weeks ago makes it sting that little bit more.
 
#11      
Det_Illini_fan
Illini22 said:
Stefan Vaaks won't be representing Estonia in the World Cup qualifiers at the end of August. The sports director of the Estonian Basketball Federation said:
“We have been in communication with Vaaks since the beginning of July, but the university is not responding, and as of today it does not seem realistic that this will change. Stefan can come to Estonia before the national team window, but during the games the university coach wants him to be with them. Unfortunately, in terms of FIBA, we do not have any leverage to influence the situation."

I think David’s injury probably played a part in the decision to take the precautionary route. In all honesty, though, as much as it sucks from an Estonian perspective, keeping Stefan in Champaign for the best possible preparation and minimising any injury risk is probably the right call long term. I just wish we’d gotten the news a little sooner. Our fans were pretty hyped to see him play, so finding out now rather than a few weeks ago makes it sting that little bit more.
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Yeah, as much as it is unfortunate for his involvement in FIBA to be limited, I can’t fault the program from wanting to keep him here and practicing where they can ensure, to the best of their abilities to control, that he’s as healthy as possible. You want guys to get reps and all, but Ty Rodgers going down stung last summer.
 
#12      
Illinirog70
Illini22 said:
Stefan Vaaks won't be representing Estonia in the World Cup qualifiers at the end of August. The sports director of the Estonian Basketball Federation said:
“We have been in communication with Vaaks since the beginning of July, but the university is not responding, and as of today it does not seem realistic that this will change. Stefan can come to Estonia before the national team window, but during the games the university coach wants him to be with them. Unfortunately, in terms of FIBA, we do not have any leverage to influence the situation."

I think David’s injury probably played a part in the decision to take the precautionary route. In all honesty, though, as much as it sucks from an Estonian perspective, keeping Stefan in Champaign for the best possible preparation and minimising any injury risk is probably the right call long term. I just wish we’d gotten the news a little sooner. Our fans were pretty hyped to see him play, so finding out now rather than a few weeks ago makes it sting that little bit more.
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Playing at U of I is his JOB. He's getting paid for that. It seems like his loyalty is divided and should be, but it has to be first to his employer.

I'll never fault an athlete for wanting to represent his country but I get it that Illinois sees him as a key element to integrate into the team for future success. It's a tough call.
 
#13      
ImGonnaBeILL
As much as these universities are paying these kids, well within their right.

He's our PG. He's a lot more talented than Pee tro but the latter never recovered last season not getting acclimated to the team.
 
#14      
Illini22
Illinirog70 said:
Playing at U of I is his JOB. He's getting paid for that. It seems like his loyalty is divided and should be, but it has to be first to his employer.

I'll never fault an athlete for wanting to represent his country but I get it that Illinois sees him as a key element to integrate into the team for future success. It's a tough call.
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To my knowledge, Stefan hasn’t been stomping his feet over this decision either. He looks to be fully bought in and committed to the program, so there shouldn’t be much question about where his priorities are. Representing the national team is obviously an honour, but that can wait given his prospects at Illinois and the season ahead. From the IG clips we’ve seen of the summer work with the conditioning staff, he already looks noticeably more explosive and athletic too, so hopefully that translates into a step up in his production around the rim and in the paint. Illinois already had a pretty strong European following, especially with the Balkan/Lithuanian connection, and I’m already seeing Estonian hoops fans joining in this season.
 
#19      
EmeraldCityIllini
Illini22 said:
To my knowledge, Stefan hasn’t been stomping his feet over this decision either. He looks to be fully bought in and committed to the program, so there shouldn’t be much question about where his priorities are. Representing the national team is obviously an honour, but that can wait given his prospects at Illinois and the season ahead. From the IG clips we’ve seen of the summer work with the conditioning staff, he already looks noticeably more explosive and athletic too, so hopefully that translates into a step up in his production around the rim and in the paint. Illinois already had a pretty strong European following, especially with the Balkan/Lithuanian connection, and I’m already seeing Estonian hoops fans joining in this season.
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This ^^^. I'd be stunned if Vaaks wanted to truly play that Illinois would say "no".

Illinois has a vested interest in keeping relationships strong with overseas players and contacts.
 
#21      
Det_Illini_fan
Dan said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2087329502619664521
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Gotta be honest, with how adamant Brad & Co. were about getting Vaaks the moment the portal opened and his name was in it, I’m thinking this guy is gonna be huge this year. They proudly stated they got the best offensive player in the portal, and they looked at many. My gut tells me they wanted a puzzle piece they knew exactly how they could work and improve, went out and got that puzzle piece. Like May getting Mara or Cig getting Mendoza.

Maybe I’m hyped up on a Tuesday night, but my gut is feeling this telling me Vaaks is gonna be great.
 
#25      
March2TheArch
Dude can straight shoot. Given his height you can't leave any space. Pair that with his ability to launch some absolute bullet passes to a cutting Dre/Quentin. Exciting.
 
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