Story Links
PROBABLE STARTERS (projected)
Pos.
No.
Name
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
PPG
RPG
APG
Note
G
23
Keaton Wagler
6-6
185
Fr.
17.7
5.1
4.3
2nd-Team All-American; Big Ten Frosh of Year
G
4
Kylan Boswell
6-2
215
Sr.
12.9
4.0
3.1
All-Big Ten HM; B1G All-Defensive Team
F
15
Jake Davis
6-6
215
Jr.
5.6
2.2
0.7
1st in nation in offensive rating at 147.2
F
0
David Mirkovic
6-9
250
Fr.
13.7
8.0
2.7
16.7 ppg & 10.7 rpg in NCAA Tournament
C
13
Tomislav Ivisic
7-1
255
Jr.
10.2
5.7
1.6
102 3FGs, 1st in NCAA by 7-footer since ’24-25
OFF THE BENCH
Pos.
No.
Name
Ht.
Wt.
Yr.
PPG
RPG
APG
Note
G
1
Brandon Lee
6-4
195
Fr.
1.7
0.3
0.2
Career-high 5 points, 3 rebounds vs. Southern
G
2
Andrej Stojakovic
6-7
215
Jr.
13.5
4.4
1.0
14.3 ppg on 53.6% FG in NCAA Tournament
F
3
Ben Humrichous
6-9
235
Gr.
6.1
3.9
0.9
1st nationally in turnover rate at 4.0%
G
5
AJ Redd
6-3
170
Sr.
1.4
0.5
0.0
Career-high 5 pts on Senior Night vs. Oregon
G
8
Blake Fagbemi
6-0
180
Fr.
0.2
1.1
0.4
Has played in 10 games
F
9
Toni Bilic
6-8
210
So.
–
–
–
Midseason addition; will redshirt
G/F
20
Ty Rodgers
6-6
210
r-Jr.
–
–
–
Out indefinitely following knee surgery
C
31
Jason Jakstys
6-10
225
r-Fr.
1.3
1.9
0.2
Out for season
F/C
44
Zvonimir Ivisic
7-2
250
Jr.
6.7
4.7
0.3
5th nationally in block rate at 12.6%
G
77
Mihailo Petrovic
6-2
180
So.
1.6
0.7
1.1
Season-high 12 points vs. UTRGV on Nov. 24
Head Coach Brad Underwood
Career Record: 301-136 (.689), 13th year
At Illinois: 192-109 (.638), 9th year
Big Ten: 107-71 (.601)
NCAA Tournament at Illinois / All-Time: 9-5 (.643), 6th appearance / 11-9 (.550), 10th appearance
Illinois NCAA Tournament History
Appearances / Streak: 36th / 6
Record: 49-36 (.576)
Final Four Appearances / Last: 5 / 2005
Series History – NCAA Tournament Regional Final
IOWA (9 SEED)
Series Record / Streak: 95-77 / Illinois W-5
Last Meeting: #16 Illinois 75, #19 Iowa 69 (1/11/26 at Iowa City)
Record at Neutral Sites / Streak: Tied 3-3 / Illinois W-2
Last Meeting at Neutral Site: #24 Illinois 106, Iowa 94 (3/13/25 at Indianapolis / B1G Tournament Round 2)
Record in the NCAA Tournament: First Meeting
Underwood vs. Iowa: 10-6
FIGHTING ILLINI UNDER HEAD COACH BRAD UNDERWOOD
- Two NCAA Elite Eights in the last three years
- Big Ten’s winningest team in conference play over the last seven seasons
- One of four schools nationally with seven straight 20-win regular seasons
- Six straight NCAA Tournament appearances (seventh precluded by COVID-19 cancelation in 2020)
- One of 10 schools to appear in each of the last six NCAA Tournaments
- One of 12 schools with NCAA Tournament wins in at least five of the last six years
- 2024 NCAA Elite Eight; Illinois’ first appearance since advancing to 2005 national title game
- 2021 NCAA Tourney No. 1 seed (fourth in school history)
- Top-two Big Ten finishes in four of the last six years
- 96 wins in Big Ten play since 2019-20, the most in school history over a seven-year period
- Five Top-25 finishes in last seven years, including two in the Top 10
- Five All-Americans (four consensus)
- 22 All-Big Ten selections (eight first team)
- 2024 Big Ten Tournament Champions
- 2022 Big Ten Regular Season Champions
- 2021 Big Ten Tournament Champions
FIGHTING ILLINI NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
- Following Thursday night’s 65-55 victory over 2 seed Houston in the Sweet Sixteen, the 3 seed Fighting Illini advance to the Elite Eight against 9 seed Iowa on Saturday in Houston (5:09 p.m. CT, TBS/TruTV).
- Illinois won its 27th game of the season, tied for the fourth-most wins in program history. Brad Underwood is the first head coach in Illinois program history to win 27+ games in multiple seasons.
1. 2005 – Bruce Weber, 37-2 – National Runner-Up
2. 1989 – Lou Henson, 31-5 – Final Four
3. 2024 – Brad Underwood, 29-9 – Elite Eight
T4. 2026 – Brad Underwood, 27-8 – Elite Eight
T4. 2001 – Bill Self, 27-8 – Elite Eight - Illinois also picked up its third win over an AP top-5 ranked opponent this season, tying the program record set in 1951-52.
- Illinois is making its 36th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and sixth* straight (*seventh precluded by cancellation of 2020 Tournament due to COVID-19).
- Illinois is playing in the Elite Eight for the second time in three seasons. In 2024, Head Coach Brad Underwood also led the Fighting Illini to an Elite Eight appearance, the program’s first since 2005.
- This is the sixth time Illinois has advanced to the Elite Eight since the tournament field was expanded to 32 teams in 1975, and the program’s 11th all-time Elite Eight appearance.
- Underwood joins Lou Henson as the only Illinois head coaches in the modern era to lead the Fighting Illini to two Elite Eights:
» 2026 Elite Eight – Brad Underwood
» 2024 Elite Eight – Brad Underwood
» 2005 Runner-Up – Bruce Weber
» 2001 Elite Eight – Bill Self
» 1989 Final Four – Lou Henson
» 1984 Elite Eight – Lou Henson
» 1963 Elite Eight – Harry Combes
» 1952 Third Place – Harry Combes
» 1951 Third Place – Harry Combes
» 1949 Third Place – Harry Combes
» 1942 Elite Eight – Doug Mills - Illinois is aiming for its sixth trip to the Final Four, and first since finishing as national runner-up in 2005:
» 2005 Runner-Up – Bruce Weber
» 1989 Final Four – Lou Henson
» 1952 Third Place – Harry Combes
» 1951 Third Place – Harry Combes
» 1949 Third Place – Harry Combes - Illinois’ five Final Four appearances are second-most among teams yet to win a national title, trailing only Houston (7), and tied with Oklahoma.
- Illinois is tied for 18th among all schools, and fifth of B1G schools, for most NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Illinois is one of only three Big Ten teams – and one of just 10 teams nationally – to earn a bid in each of the last six NCAA Tournaments. Illinois’ six-year streak is tied for the nation’s seventh-longest active streak.
- Illinois and Michigan State are the only two B1G teams to advance in the NCAA Tournament five of the last six years.
- Illinois’ active streak of six straight NCAA Tournament appearances is its longest since participating eight years in a row from 2000 through 2007.
- Brad Underwood is just the second head coach in school history to lead Illinois to at least six straight NCAA Tournaments, joining Lou Henson (eight straight from 1983-90).
- Illinois has compiled a 49-36 (.576) record all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
- Illinois’ 49 NCAA Tournament wins rank tied for 18th among all schools.
- Illinois’ 49 NCAA Tournament wins are second-most among teams yet to win a national championship, trailing only Purdue (53).
- Since 1975, when the field was increased to 32 teams, Illinois has advanced to the Sweet 16 10 times, the Elite Eight six times, and the Final Four twice.
- Head Coach Brad Underwood has brought Illinois back among the nation’s elite college basketball programs.
» His rebuild in Champaign brought success during Year 3 of his tenure, leading the Illini to a top-25 finish and what would have been an NCAA Tournament bid before the 2020 postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.
» Underwood directed Illinois to a Big Ten Tournament title and #1 seed in 2021, as Illinois played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.
» Underwood guided the Illini to a Big Ten Regular Season Championship and #4 seed in 2022, advancing to the Round of 32 for the second straight season.
» In 2023, Underwood guided the Illini to the NCAA tournament for a third straight season as a #9 seed.
» Illinois earned its fourth straight NCAA Tournament bid in 2024 after capturing the Big Ten Tournament title. As a #3 seed, Illinois advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2005 behind star Terrence Shannon Jr., who averaged 23.3 points, the highest NCAA Tournament scoring average in school history.
» Underwood’s NCAA streak extended to five in a row in 2025. As a #6 seed, the Illini earned an 86-73 win in Round 1 vs. #11 seed Xavier. It marked the fourth season in the previous five years with an NCAA Tournament win for the Fighting Illini.
» In his sixth-straight appearance, Underwood has led the Illini to the Elite Eight for the second time in three seasons. After dominant wins over Penn (105-70) and VCU (76-55) in the first and second rounds, respectively, the Illini defeated 2 seed Houston (65-55) in the Sweet 16 on Thursday - Underwood is making his 10th trip to the NCAA Tournament with his third program in 13 seasons as a Div. I head coach. He previously led Stephen F. Austin to three consecutive appearances from 2014-2016, advancing to the Round of 32 in 2014 and 2016. He then took Oklahoma State to the Tournament in his lone season in Stillwater in 2017. Underwood owns an 1-9 career record in the NCAA Tournament, with a 9-5 mark at the helm of the Fighting Illini.
- Underwood has led the Illini to a 7-2 record over the last three NCAA Tournaments.
- Underwood is tied for second among Illinois all-time head coaches for most NCAA Tournament wins:
» Lou Henson-12 » Brad Underwood, Bruce Weber & Harry Combes-9 - Illinois has earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history, last coming in as a No. 3 seed during the Elite Eight run in 2024. The Illini are now 9-4 all-time as a No. 3 seed:
» 2026 First Round (Greenville, S.C.) – #3 Illinois 105, #14 Penn 70
» 2026 Second Round (Greenville, S.C.) – #3 Illinois 76, #11 VCU 55
» 2026 Regional Semifinal (Houston, Texas) – #3 Illinois 65, #2 Houston 55
» 2024 First Round (Omaha, Neb.) – #3 Illinois 85, #14 Morehead State 69
» 2024 Second Round (Omaha, Neb.) – #3 Illinois 89, #11 Duquesne 63
» 2024 Regional Semifinal (Boston, Mass.) – #3 Illinois 72, #2 Iowa State 69
» 2024 Regional Final (Boston, Mass.) – #1 Connecticut 77, #3 Illinois 52
» 1988 First Round (Cincinnati, Ohio) – #3 Illinois 81, #14 UTSA 72
» 1988 Second Round (Cincinnati, Ohio) – #6 Villanova 66, #3 Illinois 63
» 1987 First Round (Birmingham, Ala.) – #14 Austin Peay 68, #3 Illinois 67
» 1985 First Round (Atlanta, Ga.) – #3 Illinois 76, #14 Northeastern 57
» 1985 Second Round (Atlanta, Ga.) – #3 Illinois 74, #6 Georgia 58
» 1985 Regional Semifinal (Providence, R.I.) – #2 Georgia Tech 61, #3 Illinois 53 - Illinois is 36-16 as a higher (better) seed in the NCAA Tournament and is now 4-13 as the lower (worse) seed.
- Illinois earned its third win all-time over the No. 2 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Two of those have come in the last three years in the Brad Underwood era:
» 2026 Regional Semifinal (Houston, Texas) – #3 Illinois 65, #2 Houston 55
» 2024 Regional Semifinal (Boston, Mass) – #3 Illinois 72, #2 Iowa State 69
» 1989 Regional Final (Minneapolis, Minn.) – #1 Illinois 89, #2 Syracuse 77 - Illinois is 5-5 all-time in Elite Eight games in the NCAA Tournament:
» 1942 Regional Semifinal (New Orleans, La.) – Kentucky 46, Illinois 44
» 1949 Regional Semifinal (New York, N.Y.) – Illinois 71, Yale 67
» 1951 Regional Semifinal (New York, N.Y.) – Illinois 84, NC State 70
» 1952 Sweet 16 (Chicago, Ill.) – Illinois 74, Duquesne 68
» 1963 Sweet 16 (East Lansing, Mich.) – Loyola Chicago 79, Illinois 64
» 1984 Elite 8 (Lexington, Ky.) – #1 Kentucky 54, #2 Illinois 51
» 1989 Elite 8 (Minneapolis, Minn.) – #1 Illinois 89, #2 Syracuse 86
» 2001 Elite 8 (San Antonio, Texas) – #2 Arizona 87, #1 Illinois 81
» 2005 Elite 8 (Rosemont, Ill.) – #1 Illinois 90, #3 Arizona 89 (OT)
» 2024 Elite 8 (Boston, Mass.) – #1 UConn 77, #3 Illinois 52 - Illinois faces familiar foe in Big Ten rival Iowa in the Elite Eight. This is only the second time in NCAA Tournament history that the Illini will face a Big Ten team. In 1989, Michigan defeated the Illini in the Final Four.
» 9 seed Iowa: Illinois is 95-77 all-time vs. Iowa, with a 10-6 mark in the Brad Underwood era. The Fighting Illini are 3-3 all-time vs. the Hawkeyes in neutral-site matchups. In the lone matchup this season, Illinois picked up a 79-68 road win at Iowa on Jan. 19.
Illini Single-Game Bests in NCAA Tournament Play
- Points 31, Deron Williams vs. Cincinnati, 3/21/2004
- Rebounds 17, David Mirkovic vs. Penn, 3/19/2026
- Field Goals 12, Kenny Battle vs. Syracuse, 3/26/89
12, Nick Anderson vs. Louisville, 3/24/89 - Field Goal Pct. 1.000 (9-9), Dain Dainja vs. Morehead State, 3/21/2024
- 3-Pt FGs 6, Cory Bradford vs. Arizona, 3/23/2001
- 6, Deron Williams vs. Cincinnati, 3/21/2004
- 6, Luther Head vs. Louisville, 4/2/2005
- 6, Jamar Smith vs. Air Force, 3/16/2006
- 3-Pt. FG Pct. .833 (5-6), Frank Williams vs. San Diego State, 3/15/2002
- Free Throw Pct: 1.000 (8-8), Mark Smith vs. Wyoming, 3/14/81
1.000 (8-8), Kenny Battle vs. McNeese State, 3/16/89
1.000 (8-8), Terrence Shannon Jr. vs. Duquesne, 3/23/2024
1.000 (7-7), Ken Norman vs. Northeastern, 3/15/85
1.000 (7-7), Efrem Winters vs. Georgia, 3/17/85
1.000 (7-7), Kofi Cockburn vs. Houston, 3/20/2022 - Free Throws 16, Kiwane Garris vs. Southern Cal, 3/14/97
- Assists 12, Kiwane Garris vs. Southern Cal, 3/14/97
- Steals 6, Bruce Douglas vs. Georgia, 3/17/85
- Blocked Shots 4, Tomislav Ivisic vs. Kentucky, 3/23/25
- Minutes 44, Deron Williams vs. Arizona, 3/26/2005
- Triple-Double 12 pts/11 reb/10 ast, Marcus Domask vs. Morehead St., 3/21/2024
THE B1G’S BEST
- Illinois leads the Big Ten lead in conference wins over the last seven seasons:
Big Ten Wins (Since 2019-20)
1. Illinois 96
2. Purdue 94
3. Michigan State 87
4. Wisconsin 86
5. Michigan 82 - Illinois’ 42 Big Ten road wins since 2019-20 also lead the conference:
Big Ten Road Wins (Since 2019-20)
1. Illinois 42
2. Purdue 38
T3. Michigan 36
T3. Wisconsin 36
5. Michigan State 33 - The Illini won the 2024 Big Ten Tournament championship as the #2 seed, captured the regular season championship in 2022, and led the conference in wins while adding a B1G Tournament crown in 2021. Illinois’ three conference championships since 2020-21 are the tied for second in the league over the last seven seasons:
- Big Ten Titles (Since 2019-20)
1. Purdue 4 total (2 regular season, 2 tournament)
T2. Illinois 3 total* (1 regular season, 2 tournament)
T2. Michigan 3 total (2 regular season*, 1 tournament)
T4. Michigan State 2 total (2 regular season)
T4.Wisconsin 2 total (2 regular season)
* Illinois (16-4) played the full B1G schedule during the 2021 season, winning two more games than Michigan (14-3), but U-M was awarded the league’s regular-season championship by virtue of an edge in win percentage of .024.
