5. Illini 3-point shooting should be improved
Illinois had one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the country last season. We knocked down 31.3% of our three-pointers, which ranked No. 305 out of 364 teams in DI basketball.
Entering the 2025-26 campaign, I was hoping we would be better at shooting from deep. I think in the exhibition against Illinois State, it is clear that the Illini will be a better three-point shooting team this season.
Again, Illinois was missing Andrej Stojakovic, who can shoot the ball. Tomislav Ivisic led Illinois in three-point shooting last year, too. The Illini were still able shoot well from the perimeter without those two key players.
I loved with Zvonimir Ivisic was able to do on the perimeter. He was able to come off screens and knock down multiple big-time three-point shots. He isn’t afraid to shoot, either, going 3-of-10 from three-point range in the game.
David Mirkovic is one to watch from beyond the three-point arc. He can do everything on the court, and three-point shooting is no exception. Look for him to be an impact player for Illinois in the shooting department this season.
The new additions and the improvement from the incumbents should help propel Illinois to a better season from deep. We have the horses to be able to keep up with other programs when it comes to three-point shooting.