Illinois basketball has quite a few big non-conference games this season, but Colgate shouldn’t have been one of them.
The Illini played with our food early on in this game. Colgate was keeping up through much of the first half. The big turning point in the game was a flagrant and technical foul that was called on the Raiders. This gave Illinois four free throws, all of which were made, and the ball. At the time, with three minutes left in the first half, Colgate was down just three points, 31-28. Illinois had, essentially, a six-point play, which expanded the lead to 37-28.
Illinois never looked back after that. We took a 41-30 halftime lead and expanded on it in the second half. Most of the Illini players didn’t look good, but we had some youngsters who put on the cape and saved the day. By game’s end, Illinois ended up beating Colgate, 84-65.
Here are five roller coaster observations from the Illinois basketball win over Colgate
1. What a game by David Mirkovic
Illinois has had some pretty solid freshmen during the Brad Underwood era. Just last season, we had two freshmen play and get drafted in the top 21 of the NBA Draft.
Underwood went out and landed a couple of more freshmen this past offseason, and, honestly, I think they are better than the two freshmen we had in 2024-25.
David Mirkovic led the way for the Illini on Friday night. A team with so much upperclassmen experience shouldn’t have the freshmen leading the way, but Mirkovic had arguably the best game any Illinois basketball player has ever had.
Mirkovic finished the Colgate game with 27 points, 21 rebounds, and three assists. He shattered Kofi Cockburn’s Illinois freshman rebounding record, which stood at 17 rebounds. Mirkovic is also the first Illinois player to record 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Illini great Nick Weatherspoon did it back in 1972.
A huge reason for Mirkovic putting up the massive numbers he had on Friday night was just effort. He was there for every rebound. He crashed the offensive glass, giving Illinois more opportunities. Offensively, Mirkovic just kept taking it to Colgate. He didn’t look at them as a bad team. Mirkovic gave it all he had, and the end result was an epic night.
2. Andrej Stojakovic came crashing back to Earth
I could have picked on numerous upperclassmen for the Illini. Friday night was pretty awful for the experienced players on the team.
Andrej Stojakovic has had a solid first couple of outings as a member of the Illinois basketball team. Especially in the game against Texas Tech, he played well and was dynamic. I loved his mid-range game, and he was aggressive toward the hoop.
Something was off with Stojakovic’s game on Friday night, though. He didn’t look the same after the first few minutes against the Raiders.
Less than four minutes into the game, Stojakovic was 1-for-2, and he had already hit a three-pointer and pulled down a rebound. I thought he was in for a big night. That didn’t end up being the case, though. After that point, he folded up shop and didn’t look the same.
Stojakovic played another 23 minutes after that solid start, and in that time, he was 2-of-9 from the field and 0-of-5 from three-point range. He wasn’t really effective in any other department offensively, but he did have some good moments on the defensive end of the court.
I expected more out of Stojakovic, especially against a bad team like Colgate. Even the two made free throws he had came on a technical foul. Stojakovic didn’t have a good night, and it worries me a bit moving forward.
3. Love to see the Illinois bench production
You can look at the box score and wonder why I am a little down on Illinois right now. We won the game by 19 points, so things should be sunshine and rainbows. But this was not a well-played game by many Illinois players.
One area that I was happy with was the bench. The Illini bench players looked solid. They contributed 54 minutes and had a combined 15 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and one assist.
I have to tip my hat to Ben Humrichous. He has looked great this season. Humrichous went into the lab in the offseason and came out a new player. I think a lot of this has to do with being in Underwood’s system for a second season, too.
Humrichous has a new body. He is bigger and stronger, and this allows him to be more physical inside the paint. He led the way for the Illini bench players with 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one assist. He also didn’t have a turnover, which piqued my interest.
I was much happier with the Illinois bench than quite a few of the starters on the team. Just think, the Illini are still missing three key pieces, which will make the bench even deeper. It is nice to have solid players on the bench who we can call upon when we need them in tight spots.
4. Illinois has such a weapon in Keaton Wagler
Everyone is raving about David Mirkovic. He had a historic night for the Illinois basketball team, and he is someone who can be a future NBA Draft pick without a doubt.
But Illinois doesn’t just have one great freshman on the team. I think the ceiling might be higher for Keaton Wagler.
We are only four games into the 2025-26 campaign, and Wagler has impressed me in each game. He is someone who was just in high school in Kansas, and now he is taking control of games for the Illini.
Even when Wagler isn’t playing his best, you can tell this kid is going to be special. He has the it factor, and it is exciting every time he touches the ball. He is always looking to make a play and the right play for the team.
Wagler finished the Colgate game with 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. As a freshman and with Illinois missing some pieces, Wagler has the ball in his hands a lot. Despite that fact, he only had one turnover in 34 minutes of action. That is mind-blowing.
Another thing I love about Wagler is that sometimes when shots aren't dropping, he is still going to find a way to get points. He was aggressive against the Raiders and got to the free throw line 11 times and converted nine attempts. We have a great player who can make free throws. That is refreshing.
5. This was a look-ahead game for the Illini
Illinois has two incredible freshmen who are leading the way right now. We had a bench that played well, too. But, sadly, I am going to end this observations article on a down note.
This was the game I was afraid of. Illinois played No. 11 Texas Tech and took them down. We have No. 8 Alabama on Wednesday. It is natural to look ahead at the big game and not pay attention to Colgate.
Sure enough, Illinois’ experienced players were the ones who seemed to look ahead. This was close to being a trap game, but thankfully, the Illini freshmen pulled us out of the muck.
The Illini freshmen were a combined 12-of-27, 44.4%, from the field and 5-of-13, 38.5%, from three-point range. They were also an outstanding 17-of-19, 89.5%, from the free throw line. Those two freshmen, Mirkovic and Wagler, combined for 46 points, 27 rebounds, and five assists.
Now let’s look at the rest of the team, all with more experience than these two freshmen, who have played a combined eight games in college. The six other Illinois players who have experience went 14-of-42, 33.3%, from the field and 6-of-24, 25%, from three-point range. Those six Illinois players combined for 38 points, 22 rebounds, and seven assists.
It is hard not to be disappointed by the upperclassmen for the Illini. They are the ones who are supposed to be leading right now. They can’t just show up when it is a big game, or Illinois will get burned by an average team this season. Thankfully, Underwood landed two great freshmen who should always be in the starting lineup the rest of the season.