Illinois forward David Mirkovic is progressing nicely, according to an update given by head coach Brad Underwood after suffering a foot injury that required surgery at the end of July. Will the Illinois star be ready for the start of the 2026-2027 season, though?
Well, it is hard to answer that question when even Underwood himself won't. However, the update that Underwood did provide is that Mirkovic is officially out of a boot and working his way back to full health, and doing so quickly. The timetable for his return, though, is still being kept under wraps, with Underwood stating they are taking the slow approach with their young star.
"Mirk is gonna be Mirk, he's gonna do everything possible to make himself right as quickly as he can," Underwood said. "We will progress slowly with that, but it's nice to see him out of the boot and start strengthening all of that."
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— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) September 8, 2026
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David Mirkovic's return is crucial for Illinois' success after Final Four run
When the news of Mirkovic's injury broke, it was a huge hit to a roster that could very well make a push for a National Championship this season. Mirkovic was a solid part of the Illini's run to the Final Four last season, and after choosing to stay in Champaign this summer and work on strength and conditioning, as well as his craft, he was looking like he could take on a bigger role.
That bigger role is still on the table, though, even after the foot injury. The fact that Mirkovic is already out of the boot about five weeks after having his surgery at the end of July is huge, and frankly not surprising. As Underwood said, Mirkovic wants to be on the court with his team, so his drive to get there is huge.
Underwood is taking the right approach for Mirkovic's recovery. Pushing him back on the court too soon could cause the star forward to reinjure himself or never get fully back to 100%, so with no timetable as of yet for his return - or at least one that is of public knowledge - the slow approach is the smartest route.
Illinois is now less than two months from its season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson in Champaign, and the hope is that Mirkovic is cleared and 100% healthy by then. It isn't the worst-case scenario, though, if he isn't. Underwood and his squad should easily take care of business, even without Mirkovic on the court, so if he needs a few extra days to get fully back, he might as well take it.
Illinois will need Mirkovic down the stretch in the season in conference play and the NCAA Tournament the most, so no need to rush him back for the beginning of conference play if he needs the extra time.
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