It feels impossible to pick apart an Illinois team that went to the Final Four for the first time since 2005 last season. The offense was firing on all cylinders in the safe hands of freshman Keaton Wagler, the defense had the bend but don't break mentality, and this team was a well-oiled machine on the court.
It just wasn't enough in the end to take the Illini to the National Championship, and now Brad Underwood is making some changes with his new roster. Not once, but twice, Underwood had been adamant about speeding things up offensively with this offense, after ranking 295th nationally in tempo and averaging just 65.4 possessions per game last season.
While the roster this upcoming season won't feature a ton of new faces, with Underwood bringing back a lot of guys, he is determined to play at a faster pace.
Brad Underwood has made the same point twice this summer: Illinois Basketball is going to play faster.
— Armchair Illinois (@ArmchairIllini) July 30, 2026
After ranking 289th nationally in tempo last season (Evan Miya), the #Illini appear built to push the pace in 2026-27. Here's why ⬇️
READ: https://t.co/GEptDeTNfz pic.twitter.com/xjHnHNqc8k
Brad Underwood has the talent to have Illinois playing at a faster pace
Imagine playing against a team that could score before the defense even gets fully set. Yeah, that is what Underwood is hoping for this season with players like Andrej Stojakovic, Stefan Vaaks, and Quentin Coleman bringing the ball up the court. All three guys play their best in open space, and Underwood is determined to play to that strength.
Last season, playing at a faster pace wasn't what Illinois needed. Wagler did well, allowing his guys to set up and making his move from there. The Illinois offense was slow, but precise, allowing them to kill the clock and squeeze the life out of the defense like a boa constrictor. This season, Underwood wants more of an asp-like offense, striking fast and deliberately.
The trio mentioned earlier will be a big part of this faster pace, but really it is David Mirkovic who will make all of this work. Mirkovic, at 6-foot-9, isn't the typical big man trailing the play; he can get on his horse and get in transition with the ball. It is also known that he has been putting in some serious work this offseason, slimming down a bit, but still building a lot of muscle.
Illinois will be able to play well in transition, but if they have to get set up, Stojakovic, Vaaks, and Coleman all work well getting to the basket, finishing, and creating contact to draw a foul. This is an Illinois offense that feels like it won't have a lot of holes. The only weakness it could show is the ability to shoot the long ball, but even that is a stretch.
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