We are entering the best and yet the worst time of the year, and the Illinois basketball program is a hot team to keep an eye on.
It is the best time of the year because you have so much basketball going on. It is the worst time of the year because you know that the season is coming to an end. The Illini have a chance to end the 2025-26 season on a high note on Sunday, but for fans, most of us are looking ahead to what could be.
A deep Big Ten Tournament run is a possibility, but what intrigues most fans and has eluded Brad Underwood in all but one season is Illinois making a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
In Underwood’s tenure, the Illini have made the second weekend of the Big Dance just once. Two years ago, we got a taste of what an Elite 8 was for the first time since 2005. I am gluttonous. I want more.
Illinois has so many things going for us. We have an elite guard who has NBA potential. We have experienced players who know what it takes to advance in the NCAA tournament. This program is also one of the best teams in the country when it comes to rebounding the basketball.
There is one thing that needs to start clicking for Illinois to go deep in March, and maybe even April. If Illinois can unlock this one key thing for the program, all of the chips could fall in our favor. What is this one thing?
Tomislav Ivisic.
Illinois has all of the tools to be the best team in the country, but we can’t get consistent play out of our 7-foot-1 unicorn. Ivisic has a unique talent that can make the Illini nearly unbeatable.
When Ivisic is playing well, he is incredible. Someone who is that tall and can shoot from three-point range and post up, that is truly a special talent. But Ivisic hasn’t been able to give Illinois that type of play on a consistent basis this season.
Ivisic is playing one less minute per game than last season, but his averages have dropped drastically this season. He went from averaging 13.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in 2024-25 to now averaging 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds this season. Not to mention, his blocks have been cut in half, too.
The shooting numbers have been wildly inconsistent, and they dropped year-over-year. Ivisic’s field goal percentage dropped from 49.2% to 48.1%, his three-point shooting dropped from 35.7% to 32.3%, and his free throw shooting dropped from 75.0% to 69.2%.
Ivisic has had good games, and they usually come in bunches. He had a rough stretch from January 21 through February 4 when he averaged 8.0 points per game. Ivisic then had a stretch from February 7 through February 21 when he averaged 14.2 points per game.
Over the last two games, Ivisic has hit rock bottom. He has averaged 4.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in those two contests, and he was 4-of-16 from the floor and 1-of-10 from three-point range.
How and why is Tomislav Ivisic inconsistent and what can Illinois basketball do to tap into his potential
It is kind of puzzling why Ivisic has taken a step back this season. The one thing that continues to pop into my head is the physical change from the big man.
Coming into the season, Ivisic bulked up to be more of a paint player. He tried to expand his repertoire, which is a good thing. But much like in golf, a physical change in muscle can throw your game off a little bit.
I could see that being the issue with Ivisic. He has more muscle in the arms, and this could alter his shooting slightly, which has him down a few ticks this season.
It would be easy to say that Ivisic needs to just play in the paint and use his body to bully the defense, but his ability to stretch the floor makes him extremely valuable. He pulls the opposing big man out, and this opens up the lane for our driving guards and wings.
So, Underwood is in a tough position. Illinois has to continue playing Ivisic out on the perimeter. We need him to keep the defense honest. When push comes to shove, it all comes down to Ivisic and his streaky play.
If Illinois can get Ivisic on a hot streak as we enter the postseason, I truly believe we can win it all. But if we get the Ivisic from the past two games, it might be a struggle to get back to the Elite 8 or further. It all depends on whether Illinois can unlock Ivisic and the superstar ability that is bubbling at the surface.