Basketball season is right around the corner, and for Illinois fans, that is probably for the best with the way the football team is looking. In even better news, the Fighting Illini are already projected to be the top team in the Big Ten, even over the reigning National Champion Michigan Wolverines.
Illinois is looked at as one of the biggest contenders for a title this next season, thanks to the return of a lot of guys for head coach Brad Underwood. Not only does Underwood have Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, and Tomislav Ivisic returning, but he also welcomes five-star freshman Quentin Coleman and lone transfer Stefan Vaaks.
That kind of retention and the big additions are a big reason for Illinois being picked as the No. 1 team in the Preseason Big Ten Poll. Honestly, are we that surprised? Underwood was able to get this team to the Final Four last season, and he already believes this team could be better; in one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball, the Illini could be the top team in the country.
Big Ten preview is packed with projected starting lineups and strengths or weaknesses of all 18 rosters. Here's how the voting shook out:
— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) October 5, 2026
1. Illinois
2. Michigan State
3. Michigan
4. UCLA
5. USC
6. Nebraska
7. Ohio State
8. Purdue
9. Indiana
10. Iowahttps://t.co/SdB1hhn47f
Brad Underwood has all the pieces he needs to get Illinois to the mountaintop
Some may question, "Well, won't the absence of Keaton Wagler have a big effect on this Illinois team?" Yes, Wagler was the leading scorer for the Illini last season, and his talent was big for Illinois, or he wouldn't have been the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but he wasn't the only talent for the Illini.
Stojakovic really came into form for Illinois during the NCAA Tournament, and Mirkovic is being looked at as one of the top players in the country at his position. The addition of Vaaks and Coleman will help with the loss of Wagler's scoring ability, but this is a faster team than it was last season, and that kind of speed in transition will keep teams on their heels and force the speed of the game to be too much.
Underwood has all the pieces he needs this season to take this team at least back to the Final Four and even further to the big title game. There will be competition in the Big Ten that will help challenge the Illini and get them ready for the big dance in March, like Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Nebraska, and others.
These preseason rankings are nothing Illinois fans don't already know. This Illinois team doesn't just have the talent; with Michigan losing Dusty May in the offseason and Michigan State always struggling to make it past the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, it feels like the stars have aligned for the Illini.
Now, all Illinois has to do is go out and perform to the level that is expected of them.
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