Illinois surprised a lot of people last season when the Brad Underwood-led squad made it to the Final Four, riding a late-season hot streak into the NCAA Tournament. Was it just a hot streak, or is this team a real contender now? College basketball analyst Jon Rothstein believes the latter and has just painted a huge target on Underwood's back.
The college basketball season is still months away, but that doesn't mean work isn't being done during the offseason. Summer workouts have been underway for a couple of weeks now, as rosters are, for the most part, finalized, plus or minus a few open spots on certain teams. It is never too early, though, for preseason conference rankings, and Rothstein has just provided his for the Big Ten.
After a Final Four appearance last season, the first one since 2005, Rothstein has Illinois ranked No. 1, even after losing star point guard Keaton Wagler. Following the retention of some key players from last year's roster, like Andrej Stojakovic and David Mirkovic, Underwood could very well have the top team in the conference.
Big Ten Preseason Power Rankings. pic.twitter.com/vB4ZLUBMWm
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 15, 2026
Illinois has always been a dark horse, but not anymore
With the success Underwood has had recently with Illinois, the Illini may not be able to be a dark-horse team much longer. In recent years, Illinois was in the mix, but never the big contender like Purdue or Michigan, at least for two years under Dusty May. Now, with the kind of recruiting Underwood has been able to do in the offseason, the Illini are a real threat in the Big Ten.
With a ranking like this from Rothstein, it puts Underwood and his squad in the limelight, something they weren't last season. Led by Wagler, a three-star recruit out of high school no one thought would perform the way he did, Illinois wasn't on anyone's radar. That worked out to Underwood's advantage.
Now, heading into next season, with the roster he has built, more eyes will be on Illinois than they have normally been in the regular season. While Michigan is the reigning National Champion and has a giant target on its back, Illinois will probably end up being a close second. Especially considering Dusty May has left for the NBA, leaving Mike Boynton Jr. to lead the Wolverines.
Life without Wagler will take some getting used to for Illinois, but Underwood is confident with the players he has brought in. Not only that, but Underwood has worked to build a strong non-conference schedule not just to strengthen their postseason resume, but to ready his team for conference play.
Illinois will have to be ready for teams to come in firing with their best game plan next season, something Underwood hasn't always been used to.
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