Potential starting lineups if Mirkovic misses time for Illinois
Brad Underwood has the roster to make it work.
Sophomore basketball player David Mirkovic recently underwent surgery on his left foot at a facility in Indianapolis, according to news shared on Illinois Men's Basketball social media pages. The university has not disclosed the specific injury or projected timeline for Mirkovic's return to the team. However, Jeff Goodman of Field of 68 suggests that Mirkovic's absence could last anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks, potentially jeopardizing the Illini offense in the early season.
Mirkovic, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been instrumental to the team, boasting a 48.4% field goal percentage and averaging 13.3 points per game. He has also shown dedication to his physical conditioning, even opting out of participating in a national team competition in Montenegro this summer. If Mirkovic remains sidelined, head coach Greg Underwood faces a dilemma in selecting potential starting lineups for the team.
Two key options emerge: the first, featuring Quentin Coleman, Jake Davis, Stefan Vaaks, Andrej Stojakovic, and Tomislav Ivisic, or the second, with Coleman, Vaaks, Stojakovic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jakstys. The first lineup lacks a true power forward, potentially forcing Vaaks and Stojakovic to share responsibilities. The second option, while providing more height, could be uncharted territory for Underwood, who is known for his preference in maintaining consistent starting lineups.
The choice between these two lineups may depend on the opponent and the specific demands of each game.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
