New season, new team, same expectations for Illinois
The Illini had some roster changes in the offseason, but the end goal remains the same.
Brad Underwood, the Illinois head coach, is determined to remain hungry and focused as the team prepares for another season filled with high expectations. After securing their first Final Four appearance in over 20 years, Illinois is looking to make a run at the national title this year. With key players like Kylan Boswell and Keaton Wagler departing to the NBA Draft, Underwood has brought in new talent to bolster the roster.
David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, and Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks have all bolstered the backcourt, while the addition of five-star freshman Quentin Coleman adds depth to the team. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello has ranked Illinois No. 3 in his preseason top 25 rankings, and CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish has also placed the Illini in the same position.
Veteran players Jake Davis and Zvonimir Ivisic will provide experience on the bench. While the team carries the same expectations, they are not the same group that appeared last season. "We live with the expectation; we want that," Underwood said. "We need to deal with that, the good, the bad, and accept that’s where we’re at." However, the Illini understand that not every player from last year will be back and are focused on moving forward.
The head coach wants the team to acknowledge their previous challenges, specifically losing nine games last season and being 0-4 in overtime, to help them improve. Underwood emphasizes that Illinois must push to become better and work diligently every day, letting their processes guide their development. With just a month left until the season begins, Illinois appears ready to tackle the high expectations that come with being a top-ranked team in the Big Ten.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
