{
  "id": 14222477,
  "title": "Underwood figuring out team without star sophomore",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/underwood-figuring-out-team-without-star-sophomore",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-13T14:47:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/underwood-figuring-team-without-star-144700019.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Illinois coach Brad Underwood is determining his team's lineup without star sophomore guard Danilo Mirkovic, who will not play in the upcoming exhibition game against Cincinnati due to a procedural buildup following offseason foot surgery. Mirkovic showed progress in practice, but still needs to regain his conditioning. While his return creates challenges for the coaching staff, Underwood has noted the growth of freshman players Stefan Vaaks, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Tomislav Ivisic. The Illini's depth may allow them to run a deeper lineup this season, though Underwood remains cautious about fielding everyone. The coach emphasized the importance of players being ready for their roles, regardless of playing time.",
  "summary": "Oct. 13—CHAMPAIGN — David Mirkovic will not play Saturday at Cincinnati in Illinois' first of three exhibition games this month. That's the only certainty Illini coach Brad Underwood has when it comes to the return of his 6-foot-9, 250-pound star sophomore. Mirkovic remains in a \"procedural buildup\" following offseason foot surgery required by a broken left foot in Illinois' final day of ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}