The Illinois men's basketball team has been ranked No. 1 in The Athletic's preseason top-25 rankings, following the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline. With five of its top eight scorers returning from last season, including Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis, the Illini are once again considered a Final Four and national title contender entering the 2026-27 season. However, the team also faces significant challenges, including the loss of All-American freshman guard Keaton Wagler, potential second-round pick Kylan Boswell, and senior forward Ben Humrichous.
Despite these setbacks, Illinois has added more high-ceiling young talent to fill those holes. Stefan Vaaks, a transfer guard from Providence, averaged 15.8 points as a freshman and is the No. 15 overall transfer of the offseason. The Illini also signed the No. 6 overall prep recruiting class in the country, headlined by five-star guard Quentin Coleman and four-star guard Lucas Morillo.
The Athletic's CJ Moore picked Illinois over consensus No. 1 Florida, citing the team's upgraded bench and the perfect Keaton Wagler replacement in Stefan Vaaks. Moore also noted that the team's offense should be awesome again, with David Mirkovic on track to become a star. However, he also raised concerns about team speed, particularly on the perimeter.
The Illini's high expectations and national title contender status are not without precedent. In the past, preseason rankings have not always translated into success, as evidenced by the top three teams in the AP Top 25 preseason poll last season, who did not make the Final Four. Nevertheless, Illinois clearly enters the 2026-27 season with a high floor and a national expectation that they can once again contend for a Big Ten title, a Final Four appearance, and potentially the program's first national title.
The success of the team will depend on the growth of the returners and how well Vaaks and Coleman assimilate into starring roles. Brad Underwood's program will continue to be a bright spotlight entering next season, with a lot riding on the team's ability to meet the high expectations that come with being ranked No. 1 in the preseason top-25 rankings.
