​Jul. 11 — CHAMPAIGN — Seven weeks on the bench last fall with a knee injury gave Andrej Stojakovic a distinctive viewpoint on Illinois. It was during that downtime that Stojakovic gained a clear sense of how influential Keaton Wagler could be in his freshman season, watching Wagler’s every move from the sideline and absorbing insight without stepping onto the court himself. In the last six weeks or so, Stojakovic has found himself in a similar observer role. An offseason knee procedure and no reason to rush back during the summer have allowed the Illinois senior to gain perspective on a roster that remains split evenly between returnees and newcomers. “I’ve been trying to compare this year’s team to last year’s while I’m on the sideline, looking at the personnel we have, and it’s night and day,” Stojakovic said. “We’ve got guys processing things so much easier and so much faster. It’s exciting.”
Stojakovic isn’t alone in his assessment of how the first half of summer workouts at Ubben Basketball Complex have unfolded. Illinois coach Brad Underwood shares the same sentiment. “The thing I’ve been the most impressed with is their intelligence,” Underwood said. “We’ve got guys picking up stuff and retaining stuff, and it’s instinctive for them. It’s not where we’re having to beat a dead horse to get them to learn it. It’s been very, very instinctive. I love this group’s intellect and their processing.”
Seven returning players have made a difference even as Illinois adjusts both its offensive and defensive schemes. Stojakovic and the others who stayed understand the expectations of the Illini staff and carry at least one season of the foundation of both systems, which should help them adapt to subtle changes in how they’ll play in 2026-27. “I’d say we who stayed are a year older, a year more experienced and more mature,” Illinois forward David Mirkovic said. “What surprised me a lot were our newcomers. They all exceeded my expectations. What I like about them is that they’re really hungry. They really want to fight. They really want to improve.”
Underwood has continued pushing to install the offense and defense even with Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks missing multiple weeks while playing for Estonia in FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers. The Illini haven’t had the full roster on the court at the same time yet this summer, but progress is being made. “It’s a really good mix of returning guys who’ve gained enough experience to know what it takes to win, and a strong mix of new guys who are eager to learn from us,” Stojakovic said. “We’ve got guys here who come in ready to work out with the team. It’s not something we have to drag out of them. We’re on the right path right now.”
A key takeaway this summer is the speed at which Illinois plans to play in 2026-27. The last season wasn’t a rapid-fire sprint, but the current approach aims to accelerate the tempo and polish the transition game as the Illini prepare for the upcoming campaign.