Illinois’ Talented Frontcourt Still Has Room to Grow, Says Brad Underwood
Illinois enters the 2026-27 season with one of the nation’s most talented frontcourts, but head coach Brad Underwood believes the group is far from reaching its full potential.
Last season, the Illini featured a versatile collection of big men in David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Ben Humrichous. This year, Mirkovic and the Ivisic brothers return with another year of experience, giving Illinois one of college basketball’s deepest and most skilled frontcourt rotations. Outside of Florida, few teams can match the size and talent the Illini possess in the paint.
Despite the high expectations, Underwood’s focus remains on improvement—particularly on the defensive end.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Underwood emphasized that Illinois has the physical tools to become one of the country’s top defensive teams but needs to play with greater intensity and consistency.
“We’ve got to get better,” Underwood said. “We should be an elite shot-blocking team. We’ve got great size, and we’re even bigger than we were last year. We need to be more aggressive, especially when it comes to getting into passing lanes, protecting the rim, and blocking shots.”
He also stressed the importance of becoming a stronger defensive rebounding team, noting that securing rebounds will allow Illinois to push the pace more effectively in transition.
While Underwood acknowledged that some schematic adjustments are being made, he suggested the biggest changes need to come in mindset and effort.
Notably, his comments centered almost entirely on defense rather than offense—a sign of the confidence he has in his frontcourt’s scoring ability.
Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic are widely regarded among the nation’s most skilled offensive frontcourt players, capable of stretching the floor and creating offense in multiple ways. Zvonimir Ivisic adds another dimension with his size, rim-running ability, and shot-blocking presence while also providing occasional perimeter shooting.
Defensively, however, Underwood believes the group can make significant strides. Mirkovic showed considerable growth late in the season, particularly during the NCAA Tournament, but lacked consistency over the course of the year. Tomislav also had moments where his defensive intensity dipped, while Zvonimir established himself as the team’s premier rim protector and a reliable defender even when switched onto smaller players.
Although Illinois ranked among the nation’s best in overall rebounding margin last season, its defensive rebounding numbers left room for improvement, highlighting another area Underwood wants to address.
Ultimately, the veteran coach believes greater aggressiveness is the key to unlocking the frontcourt’s full potential.
“I think it’s still the same concepts we’ve always had,” Underwood said. “We just have to play with more aggression, more tenacity, and more emphasis on creating turnovers and blocking shots. Z was one of the best shot blockers in the country, but it can’t just be him. Everyone has to contribute.”
With a frontcourt loaded with experience, size, and offensive skill, Illinois has the pieces to rank among the nation’s elite. Whether the Illini reach that level may depend on how much they improve defensively before the season begins.
Leave a Reply