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Illinois Basketball 2025-26 Projected Lineup and Rotation: Live Roster Tracker

Follow any changes to Illinois on SI's projections for the Illini's starting lineup and rotation for the 2025-26 season
Jason Langendorf|
Feb 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) gets a hand from teammate Kylan Boswell (4) during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Feb 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) gets a hand from teammate Kylan Boswell (4) during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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Illinois Fighting Illini

Coming off a 2024-25 season in which Illinois finished 22-11 overall and 12-8 (eighth place) in the Big Ten and were then bounced from the NCAA Tournament in the second round, coach Brad Underwood can't be fully satisfied with how things shook out.

A major offseason reload that never quite played out as hoped has been followed by another roster overhaul for the Illini. This time, Underwood and his staff have doubled down on last year's strategy, replenishing the roster with a virtual parade of European-based newcomers – but with a greater emphasis on experience. Ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25 preseason college basketball poll, the Illini should have the right blend to better last season's NCAA Tournament performance (a Round of 32 appearance), and possibly even their Elite Eight run in 2023-24.

Illinois' 2025-26 projected lineup and rotation

Last updated: Nov. 22, 2025 @ 11:16 a.m. CT*

(Bookmark, refresh or just return often for the latest)

Position

Starter

Backup1

Backup2

PG

Keaton Wagler

Mihailo Petrovic

Blake Fagbemi

SG

Kylan Boswell

Brandon Lee

AJ Redd / Ty Rodgers*

SF

Andrej Stojakovic

Jake Davis

Ben Humrichous

PF

David Mirkovic

Ben Humrichous

Jason Jakstys

C

Zvonimir Ivisic

Tomislav Ivisic

Ben Humrichous /
Jason Jakstys

*Player currently injured

Latest updates

GAME DAY (Nov. 22, 2025): The Illini have a nearly clean bill of health. For more on Illinois player injury updates and availability for the Long Island game, click here.

Nov. 1, 2025: The Illini have already announced a handful of injury/availability updates ahead of their Nov. 3 opener against Jackson State. Bottom line: Center Tomislav Ivisic will play, wing Andrej Stojakovic will be a game-time decision and point guard Mihailo Petrovic and swingman Ty Rodgers are out. Check here for more details.

GAME DAY (Oct. 19, 2025): Four players sat out of Illinois' 92-65 exhibition win over Illinois State, including center Tomislav Ivisic (tonsils), point guard Mihailo Petrovic (eligibility/hamstring), wing Andrej Stojakovic (knee) and wing Ty Rodgers (knee). A few notes: Ivisic, who had a procedure earlier this month, is expected back soon. Petrovic, who had been out because of a rolled ankle, returned to injure his hamstring. But an NCAA ruling on his eligibility is the more concerning long-term availability issue. Stojakovic and Rodgers are both on the mend from longer-term injuries, but both were on the court for parts of pregame warm-ups for ISU and moving relatively well. No timetable has been set for the return of either player.

May 7, 2025: Illinois fans might have been expecting an Albanian small forward or a center from North Macedonia. Instead, a short drive up I-57, the Illini found an IHSA state champion and proven performer on the State Farm Center floor in point guard Blake Fagbemi. Although he's unlikely to play more than scattered minutes as a freshman, Fagbemi is the sort of high-IQ table-setter and steadying presence who will be an excellent practice player with the potential to grow into more.

April 29, 2025: The news wasn't as hotly anticipated or ceremoniously received as the arrivals of wing Andrej Stojakovic and point guard Mihailo Petrovic, for example, but the announcement of Ben Humrichous' return for another season in Champaign can only be viewed as a positive for the Illini. He provides Illinois with experience and depth at both forward spots, but it will be his perimeter shooting (a team-high 62 threes on 34.3 percent shooting last season) that gives Humrichous his best chance to play significant minutes again next season.

April 28, 2025: The Illini – finally – got their man. Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic announced on Monday that he is headed to Champaign, ending a semi-protracted courtship and ensuring that Underwood would have the dynamic wing he needed to fit snugly into his dream lineup. How the pieces come together matters, but Illinois now appears to have the firepower to make a run at a Big Ten title and a 2025-26 Final Four appearance.

April 22, 2025: The addition of Serbian point guard Mihailo Petrovic likely ends any consideration to turning over the reins of the offense to Kylan Boswell. That's probably a good thing. Although Boswell is an excellent secondary ball-handler and distributor, asking him to lock up the opponent's best wing scorer and take on lead guard duties night after night would be overkill. A Petrovic-Boswell backcourt will be on the small side, but Boswell plays bigger than his listed 6-foot-2, and 6-foot-6 Ty Rodgers gives Illinois options.

April 7, 2025: Underwood addressed the glaring need for frontcourt depth and interior beef with the signing of 6-foot-9 Montengro forward David Mirkovic. Although just 19, Mirkovic was already playing with (and producing against) pros in the Adriatic League. Because he's a gritty rebounder and a strong screener who can stretch defenses with the three, he could be a better fit as the starter – though early rumblings seem to suggest Zvonimir Ivisic will start alongside brother and center Tomislav.

April 5, 2025: If watching center Tomislav Ivisic share the floor with his twin brother last season, when Zvonimir Ivisic was a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks, gave you a little thrill, you're in for a treat: Big T and Big Z will share the same uniform in 2025-26 after Zvonimir's transfer to Illinois, which may give rise to a twin tower frontcourt in Champaign. The 7-foot-2 Zvonimir is taller but a bit leaner than his 7-foot-1 brother, and he lacks Tomislav's interior punch and polish – though he is a legit three-point threat.

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Jason Langendorf
JASON LANGENDORF

Jason Langendorf has covered Illinois basketball, football and more for Illinois on SI since October 2024, and has covered Illini sports – among other subjects – for 30 years. A veteran of ESPN and Sporting News, he has published work in The Guardian, Vice, Chicago Sun-Times and many other outlets. He is currently also the U.S. editor at BoxingScene and a judge for the annual BWAA writing awards. He can be followed and reached on X and Bluesky @JasonLangendorf.

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