Why One Coach Isn't Picking Illinois Basketball as His Preseason No. 1

Many believe the Illini are a top-five team headed into next season, but one anonymous coach had a clear reason why he didn't pick them No. 1

Nov 22, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half against the Long Island University Sharks at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Entering the 2026-27 college basketball season, most pundits are slotting Illinois, which is returning five of its eight rotation players from last season's Final Four squad, in the No. 3-5 range. Even the vast majority of experts who are especially high on the Illini rank both Florida and Duke – often in that order – ahead of Brad Underwood’s club.

But what do the coaches think? CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander reportedly interviewed nearly 100 coaches, ranging from “high-profile names” to “assistants at low-major programs," on a variety of questions. The biggie: Who will be the best team in the country in 2026-27?

How many coaches picked Illinois as the best team in 2026-27?

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Florida ultimately won in a landslide (55 percent of voters picked the Gators), while Illinois reeled in just 5 percent of votes. (It's worth noting that Norlander said they surveyed coaches after news broke that David Mirkovic had undergone foot surgery.)

One of the few coaches who did pick the Illini said “they have the skill, toughness and chemistry.” But another respondent who didn’t pick Illinois laid out his rationale for doubt plainly: “Illinois would be my choice if they had reliable point guard play. I’m not sold that Quentin Coleman can be the point guard they need as a freshman.”

Are the Illini the top squad entering 2026-27?

July 19, 2025; North Augusta, South Carolina, USA; Brad Beal Elite Quentin Coleman (1) gestures to a teammate as Team Durant Evans Barning Jr. (7) defends during the Brad Beal Elite and Team Durant game at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam at Riverview Park Activity Center. Brad Beal Elite won 91-59. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale - Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Our knee-jerk reaction: We get it. Keaton Wagler’s 2025-26 season seems to have blinded Illini fans and drastically pushed the bar of “normal” to unrealistic heights. It simply isn't reasonable to expect a freshman to be an absolute stud from Day 1.

Does Coleman have the ability to be a star and fulfill every responsibility the Illini will ask from him if they want to win a national title? Without a doubt. Should that be the expectation? No.

Instead, let's think about it this way: What is Illinois going to need out of Coleman? We won’t even know that much until the season gets underway. Stefan Vaaks, whom we expect to be Illinois' de facto lead guard when the season tips off, may be able to shoulder primary playmaking duties. And Mirkovic, if he’s healthy, can help in that area. (And don’t forget: Tomislav Ivisic can be a solid creator out of the interior.)

Maybe the Illini only needs Coleman to be a scorer, defender and plus rebounder at his position. And if that’s the case, they should be in fantastic shape. 

🟠 Newcomer First Look 🔵
Quentin Coleman
No. 11
O'Fallon, Ill. pic.twitter.com/iBGVBxccPi

— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) July 31, 2026

By all accounts, Coleman isn’t going to have trouble scoring, and his motor and athleticism should carry him defensively and on the glass. In that scenario, any secondary playmaking out of Coleman may just be a bonus.

But it may turn out that the Illini need Coleman to carry a heavier-than-expected load as a facilitator. Based on Coleman's body of work in high school, along with Illinois' ability to spot and develop high-level decision-makers, that is by no means out of the question. But as we always stress, there is a level of guesswork involved with any freshmen ahead of the season.

So when it comes to that anonymous coach who picked Florida over Illinois as his favorite for the best team in the country, we have one thing to say (and be sure to avert your eyes, Illini fans): You’re spot on, brother.