The Illinois basketball team wrapped up its exhibition schedule on Wednesday night with a resounding 101-66 victory over the UIC Flames in Champaign. The Illini showcased the depth and talent of the roster ahead of the regular season, meeting the challenge despite missing key rotation pieces.
Upperclassmen Set the Tone Early
Despite missing key rotation pieces, the veteran core on the floor maintained a high standard of play from the opening tip. Tomislav Ivisic anchored the interior with active movement and an early dunk, while Stefan Vaaks provided relentless energy off the bench by crashing the boards. The upperclassmen displayed a lead-by-example mentality, which is crucial for mentoring the young players on the roster. They did not phone in the effort, which could have easily been a close game
given the absences, and instead came out of the gates so strongly that they were up by double digits in the first five minutes and extended the lead to 20 points by the eight-minute mark.
Final: #Illini 101, UIC 66Illinois put 7 different players in double figures and 12 players scored. Quentin Coleman 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists. Lucas Morillo 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists. Ethan Brown 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. Tomislav Ivisic 14…
Lucas Morillo Emerges as a Standout Freshman
Lucas Morillo continues to carve out a role for the Illini. In just 20 minutes of action against UIC, Morillo tallied 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists while shooting 2-of-5 from the floor. Morillo consistently makes high-impact plays that catch the eye, positioning himself as one of the most complete players on the roster.
Quentin Coleman Showcases Elite Guard Play
Quentin Coleman put together another stellar performance, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists across 24 minutes. Coleman’s blend of court vision, deep-range shooting, and athleticism mirrors qualities brought to the court by Keaton Wagler, with expectations pointing toward potential triple-doubles during his freshman campaign.
Perimeter Shooting Holds Firm Despite Injuries
Illinois played without injured contributors Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, and Zvonimir Ivisic on Wednesday night. Even with those absences, the Illini launched 38 three-point attempts and connected on 39.47 percent of them. Perimeter production remains a core identity for head coach Brad Underwood’s system, supported by efficient bench shooting like Blake Fagbemi’s 2-for-3 night from beyond the arc.
Unprecedented Depth for Underwood’s Rotation
The combination of talent points toward a deep rotation in Champaign. There is a core of seven primary players including the Ivisic brothers, Coleman, Jake Davis, Stojakovic, Mirkovic, and Stefan Vaaks. Alongside contributors like Morillo, Lincoln Williams, Zavier Zens, and Jason Jakstys, there are 11 players who could see minutes every night. This is the deepest roster Brad Underwood has had since becoming the head coach at Illinois.
