Jake Davis out indefinitely after shoulder surgery
- Story byThe News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Jake Davis out indefinitely after shoulder surgery
Nov. 4—CHAMPAIGN — Jake Davis was still in surgery Wednesday morning as Illinois went through its final practice ahead of Thursday night's game against Penn.
Davis required surgery after suffering a separated left shoulder fighting through a screen in the first half of Illinois' season opener Monday against Fairleigh Dickinson.
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The senior forward was caught on camera saying, "It's out," to athletic trainer Justin Games as he clutched his left shoulder and walked toward the Illinois bench. Games helped Davis to the locker room, and he never returned to the bench as the third-ranked Illini finished off their 120-45 victory.
Davis will now be sidelined indefinitely, with Illinois coach Brad Underwood unable to provide a definitive timetable for a possible return.
"He's a tough, tough hombre," Underwood said. "He'll do everything within his power to try to want to come back and be back. We just have to wait and see how everything responds as we move forward. He's got a lot of recovery in front of him, and we'll assess how that plays out."
Because of that uncertainty, Underwood said he is moving forward preparing for two scenarios. That includes one where Davis misses the remainder of the 2026-27 season.
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"It's a loss that's tough for me to swallow," Underwood said. "It just puts a pit in my stomach because he's a guy that worked harder than anybody every day. He's got himself into elite shape. Unfortunately, it's part of sport.
"Next man up. We've got an army of guys we'll have to fill into that role. We'll wish him the best and put a different hat on him when he comes back, coaching and having to lead from a little different perspective than being on the court."
Underwood made it clear not one player would fill Davis' role. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds last season and shot a career-best 41 percent from three-point range starting 22 of 37 games during Illinois' Final Four season.
Davis scored 10 points in each of Illinois' three exhibition games last month, but Underwood valued his selflessness and ability to move the ball offensively as much as the corner threes the McCordsville, Ind., native knocked down.
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"A guy that works the hardest," Underwood said is who would have the inside track to replacing Davis. "We put up every day, on a board in the weight room, (results from) the day before who spends the most energy, who runs the most. It's always Jake. I want somebody to replace that. I want to find out who that guy is going to be. Who is going to step into that role of doing everything they're supposed to do?"
Freshman Zavier Zens did start the second half against FDU in Davis' place. The 6-7 forward finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in his Illinois debut, and Underwood said he has been pleased with Zens' consistency and versatility.
"He can guard multiple positions," the Illinois coach added. "He can play in our switching. He's a guy that rebounds. He doesn't make a ton of mistakes.
"We've tried to let (the freshmen) know all year that we're going to rely on them. It's sped up the learning curve for sure, but that's the beauty of playing these young guys. Your ceiling gets to be really high because they can grow so quickly. Experience is very important, but, more importantly, I want their confidence high. They're all great teammates, being unselfish and playing the right way."
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Davis' injury is the latest in a series of them for Illinois. Sophomore forward David Mirkovic remains sidelined following both offseason foot surgery and an emergency appendectomy this past weekend. Freshman guard Lincoln Williams, who missed the season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson with an undisclosed injury, is expected to play Thursday against Penn.
