Story by
Illinois Senior Jake Davis Exits Season Opener with Concerning Injury
- Story by
- Illinois Senior Jake Davis Exits Season Opener with Concerning Injury
The Illinois men's basketball team opened the season with a bang as they trounced visitors Fairleigh Dickinson by a score of 120-45 on Monday night. But it wasn't all perfect in Champaign, as senior wing Jake Davis exited in the first half with an apparent shoulder injury.
With 11:05 left in the half, the 6-foot-6 small forward went barreling into a screen and immediately grabbed at his left shoulder. Walking quickly off the court and into the locker room, Davis appeared to say "it's out" as he walked toward the Illinois bench. He did not return and was replaced by freshman Zavier Zens in the second half starting lineup.
Advertisement
Illinois' Brad Underwood Cast Gloomy Outlook After Jake Davis Injury
Already down one key starter in David Mirković (foot, appendectomy), losing Davis for an extended period of time would be tough pill to swallow. But the indication from head coach Brad Underwood postgame is that the Fighting Illini are preparing for this reality.
"It doesn't sound great," Underwood told reporters on Monday night. "It's a shoulder injury. I don't know the whole diagnosis yet, but it didn't sound great."
The candid response from Underwood paired with Davis's concerned reaction signals that the injury could be very serious. While no diagnosis has been revealed just yet, a dislocated shoulder can result in several months of recovery. Any additional ligament or joint damage would further cloud his timeline for a return.
Feb 15, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Jake Davis (15) drives past Indiana Hoosiers guard Lamar Wilkerson (3) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Davis logged just six minutes before his exit, notching two points on two free throw attempts with three rebounds and one assist. The Indianapolis-native was a mainstay for the Illini down the stretch a year ago, appearing in all 37 games with 22 starts including the final 19 games of the season. He averaged 5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on 43% from the field and 41% from three.
Advertisement
Underwood spoke glowingly of Davis during Big Ten media day just a few weeks ago, calling him a "championship-level role player." He stressed the importance of his intelligence, shooting, leadership, work ethic, but had a unique of describing how he impacts winning on a broad scale.
"Sometimes, for lack of better terms, stays out of great players' way. And there's an art to that," Underwood said.
Replacing Davis will be no easy task, and something that Illinois will have to manage alongside existing injuries to one of their stars in Mirkovic and promising freshmen in Lincoln Williams. Williams was listed "Questionable" for Monday's game and appeared on the bench but did not play after slipping and falling in practice a week ago.
