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Several Key Illinois Players Ruled Out for Exhibition Against UIC
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- Several Key Illinois Players Ruled Out for Exhibition Against UIC
The No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini will look to bounce back in their final exhibition match on Wednesday night before the regular season begins. However, Brad Underwood will have to do so without several of his top players.
Underwood told reporters on Tuesday that guard Andrej Stojakovic and center Zvonimir Ivisic would not play against UIC on Wednesday, which comes after both had hard falls in the loss to Baylor last Friday. Additionally, freshman guard Lincoln Williams is questionable after slipping and falling during Tuesday's practice.
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Illinois is set to host the University of Illinois-Chicago at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, with the broadcast slated for B1G+.
Stojakovic is the biggest absence as Illinois' leading returning scorer from a season ago. The senior scored a team-best 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting and knocked down all eight free throws in the Fighting Illini's 105-96 exhibition win over Cincinnati. He then played only 21 minutes against Baylor, scoring 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting, grabbing six rebounds and turning the ball over four times. Stojakovic averaged 13.5 points per game in 2025-26 as he helped the Illini reach the Final Four.
Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) on a fast break chased by VCU Rams guard Brandon Jennings (0) during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Ivisic played a combined 17 minutes between Illinois' two exhibition games, totaling five points, two rebounds and two blocks on 1-of-2 shooting. Underwood did announce that Zvonimir Ivisic's twin brother, Tomislav, will play against UIC. Tomislav Ivisic started both exhibition games and scored 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the Cincinnati victory.
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Williams, a three-star recruit from Kankakee, Ill., showed flashes in his first collegiate minutes. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound freshman ended up playing 16 minutes against Baylor, in which he scored four points, grabbed three offensive boards and earned a pair of steals. Williams was the fourth-highest-rated recruit out of Underwood's six commitments.
Those three injuries are in addition to sophomore forward David Mirkovic, who was named a Preseason All-American after a standout freshman season. Mirkovic, however, has been sidelined due to a foot injury that he suffered this summer, limiting his ability to practice with the team as the regular season ramps up. The 6-foot-9 rising star is back in a medical boot after appearing to be close to returning, and it's now likely that Mirkovic will miss regular season games.
The Fighting Illini will look to make their second consecutive trip to the Final Four this season, and their regular season begins against Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday, Nov. 2.
