Illinois men's basketball begins practices ahead of 2026-27 season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 2, 2026, 2:47 PM
Last updated Oct 2, 2026
College SportsThe Illinois men's basketball team kicked off its 2026-27 season with its first practice on October 2. The Illini will host their on-campus media day on October 7, and the Big Ten media day is set for October 12 in Rosemont. Key questions surround the team, including the anticipated development of David Mirkovic and whether Andrej Stojakovic can elevate his performance. Illinois also faces the challenge of replacing key players lost to the NBA and developing young talent from an expanded recruiting class. Defensive strategies for the season will be under scrutiny, particularly with Cam Crocker now as coordinator.
- •Illinois begins its 2026-27 season practices on October 2.
- •On-campus media day is scheduled for October 7.
- •David Mirkovic is expected to make a significant leap in performance.
- •Replacing NBA draftees presents challenges for the team.
- •Cam Crocker will oversee defensive strategies this season.
- 2:47 PMYahoo Sports — Five questions facing Illini men's basketball
"Oct. 2—Monday marked the official start of the 2026-27 Illinois men's basketball season with its first practice. The Illini's on-campus media day is Friday. The Big Ten will hold its media day event next Thursday in Rosemont. In his 11th season covering the Illini, beat writer Scott Richey addresses five questions surrounding Brad Underwood's program before the Nov. 2 opener: Will David ...
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