Illinois Just Kept Nearly Everyone, and Nobody Else in College Basketball Is Ready For It

The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four for the first time since 2005. They lost a tight one to UConn, and Michigan cut down the nets. But here's the thing that matters for next season: they're keeping almost everybody.

While most programs that make deep tournament runs are scrambling to fill holes left by NBA defections and the transfer portal, Illinois is doing the opposite. Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning for his senior season on Friday afternoon, joining teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis who already committed to stick around. That's ridiculous roster retention in a transfer portal era where the average team brings back just 31 percent of their players.

The Only Real Loss is Already Replaced

Yeah, Keaton Wagler is heading to the NBA Draft as a top-7 pick. That stings. But Illinois found what feels like the perfect swap in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks from the transfer portal. Both are tall, skinny guards who live from three-point range. Vaaks shot 35 percent from three on over 260 attempts last year as a freshman, with more than 35 percent of those shots coming off the dribble with no help.

The Offense That Made Them Dangerous is Staying Put

The Illini took nearly half their shots from three-point range last year (49.7 percent, ranked No. 15 nationally) and absolutely cleaned up the glass on the offensive end (39.2 percent offensive rebound rate, No. 3 overall). That offense scored an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions for No. 2 efficiency in the country. Five guys who played at least 42 percent of available minutes are coming back, which means continuity instead of chemistry building.

The front court is stacked: the Ivisic twins at 7'1 each who can shoot and protect the rim, plus Mirkovic, a 6'9 power forward who rebounds, spaces the floor, and can even run some offense. Davis is a veteran wing hitting 40 percent from three. Stojakovic is a slashing wing who can defend on the perimeter. Add Vaaks' pull-up game, incoming four-star recruit Quentin Coleman (skinny frame, shooter's touch), and 6'7 wing Lucas Morillo (mean defender with some offensive tools), and this is a team built to repeat.

Illinois isn't guaranteed the No. 1 preseason spot. Florida has Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon staying put. UConn landed Najai Hines and is keeping Silas Demary. But if you're looking at what team deserves that top ranking when the preseason polls drop, the Illini have the clearest path back to the Final Four.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.