3 Illinois Basketball Players Who Could Help Fill The David Mirkovic Void If He Misses Time

Illinois basketball big man Zvonimir Ivisic — NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament – Elite Eight – Houston | Logan Riely/GettyImages

The rumblings of Illinois basketball tipping off are getting stronger and stronger.

This weekend, we finally get some type of Illini action, as the men's basketball team takes on Cincinnati in an exhibition game. Any Illinois basketball is good Illinois basketball.

Illinois is going to be without David Mirkovic. A summer injury and surgery has led to uncertainty about when Mirkovic will be back on the court, but he did practice for the first time on Monday.

This activity is a positive direction, but what if Mirkovic has to miss some regular season games? The first matchup is on November 2 against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Here are three Illinois basketball players who could help fill the David Mirkovic void if he misses time

Stefan Vaaks

Mirkovic brings a certain skill set to the table that is hard to replicate. I think Stefan Vaaks could pull elements of Mirkovic's game and replace him for the time being.

I love Mirkovic's ability to bring the ball up the court or get Illinois' offense going from anywhere on the court. He can post up on the block, deliver passes, or pick-and-pop from three-point range.

Illinois could get a lot of that from Vaaks early on if Mirkovic misses time. At 6-foot-7, Vaaks is a mismatch for guards on the perimeter, as he is someone who can shoot over defenders but can also guard well with his length.

Vaaks will be able to back his man down easily in the paint with his size. Mirkovic has similar skills. He can shoot well from the perimeter, is a mismatch for his defender, and he can dominate at all three levels. Vaaks will be crucial if Mirkovic misses any time.

Zvonimir Ivisic

If Illinois is without Mirkovic for a minute, that is a big chunk of the offense and rebounding that is missing.

Mirkovic finished last season averaging 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He also shot 37.5% from three-point range. Illinois won't have that scoring and rebounding, but someone like Zvonimir Ivisic could help put a band-aid on the issue.

Ivisic brings some of the best defense on the team. He is going to get more playing time with Mirkovic off the floor. His defense will help keep our opponents in check, and this will allow Illinois' offense to score fewer points but still get by with victories.

On top of his great defense helping aid some of Illinois' potential offensive woes, Ivisic could supplement the shortage of rebounds. Ivisic averaged 4.5 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game. That number should grow to over 7.0 rebounds per game if Mirkovic missed time.

Having an elite defender and rebounder would be huge for Illinois if Mirkovic is out. Ivisic brings that to the Illini as he awaits his turn off the bench.

Andrej Stojakovic

The last element that I believe Illinois could be missing if Mirkovic were out to start the 2026-27 season is his veteran leadership.

Mirkovic is a vocal player. He is someone who can carry a team emotionally. If Illinois is down, he is there to pick us up. Illinois needs that veteran leader, and I think this would be a golden opportunity for Andrej Stojakovic to gain a bigger voice on the team.

Stojakovic already has a strong place on the roster, as he was a key part of the Final Four run last season. He isn't one of the vocal leaders, though. I think he could blossom without Mirkovic on the floor.

Illinois is going to need to look to someone in Mirkovic's absence. There are plenty of options, but Stojakovic could have the chance to become that guy. If he is called upon, I think he is ready to take the reins.

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This article was originally published on www.writingillini.com as 3 Illinois basketball players who could help fill the David Mirkovic void if he misses time.

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