Illinois checks in at No. 17 in preseason AP poll
Illinois basketball is ranked No. 17 to open the 2025-26 season, landing in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll released Monday. It’s the fifth time in Brad Underwood’s eight seasons in Champaign that the Illini have been ranked to start the year, a reflection of how far the program’s expectations have climbed in recent years.
The Illini are one of six Big Ten teams in the poll, joining No. 1 Purdue, No. 7 Michigan, No. 12 UCLA, No. 22 Michigan State and No. 24 Wisconsin. Illinois was also picked fourth in the league by a panel of Big Ten writers.
Underwood’s squad comes in with a mix of proven veterans and new faces. Illinois brings back three starters from last year’s 22-win team, led by All-Big Ten center Tomislav Ivisic, senior guard Kylan Boswell and forward Ben Humrichous. The staff also hit the portal hard, adding former five-star wing Andrej Stojakovic from Cal and big man Zvonimir Ivisic from Arkansas, plus Serbian guard Mihailo Petrovic and Montenegrin forward David Mirkovic. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler could also carve out a role.
Still, Underwood admits he hasn’t had a chance to fully evaluate his new-look roster with injuries and late arrivals slowing down preseason practice.
“I love this team,” Underwood said. “I like our size, I like our versatility. We’re more talented offensively than we were a year ago. Defensively, we’ve got to continue to grow. But we’re trying to win a national championship every time we start a season, and that’s our standard.”
Illinois will be tested early. Four of its high-major nonconference opponents are ranked in the top 20 — No. 4 UConn, No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 15 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee. Missouri, the Illini’s Braggin’ Rights rival, also received votes.
The Illini open with an exhibition against Illinois State this Sunday at State Farm Center. The Redbirds, who won 22 games and the College Basketball Invitational last season, return much of their core under head coach and former Illini assistant Ryan Pedon. Illinois will also play a closed-door scrimmage later this month against defending national champion Florida.
It’s another season where Illinois enters with big goals — and a top-20 ranking to match.
