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Illini Ranked No. 3 Nationally for 2026-27 Season
5 Aug
Summary
- Illinois basketball ranked third nationally in updated 2026-27 rankings.
- Team retained core players after reaching Final Four.
- New talent acquisition boosts experienced roster for high expectations.
Expectations are soaring for Illinois basketball as they are ranked No. 3 in ESPN's updated 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings. This positions the Fighting Illini for just their fourth preseason Top 5 appearance in program history and their first since the 2004-05 season. The high ranking predates the news that David Mirkovic underwent surgery but is expected to recover within 6 to 8 weeks.
The Fighting Illini earned this preseason praise by retaining the core of their Final Four team, including Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. Significant high school and transfer portal talent has been acquired to complement this experienced group, creating a roster with both a high floor and substantial ceiling.
The upcoming season features a notable non-conference test against UConn at the United Center. The Big Ten conference is expected to be highly competitive, with six teams in the preseason top 25 and three in the top 10. Illinois officially begins its campaign at home against Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday, November 2, 2026.
