The Illinois Fighting Illini are making a statement before the season even tips off. After a thrilling run to the 2026 Final Four—their first since 2005—the Illini aren't just resting on their laurels. While most elite programs are scrambling to replace stars lost to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal, Illinois is doing the opposite: they're running it back. This rare level of roster continuity has them looking like the clear favorite for the No. 1 spot in the preseason rankings.
The commitment was solidified when star wing Andrej Stojakovic announced his return for his senior season on Friday. He joins a core of key contributors—David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis—who have all pledged to come back. Yes, they'll lose a major piece in projected top-7 NBA Draft pick Keaton Wagler, but the Illini have already addressed that gap brilliantly.
Enter Stefan Vaaks, a 6'7" guard plucked from the transfer portal. He mirrors Wagler's profile as a tall, skilled shooter who excels at creating his own shot off the dribble. As a freshman at Providence, Vaaks knocked down 35% of his threes, with more than a third of those makes being unassisted. He's not just a replacement; he's a perfect schematic fit for an offense that lives and dies by the three.
And what an offense it was. Last season, Illinois perfected a modern, high-octane formula: launch threes at will and crash the boards with ferocity. They took nearly half of their shots from behind the arc (ranking 15th nationally) and dominated the offensive glass, grabbing over 39% of their misses (3rd nationally). The result? An offense that scored a blistering 131.2 points per 100 possessions, finishing the year as the second-most efficient unit in the country.
In today's era of constant roster churn, this level of retention for a Final Four team is almost unheard of. With five players returning who logged significant minutes, Illinois has the continuity and chemistry most teams spend months trying to build. While others are introducing new pieces, the Illini are already a well-oiled machine, poised to pick up right where they left off and make another deep March run.