Illinois basketball roster breakdown: Starting lineup prediction, bench rotation, 2026-27 outlook

Other than a frustrating mid-summer foot surgery for breakout sophomore big man David Mirkovic, it’s been a weirdly chill summer for Brad Underwood amidst the chaos that is college basketball. Turns out, you don’t need injunctions or shady judges who may or may not tilt toward the orange and blue when you get your work done early. The Illini became just the fourth team in the transfer portal era to retain five key rotation players from a Final Four club. This coaching staff believes it is close to scaling the mountain once and for all. It’s what made the Keaton…