Illinois Basketball Debate: Which Brad Underwood Team Was Better, 2023-24 or 2025-26?

Which Illinois basketball team would you take: Terrence Shannon Jr.’s Elite Eight squad or the 2025-26 roster loaded with Keaton Wagner, Andrej Stojaković and the Balkan Trio?

Was Brad Underwood’s 2023-24 team, the one that rode Shannon, Marcus Domask and Coleman Hawkins to the Elite Eight, the best team of his tenure?

Or is the 2025-26 group, built around elite scoring wings and a uniquely versatile frontcourt featuring David Mirković and twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivišić?

The more you stack them up, the harder the answer gets. They weren’t built the same way, they didn’t win the same way, but both looked at times like a team capable of beating anyone in the country.

The Case for 2023-24

Let’s start with the obvious.

It’s hard to imagine many teams surviving 40 minutes against Terrence Shannon Jr. when he was at his best.

Once Illinois got a stop and Shannon found open floor, the game changed instantly. He attacked the rim with a combination of speed and power that few college players have ever possessed. Opponents knew what was coming, and it rarely mattered.

Marcus Domask was the perfect complement. While Shannon played at full throttle, Domask slowed everything down. He manipulated defenders, found teammates, and always seemed to deliver the right play at the right time.

Then there was Coleman Hawkins, arguably the most versatile player Underwood has coached. He defended every position, initiated offense, stretched the floor, and connected everything Illinois wanted to do.

That team had something every great March team needs: a superstar who could take over a game. And they proved it.

They reached the Elite Eight, knocking off quality opponents before finally running into the eventual national champion UConn.

There wasn’t much overthinking with that group.

Give the ball to Terrence. Run. Repeat.

The Case for 2025-26

The 2025-26 Illinois basketball team didn’t necessarily have the best individual player. It may have had the best collection of players.

Keaton Wagler became one of the country’s most complete offensive weapons, scoring at all three levels and creating late-clock shots.

Andrej Stojaković gave Illinois another go-to scorer who never seemed rattled. But what truly separated this roster was the Balkan Trio.

David Mirković and twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivišić gave Illinois an unusual blend of size and skill. All three could shoot, pass, rebound, and initiate offense, making Illinois one of the most versatile teams in the country.

There simply weren’t many answers defensively for the opposition. 

Double the post? Wagler and Stojaković punished you outside. Stay home on shooters? The bigs carved you inside. Switch? Someone got a mismatch.

Unlike 2023-24, this group never felt dependent on one player. There were simply too many options.

One Game or Seven?

Here’s where the debate gets interesting.

If these two teams met once, winner take all, I’d lean 2023-24. In a single game, the best player often matters most. Terrence Shannon Jr. could swing a game with a 30-point explosion before anyone adjusted. Domask’s poise and Hawkins’ versatility only strengthened that formula.

Sometimes greatness wins before depth matters. But stretch it into a seven-game series? Now I’m changing sides.

Over multiple games, adjustments become everything. That’s where 2025-26 gains the edge. That version of Illinois could throw different lineups and looks every night. If one player struggled, another could carry the load. If one matchup disappeared, Underwood had another answer.

The biggest difference was late-game creation. Need a basket? Wagler could get one. So could Stojaković. Mirković could exploit a mismatch.

The Ivišić twins could stretch a defense and open the floor. The number of options made them incredibly hard to guard over time. Ben Humrichous and Jake Davis added to the versatility. Depth doesn’t always decide one game. It often decides a series.

The Verdict

That’s why this debate doesn’t have one answer. For one night in March, give me the 2023-24 Illinois basketball team.

I’ll take Terrence Shannon Jr. in transition, Marcus Domask making winning plays, and Coleman Hawkins doing everything. Sometimes the best player wins the biggest game.

But in a best-of-seven series? I’m taking 2025-26.

Wagler, Stojaković, and the Balkan Trio offered too many answers over time. Their depth, versatility, and late-game shot creation would eventually wear down even an Elite Eight-caliber team.

Fortunately, this debate will never be settled. And that’s what makes it fun.

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