Illinois basketball featured in Matt Norlander’s Top 100 teams

Illinois basketball enters the 2025-2026 season with plenty of high expectations. In a recent piece done by CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Illinois basketball is the 9th overall team in his top-100 college basketball teams. Funny enough, the Big Ten conference has two other teams in the top-10 of these rankings, both ahead of the Ilini. Both the Michigan Wolverines and the Purdue Boilermakers are within the Top-10 of Norlander’s top-100 college basketball teams and will certainly be the favorites to win the conference. Regardless, the Illini have the goods to compete at the top of this conference.

No matter who they play, they have skills in every position if they want to stay healthy.

Norlander’s case for the Illini

Norlander credits a strong returning core of players alongside a talented group of newcomers. Of course, the Illini starters are headlined by senior guard Kylan Boswell and center Tomislav Ivisic. Both Boswell and Ivisic were stellar to end the 2024-2025 season. If both can take steps forward with their games, they should be some of the best at their respective positions. In addition to Boswell and Ivisic, Andrej Stojakovic is highly touted and expected to make a major impact on the wing. European prospects, such as Mihailo Petrovic and David Mirkovic, look ready to contribute immediately to huge positions of need.

Backing up these guys is freshman Keaton Wagler and junior center Zvonimir Ivisic. Wagler may actually start for Illinois, while Ivisic may be the best backup big man in the country. In all, expect Illinois to play a fun brand of basketball with fewer inconsistencies given their age and experience.

Where the Big Ten fell in Norlander’s Top 100

2. Purdue
4. Michigan
9. Illinois
18. UCLA
20. Michigan St
23. Oregon
30. Iowa
33. Wisconsin
34. Ohio St
40. Indiana
45. USC
51. Maryland
59. Nebraska
64. Northwestern
69. Washington
75. Minnesota
78. Penn St
86. Rutgers

— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) October 30, 2025

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