Illinois Basketball Retention Numbers Show Illini Are Built for Another Final Four Run

Continuity doesn’t usually make the biggest college basketball headlines in May and June.

But it sure wins games in March.

Roster continuity has quietly become one of the biggest separators at the top of college basketball. Since the transfer portal opened the floodgates, March hasn’t belonged to the flashiest rosters — it’s belonged to the most connected ones. Every national champion from 2022–2025 leaned heavily on returning production, with some pushing close to 70 percent of their minutes.

For context, the typical high-major program dedicated just 32 percent of its minutes to returning players this past season.

(From Evan Miyakawa‘s article)

Illinois basketball fits that winning formula almost perfectly

College basketball analyst Evan Miyakawa wrote an incredibly informative article on the analytics behind roster retention. Miyakawa, one of the best in the business in college basketball analytics, singled out Florida and Illinois as two teams that meet the criteria typically associated with postseason success.

Brad Underwood and his staff have done a masterful job retaining the core. Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, and Jake Davis all return, bringing back experience, chemistry, and something even harder to build: trust.

Just as importantly, Illinois kept its coaching staff intact, preserving the voice and structure that built this foundation.

#TheRetention

Roughly 64 percent of Illinois’ projected minutes will come from returning players. Veterans like Ivisic and Davis, now entering year three in the program, won’t be learning the system anymore. That shortens the learning curve for everyone else, from transfers like Stefan Vaaks to a talented freshman class trying to find its footing.

While other contenders are still sorting out roles, Illinois is already developing.

Underwood likes to say he wants his teams “knocking on the door” in March.

It looks like the Illini could be pounding on it again.

Because in an era obsessed with change, Illinois is proving that sometimes the best way forward is simply bringing everyone back.

_________

Thank you for reading Armchair Illini! The Armchair team is proud to partner with Hamilton Walker’s Steak, Seafood, and Spirits. Reserve your table HERE. Enter our home game giveaways on our social media pages to win a $50 gift card.

We are also proud to partner with the Campus Ink Illini NIL Store! Use the code: ARMCHAIRILLINI for 15% off your purchase. Please subscribe to the Armchair Illini Podcast on YouTube here.

Above all, for feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at alexkyi13@gmail.com. Additionally, please use our Seatgeek code for $20 off your purchase on Seatgeek.com: ARMCHAIRILLINOIS. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing Illinois media outlets around.

Finally, subscribe to our newsletter here for more Illinois news! Go Illini.