Tomislav Ivisic to return to Illinois for Senior season

Per Jonathan Givony, Illinois junior center Tomislav Ivisic will return to Illinois for his senior season. Although Ivisic has played two seasons in Champaign, he has just one year of eligibility remaining after being classified as a sophomore when he arrived from overseas.

Big T put together a strong sophomore campaign, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention (media) despite battling illness throughout the season. He was one of the top centers in the conference but took a slight step back during the 2025–26 season. That dip in production can largely be attributed to a decrease in his three-point shooting. After knocking down 35.7% from beyond the arc in his first season with the Illini, that number dropped to 31.3% as a junior.

“I know I am a good shooter”, said Tomislav Ivisic in March.

Ivisic averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game last season, down from 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game in 2024–25. His usage rate also declined as more of the offense ran through Keaton Wagler, Andrej Stojakovic, and David Mirkovic. Still, the Illinois coaching staff is confident he will take a step forward in his final season.

The Croatian center will once again anchor what should be an elite Illinois frontcourt. For the second straight year, the Illini are expected to have one of the most skilled frontcourts in college basketball. Ivisic’s ability to pass, rebound, and stretch the floor makes him a unique weapon, helping create spacing and driving lanes for his teammates.

What this means?

Looking ahead, areas for improvement include increasing his physicality in the paint and becoming more impactful defensively. Just 42.4% of his points came in the paint last season, and his free-throw rate was only 19.9%. Those are figures that rank in the 25th and 12th percentiles nationally, according to CBB Analytics. He spent more time on the perimeter compared to the previous season, but a shift back toward interior play could benefit both him and the Illini offense.

Ivisic shot an impressive 73% on two-point attempts, though he averaged nearly two fewer attempts per game than the year prior. Illinois leaned on him more in the paint during the Final Four matchup against UConn, where he finished with 16 points and six made free throws.

Expect the Illini to build on that approach moving forward, as Ivisic looks poised for a breakout senior season in Champaign.

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