Chambana Sun

Illinois men's basketball will begin selling single-game tickets to the public on Friday at noon Central Time. This follows a strong demand for season tickets, which have sold out for the general public for the second consecutive year. Student season tickets also sold out, reaching capacity in a record 18 minutes for the fifth straight season.

The team is preparing for the 2025-26 season with high expectations, entering ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll. Last season, Illinois won 22 games, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and finished No. 17 in KenPom rankings.

Key returning players include point guard Kylan Boswell, center Tomislav Ivisic, forward Ben Humrichous, and forward Jake Davis. New additions to the roster feature transfers Zvonimir Ivisic from Arkansas and Andrej Stojakovic from California.

Illinois has also recruited internationally, adding Mihailo Petrovic from Serbia and David Mirkovic from Montenegro. Two incoming freshmen from U.S. high schools are expected to contribute: Keaton Wagler, who was named Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2025, and Brandon Lee, who was among New Jersey's top scorers last season.

The program has seen consistent success under head coach Brad Underwood. Illinois has been the most successful Big Ten team over the past six years, winning three conference championships in five seasons. The Illini are one of only four teams nationwide with six consecutive 20-win regular seasons and have made five straight NCAA Tournament appearances. They are also unique among Big Ten teams for posting a winning conference record each year during this period.

"I think we have put ourselves in position to be nationally relevant every year," said Brad Underwood about his team's recent achievements.