CHAMPAIGN — Illinois basketball was picked to finish third in the Big Ten, and two Fighting Illini earned preseason recognition, in a poll of USA TODAY Sports Network writers who cover the conference.
Illinois newcomer Andrej Stojakovic, the son of former NBA player Peja Stojakovic, was selected to the USA TODAY Sports Network 2025-26 All-Big Ten second team. Returnee Tomislav Ivisic was among nine named honorable mention after the five-person first and second teams.
Advertisement
Purdue was the preseason pick to win the Big Ten, followed by Michigan. Illinois was picked third ahead of UCLA and Michigan State.
Buy Illinois basketball tickets
The Illini won 22 games last season and advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini and coach Brad Underwood return two starters and a host of anticipated international players as they try for their seventh straight 20-win season.
They open the season with an exhibition game Oct. 19 against Illinois State. The Big Ten season begins Dec. 9 against Ohio State.
USA TODAY Sports Network preseason Big Ten champion, order of finish
Teams were ranked first through 18th with a total points system used to rank teams: A first-place prediction equaled one point and last was 18. The team with the fewest points was ranked first.
Advertisement
USA TODAY Sports Network 2025-26 preseason All-Big Ten basketball team
FIRST TEAM
-
Braden Smith, Purdue, guard, Sr. (unanimous selection)
-
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue, forward, Sr. (unanimous selection)
-
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, forward, Sr.
-
Donovan Dent, UCLA, guard, Sr.
-
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa, guard, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
-
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State, guard, Sr.
-
John Blackwell, Wisconsin, guard, Jr.
-
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern, forward, Sr.
-
Nate Bittle, Oregon, center, Sr.
-
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois, guard, Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
-
Illinois: Tomislav Ivisic
-
Indiana: Tucker DeVries, Lamar Wilkerson
-
Michigan State: Coen Carr, Jeremy Fears, Jaxon Kohler
-
Washington: Wesley Yates Jr.
Illinois schedule: Illinois basketball has easy start, tough finish to Big Ten play. Here’s the schedule
USA TODAY Sports Network 2025-26 preseason All-Big Ten basketball awards
-
Player of Year: Braden Smith, Purdue
-
Newcomer of Year: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
-
Freshman of Year: Trey McKenney, Michigan
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Big 10 basketball: Illinois preseason media rankings, Illini players to watch
