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Lincoln Today
By the People, for the People
How Geoff Alexander quietly turned Illinois into March's most unique team
Illinois' roster built with international talent has the team one win away from the Final Four
Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:38pm
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Illinois basketball has taken an unconventional path to the Elite Eight, building a roster filled with international talent identified and recruited by assistant coach Geoff Alexander. The team's size, skill, and style of play now have them on the verge of the Final Four, showing a different model for building a contender in college basketball.
Why it matters
Illinois' success with international players challenges the traditional recruiting model in college basketball, proving that identifying and developing talent from overseas can produce a highly effective roster. This could inspire other programs to expand their recruiting horizons and rethink how they build their teams.
The details
Assistant coach Geoff Alexander, who grew up in a disciplined high school program in Lincoln, Illinois, has been the driving force behind Illinois' international recruiting strategy. He saw value in players from European systems who are comfortable with the ball, understand spacing, and have faced older competition. Illinois has leaned into this approach, with several key contributors from Montenegro, Croatia, Greece, and Serbia making an immediate impact. Players like David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Andrej Stojakovic have provided production at every level of the roster, helping Illinois develop a unique identity that has them one win away from the Final Four.
- Illinois will face Iowa in the Elite Eight on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
- Illinois has not reached the Final Four since 2005, and head coach Brad Underwood has never coached in one.
The players
Geoff Alexander
An assistant coach at Illinois who has been the driving force behind the team's international recruiting strategy, identifying and developing talent from overseas to build a unique roster.
David Mirkovic
A freshman from Montenegro who has been one of the most impactful players in the country, averaging 13.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists with 26 double-figure scoring games and eight double-doubles.
Tomislav Ivisic
A player from Croatia who has provided consistency for Illinois, averaging 10.1 points and 5.6 rebounds with 16 double-digit scoring games, and led the team in rebounding last season with 11 double-doubles.
Zvonimir Ivisic
Tomislav's brother, also from Croatia, who changes games defensively for Illinois, averaging 2.0 blocks per game and ranking among the national leaders in block rate.
Andrej Stojakovic
A transfer from Cal who was born in Greece and has brought proven scoring to Illinois, averaging 13.3 points per game with multiple 20-point performances.
What they’re saying
“Illinois did not just recruit players. It built a roster with a specific identity. And that identity now has them one win away from something bigger.”
— Rodney Knuppel, Author
“This is not just about style. It is about production.”
— Rodney Knuppel, Author
What’s next
If Illinois defeats Iowa in the Elite Eight, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2005, giving head coach Brad Underwood his first trip to college basketball's biggest stage.
The takeaway
Illinois' success with international players has challenged the traditional recruiting model in college basketball, proving that identifying and developing talent from overseas can produce a highly effective roster. This could inspire other programs to expand their recruiting horizons and rethink how they build their teams, leading to more diversity and innovation in the sport.

