INDIANAPOLIS — The University of Illinois basketball team’s path to Saturday’s Final Four matchup against UConn tells a unique story of international recruitment and strategic trust in overseas talent.
Head coach Brad Underwood built his championship-contending roster by placing faith in assistant coach Geoff Alexander’s ability to identify and recruit what they call the “Balkan Bloc” — a collection of European players who now form the core of the Fighting Illini’s success.
The strategy paid off dramatically, with four of Illinois’ leading six scorers hailing from southeastern Europe. This marks the team’s fifth NCAA Tournament game this season as they prepare for their national semifinal rematch with the University of Connecticut.
“We knew we needed positional size. We knew we were recruiting shooting. They do it as well as anybody in the world in my opinion,” Underwood explained Thursday. “Geoff has spent many, many trips going over there, developing relationships, and now Orlando (Antigua) comes back and we’ve just invested heavily in doing that. We believe in it.”
This international approach isn’t new territory for Underwood, who previously utilized similar recruiting strategies at Western Illinois alongside Antigua. The coaching staff has successfully developed overseas talent including Kasparas Jakucionis, who became the 20th overall pick by the Miami Heat in last year’s draft, and Canadian player Will Riley, selected 21st by Utah and later traded to Washington.
The current roster showcases this international foundation through players like All-American Keaton Wagler, whom Underwood recruited sight unseen based on Alexander’s recommendation, transfer Andrej Stojakovic, and returning hometown player Kylan Boswell.
Boswell, a Champaign native who transferred back from Arizona, has become a cornerstone of the team’s success. “I think going home has helped. The way he has handled himself. He’s just been elite,” Underwood said of Boswell. “He’s been a joy to coach. He’s been unselfish. He’s been a guy that is all about winning.”
Freshman David Mirkovic from Montenegro has emerged as a tournament standout, posting 27 and 19 points in the opening victory over Penn. The 19-year-old stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 250 pounds, providing crucial rebounding alongside the team’s twin towers.
The Ivisic brothers, Zvonimir and Tomislav — nicknamed Z and Tommy by their coach — represent the team’s 7-foot tandem that anchors the frontcourt. “Their chemistry is unbelievable. Their competitiveness is unbelievable. They go at each other all the time,” Underwood observed. “They’re very different people, even though they’re twins, and yet their synergy is really fun to see.”
The coach credits the twins with helping other international players adjust to American college basketball. “I think for lack of a better word, those two set the tone for the other guys from over there. And just their comfort of being in the States, even though Z wasn’t with us the whole time, they’ve helped ease some of the transition and the challenges that lie for the others.”
Stojakovic has overcome injury setbacks, including preseason knee problems and an in-season ankle issue that limited him to 21 starts. When Boswell returned from his own hand injury, Stojakovic embraced a bench role and has excelled as a reserve player.
“The one thing he’s done is he’s accepted defending. He’s accepted rebounding,” Underwood noted. “We all know his offense can come and that he’s a very capable guy there. But now he has just adjusted. I couldn’t have asked for anything more coming off the bench. He’s done that in a way that has helped us grow and play our best basketball.”
