The Illinois Fighting Illini’s frontcourt depth will be tested on Sunday as they face off against Big Ten foe Northwestern without starting center Tomislav Ivisic. The 7-foot-1 sophomore from Croatia has been an integral part of Illinois’ interior play this season, but will be sidelined after being diagnosed with mononucleosis earlier this week.
Ivisic’s absence was already felt in the Illini’s lopsided 91-70 home loss to Maryland on Thursday. The towering Terrapins’ post tandem of Julian Reese and Derik Queen feasted against an undersized Illinois lineup, combining for a staggering 52 points and 23 rebounds in the blowout. Without their standout shot-blocker patrolling the paint, Brad Underwood’s squad looked vulnerable defending the basket.
Reshuffling the Rotation
Replacing Ivisic’s production and presence won’t be a simple task for Underwood. Through Illinois’ first 18 games, the Zagreb native averaged 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per contest while shooting a hyper-efficient 64% from the field. His ability to control the glass, protect the rim, and finish in the post have made him a foundational piece for this Illini outfit.
In Ivisic’s stead against the Terps, Coach Underwood turned to seldom-used freshman reserve Morez Johnson to man the middle. The physically gifted but raw 6’8″ forward from Chicago struggled in his surprise start, managing just 2 points and 4 rebounds in 19 foul-plagued minutes. Stretch-five sophomore Carey Booth also saw an uptick in playing time off the bench, but his perimeter-oriented game couldn’t handle Maryland’s muscle down low.
Next Man Up Mentality
For the Illini to avoid a second straight stumble sans Ivisic, they’ll need more from their committee of young posts against Northwestern. While neither Johnson nor Booth possesses Ivisic’s sheer size or defensive impact, they each offer intriguing potential that has flashed in limited doses.
“It’s next man up,” said Underwood on his replacement options in the frontcourt. “Morez is still learning, but his athleticism and motor can be a real weapon. Carey spaces the floor in a way Tommy doesn’t. We’ll need them both to step up.”
Help defending the paint will also have to come from Illinois’ cadre of versatile hybrid forwards. Senior leader Matthew Mayer and high-flying freshman Ty Rodgers both have the length and leaping ability to offer weakside rim protection when called upon. Their flexibility to guard multiple positions may prove critical in Ivisic’s absence.
Slumping at the Wrong Time
Ivisic’s illness-induced hiatus comes at an inopportune time for an Illinois squad that has lost three of their last four contests after a promising 5-1 start to Big Ten play. Sitting at 13-6 overall and 5-4 in conference, the 17th-ranked Illini are in danger of tumbling out of the AP Top 25 if they can’t right the ship soon.
Facing a feisty Northwestern group that is quietly putting together an NCAA Tournament-worthy résumé poses a tricky test for Underwood’s troops on Sunday. The Wildcats’ veteran core of Boo Buie, Chase Audige, and Robbie Beran has been a thorn in the Big Ten’s side all season long with their balanced scoring attack and hard-nosed defense.
“Northwestern is no joke,” emphasized Underwood. “They’re a Top 25 team in my mind. It’ll take a full 40-minute effort from us to defend our home court, with or without Tommy in the lineup.”
Ivisic’s Eventual Return
The Illini faithful will hope that Ivisic’s mono diagnosis won’t shelve the big man for long. While Underwood didn’t offer a definitive timeline on his return, he implied that the worst of the illness has likely passed.
“He’s not contagious, he’s beyond that,” said Underwood. “We’ll see what his timeline is.”
For an Illinois rotation that isn’t particularly deep, getting their anchor back in short order will be crucial for their Big Ten title aspirations and NCAA Tournament seeding. In the interim, how the supporting cast responds to their elevated roles may determine whether the Illini sink or swim without their Croatian import.
The eyes of the college basketball world will be on Champaign this Sunday to see if Illinois can keep pace in the crowded Big Ten race while shorthanded. If the remaining big men can collectively fill the Ivisic-sized void, Illinois could solidify its status as a March Madness threat. But another lackluster showing down low may raise real concern about this team’s postseason potential. With little margin for error in a brutally deep league, the Illini can ill afford a prolonged slump precipitated by their defensive anchor’s untimely absence.
