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May 30—Seventeen of the Big Ten's 18 basketball teams have at least one player on the roster for the 2026-27 season born outside of the United States. Iowa has zero. Several of more than one, including Illinois with David Mirkovic (Montenegro), Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic (Croatia), Andrej Stojakovic (Greece) and Stefan Vaaks (Estonia).
That's not unique to the Big Ten. International players have long had a place on college basketball rosters, but the changes to revenue sharing and NIL have opened up an entirely new market.
It would only make sense, then, that people have started thinking about playing regular season college basketball games in some non-traditional places beyond multi-team events that have already been played in the Bahamas and Mexico. The Royal Palm Invitational in Dubai was thrown out as a future tournament possibility during the 2025-26 season. The College Basketball International Series, with games in Croatia and Serbia, was also floated as an idea this past season.
While neither has gained much traction — at least publicly — Notre Dame and Villanova will play a men's and women's doubleheader in Rome on Nov. 1 in the Eternal City Tip-Off.
College basketball is going even more global, and two games in Rome is likely just the start.
"I think it's only a matter of time," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "You have to fine tune that a little bit and make sure scheduling can handle a game or two abroad and you're allowed the appropriate time to recover once you come back. I would think it's coming sooner than later. I'm all in for any of those. I would be at the top of the list to want to go — especially in Europe.
"If one would happen to show up in Croatia, Serbia or Montenegro, I'd be at the top of the list. Let's go. Obviously, there presents some different challenges, but more and more people are recruiting international. You're going to see that happen, and I think it would be great for the game."
Continue reading...
That's not unique to the Big Ten. International players have long had a place on college basketball rosters, but the changes to revenue sharing and NIL have opened up an entirely new market.
It would only make sense, then, that people have started thinking about playing regular season college basketball games in some non-traditional places beyond multi-team events that have already been played in the Bahamas and Mexico. The Royal Palm Invitational in Dubai was thrown out as a future tournament possibility during the 2025-26 season. The College Basketball International Series, with games in Croatia and Serbia, was also floated as an idea this past season.
While neither has gained much traction — at least publicly — Notre Dame and Villanova will play a men's and women's doubleheader in Rome on Nov. 1 in the Eternal City Tip-Off.
College basketball is going even more global, and two games in Rome is likely just the start.
"I think it's only a matter of time," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "You have to fine tune that a little bit and make sure scheduling can handle a game or two abroad and you're allowed the appropriate time to recover once you come back. I would think it's coming sooner than later. I'm all in for any of those. I would be at the top of the list to want to go — especially in Europe.
"If one would happen to show up in Croatia, Serbia or Montenegro, I'd be at the top of the list. Let's go. Obviously, there presents some different challenges, but more and more people are recruiting international. You're going to see that happen, and I think it would be great for the game."
Continue reading...
