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INDIANAPOLIS — As the buzzer sounded, the overflow of emotion refused to stay bottled up. Frustration lingered as Illinois saw the curtains close on its season; it all pointed towards the end of a magical season.
A season not complete without its exhilarating highs and devastating lows. A season, like that of the three other teams competing in this weekend’s Final Four, would not be complete without a final gut punch.
As much as Illinois can hold its head up, the team walked timidly towards the final Brad Underwood speech. As Underwood made his way into the locker room, all of that bottled-up emotion erupted.
There was nothing basketball-related about what Underwood told his team. He simply reminded them that they will always be family.
Everybody felt it. The coaches, staffers, players, and managers alike. They all felt the hurt of the loss, the magnitude of the stage where they had just ended their season. Red eyes surrounded the locker room, some even at a loss for words.
“Every day just being goofy and messing with each other and having a lot of fun, through the bad and good times, we were always there for each other,” Keaton Wagler said.
Illinois fans around the world fell in love with this team. It was easy, given the natural charisma found in different corners of the locker room. Playing as many games together as possible seemed to offer enough momentum to carry the Illini to the Final Four. This exact iteration of the Illini will never step on the court together again.
“It was such a beautiful season. A lot happened really fast. I need some time to sit down and think,” David Mirkovic told TCR.
Senior Kylan Boswell said he will remember this team most by the simple moments, like the lifts. Most of which would feature a blend of Balkan music. An important characteristic of this team.
“We would have guys saying crazy sh*t, and then the next day we’d forget about it because something new happened,” Andrej Stojakovic said. “It’s those types of moments we’ll never forget.”
Brotherly love
Ivisic put together an impressive performance on Saturday night. Perhaps the most gritty Illini performance of all. But the abruptness of the end spares no one.
Ty Rodgers put his arm around his — now-brother — Tomislav Ivisic, and pointed towards the sea of orange.
“This won’t be our last time here,” Rodgers told Ivisic.
A bow that Rodgers hopes to reach for the rest of his collegiate career.
“I was really proud, I was proud of him, he’ll always be my brother for life,” Rodgers said.
Ivisic seemingly left it all on the floor. Once he was able to return to the locker room, he was embraced by his brother Zvonimir Ivisic.
Zvonimir put his left arm over his brother, Tomislav, and more bottled-up emotions spilled out. The reality seemingly continued to sink in. A magical season in which both brothers played pivotal roles.
The next steps
For some, the next couple of days will be about rest.
For Boswell, the grind can’t stop as he’ll continue to chase his dream of playing in the NBA.
“I’ve got to get ready for the PortSmith [Invitational Tournament],” Boswell told TCR. “I really get no break. I get a couple of days off right now, but I gotta continue this on, hopefully get my situation ready and get ready for the draft.”
On the other side, Mirkovic says a monster summer awaits him.
“I would say a dangerous summer is in front of me and a dangerous season. I know I have so so much room for improvement.”
Now, the cycle repeats itself. But the 2025-2026 Illini were nothing short of special.
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