Illini Balkans Garner Support in Final Four Journey
The Illinois men’s basketball team will play in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The game will be before roughly 70,000 fans. David Mirkovic, the Montenegro-born forward, has been a key contributor to the run.
European core on the roster
Illinois features six players from Europe. Their presence has shaped the locker room culture.
- David Mirkovic — Montenegro.
- Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic — twins from Vodice, Croatia.
- Toni Bilic — Trogir, Croatia, roughly 40 miles from Vodice.
- Mihailo Petrovic — Prokuplje, Serbia.
- Andrej Stojakovic — born in Thessaloniki, Greece; son of Peja Stojakovic; played high school basketball in Carmichael, California.
Growing support and visibility
Several hundred fans gathered in Champaign before the team departed on Wednesday. That crowd will likely grow at the stadium.
AJ Redd estimated Illini fans could make up about 40 percent of Lucas Oil Stadium. Players said the attention has been surprising and welcome.
Reactions from home
Friends and family back in Europe stayed up to watch games live. Players sent locker-room photos and messages to loved ones.
Those connections helped the Illini Balkans garner support in Final Four journey. The phrase matched fans’ growing interest abroad.
Postseason travel and key moments
Illinois flew more than 3,000 combined miles to Greenville, South Carolina, and Houston. The team then took a short bus trip to Indianapolis.
The Elite Eight win over Iowa was a highlight. Illinois defeated Iowa 71-59 in Houston, a moment players cited as special.
Personal stories and local ties
Jake Davis rooms with Tomislav Ivisic. Davis grew up about 20 miles northwest of Lucas Oil Stadium in McCordsville, Indiana.
Davis played at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. He called reaching a Final Four a childhood dream.
Ben Humrichous, from Tipton, is the other native Hoosier on the roster. Coach and teammates praised the group’s chemistry.
Player notes
Toni Bilic joined midseason during the 2025-26 campaign and has not yet seen game action. He said March Madness feels like a dream.
Mihailo Petrovic described the environments in Greenville and Houston as wonderful. He called the trip a valuable experience.
Illinois enters the semifinal with a 28-8 record. Opponent Connecticut stands at 33-5.
Coverage and reporting by Filmogaz.com.
