Michael Wilbon of ESPN looks on prior to the game between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 15, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon was a guest on Monday’s episode of “The Tony Kornheiser Show” podcast with host Tony Kornheiser.
Wilbon expressed being impressed by the “moxy” of this year’s Illinois men’s basketball team, which reached the Final Four, and by the Illini coaches’ elite scouting, which he said was better than that of some NBA teams.
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Kornheiser said to Wilbon, “Illinois was the team that surprised me the most. Illinois, I didn’t know anything about them. Illinois looks really good to me. They do.”
“In December, I saw Illinois in person,” Wilbon said. “My only thought about Illinois was — this team can win the whole thing. They’re not and should not be thought of ahead of the Duke team that just lost (Sunday), or the Michigan team that is also in the Final Four, or Arizona. … They’ve got size, skill, depth, moxy, international veterans who — these kids in Europe they become pros very early, too.”
Kylan Boswell #4 and Tomislav Ivisic #13 of the Illinois Fighting Illini react against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Toyota Center on March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
Illinois’ starting center, Tomislav Ivisic, is from Croatia, and starting power forward, David Mirkovic, is from Montenegro. Tomislav’s twin brother, Zvonimir Ivisic, is a key reserve for the Illini.
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“Illinois scouts Europe, Tony, and they have a system of scouting Europe and bringing players that’s more sophisticated and more expensive and has a greater budget than certain NBA teams, I’m not going to say who right now,” Wilbon said. “They do a better job.”
In addition to this year’s success, last year’s Illinois lineup featured star Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis.
“In this era, it’s more than just NIL,” Wilbon said. “You have to have money. You have to spend it. You have to figure out how to spend it and mine the talent worldwide.”
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Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates after advancing to the Final Four after the Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Toyota Center on March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
The Illinois Fighting Illini face the UConn men’s basketball team in the 2026 Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT.
No. 3 seed Illinois enters the Final Four at 28-8 overall. Most recently, Illinois defeated Iowa 71-59 in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on Saturday, March 28. Against Iowa, Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler led the team with 25 points, three assists, and two rebounds.
No. 2-seeded UConn comes into the contest 33-5 overall. On Sunday, UConn beat Duke 73-72 in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Facing Duke, Tarris Reed Jr. led the team with 26 points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists, and two steals.
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“Now, college basketball, in order to be successful, you have to run it like a professional team — like an NBA team or a team at the top of the Euro League standings,” Wilbon said.
“I agree with that,” Kornheiser said in response. “Watching Illinois, they killed Iowa on the boards. They had more offensive rebounds than Iowa had defensive rebounds. They’re big. That’s big-boy basketball. They’re good.”
Jake Davis #15 of the Illinois Fighting Illini greets Tomislav Ivisic and Andrej Stojakovic during the Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Toyota Center on March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas.