Illinois freshman forward David Mirkovic made a strong impression during the start of his collegiate career. He delivered a 20-20 performance (27 points and 21 rebounds against Colgate) and was consistently impressive throughout most of the Illini’s non-conference schedule. However, aside from a standout 22-point, nine-rebound game against Ohio State, Mirkovic had struggled to find his rhythm against high-major opponents—until Saturday night.

In a crucial matchup against Penn State at the Palestra in Philadelphia, Mirkovic showcased a level of comfort that surprised many. His stat line of 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists might not seem overwhelming, but the way he achieved these numbers was truly impressive. Mirkovic was highly active on the offensive glass, grabbing five offensive boards and keeping several other balls alive, especially during a pivotal stretch in the second half.

Although he isn’t an Olympic-level athlete, when Mirkovic combines his size, physicality, anticipation, and sheer effort, it’s hard to match. But what stood out even more than his rebounding was his ability to facilitate the offense. With guard Keaton Wagler limited to just 20 minutes due to foul trouble, Mirkovic became the go-to creator for Illinois.

The Illini relied heavily on Mirkovic in the post, using a style of play known as “Booty Ball.” This role is rarely mastered by players, but Mirkovic has thrived in it. At 6-foot-9 and 255 pounds, he can back down defenders from the three-point line and is remarkably effective against the frequent double teams that come his way in those situations.

Mirkovic possesses an unteachable sense of awareness and understanding of when the second defender is coming. He also has the innate ability to recognize where and when to make a pass. He remains calm, takes a back-out dribble when needed, and is shockingly accurate with his passes. A pinpoint dime to Jake Davis was one of the clearest examples of Mirkovic’s passing ability, but he consistently made the right plays—even if the raw stats don’t always reflect that.

Mirkovic’s kick-outs from the post often triggered a series of swing passes around the perimeter that created wide-open shots. Although Illinois struggled from beyond the arc (shooting 6-for-27), Mirkovic’s vision and decision-making were evident throughout the game.

“Ilinois coach Brad Underwood praised Mirkovic’s performance, saying, “He’s an action guy. He’s a terrific ball-handler. He’s always got his head up. He’s a great, great passer. We made a nice little run there in the second half, and he had a couple of nice little passes and just in some Booty Ball stuff.”

Underwood added, “His youth as a point guard allows him to do those things. He’s comfortable in it. But to do that at 6-foot-9, 255 pounds is a nice advantage to have. But on a night he didn’t shoot the ball very well from the three, he stayed in it mentally and was just a great action guy for us, a great creator for us.”

Most encouragingly, this performance appears to be replicable. Mirkovic didn’t force the issue, didn’t overthink, and seemed more in control than ever—especially in a high-major matchup. While this version of Mirkovic may not drastically elevate Illinois’ ceiling, it certainly raises the floor, which could be even more important in this moment.

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