The Fighting Illini absolutely went off on opening night, dropping a ridiculous 120 points on Fairleigh Dickinson in a 75-point rout, and they did it while missing their CBS Sports First Team All-American, David Mirkovic. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement that shattered records and put the league on notice right from the jump.
Illinois’ Zoom-Zoom Attack Just Broke the Record Books
Talk about a new offensive gameplan making an impact! Illinois has ditched the slow, pick-and-roll heavy style for what they call a “zoom-zoom transition attack” that basically has no plays, and it paid off in spades. That 75-point margin of victory against FDU is the largest for Illinois at the State Farm Center, a building that opened way back in 1963. They came up just seven points shy of tying the school record for points in a game, which is bonkers for an opener.
The numbers from this offensive explosion are wild: The Illini drained a program-best 19 three-pointers, on 51 attempts no less. They were also nearly perfect inside, going 26-for-31 on layups or dunks. And it wasn’t just one or two guys: 30 of their 46 buckets were assisted, showing some real team ball, and seven different players hit multiple treys. Andrej Stojakovic exploded for 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Quentin Coleman added 13 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Ethan Brown, a former three-star recruit with no high-major offers, put up 12 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, looking every bit the part of a multi-year Big Ten starter. Stefan Vaaks pitched in 20 points and four assists with zero turnovers. Offensive coordinator Tyler Underwood is clearly at the top of his craft, and coach Brad Underwood’s willingness to change things up might be his strongest attribute. All this, while David Mirkovic is out indefinitely, recovering from early August foot surgery and an appendectomy just Saturday. What a way to start the year!
Meanwhile, North Carolina Had a ‘Pucker-Worthy Showing’
While Illinois was busy making history, another big-name program was barely escaping disaster. North Carolina, with a roster reportedly worth $20 million, edged out Western Carolina 80-72, but it was anything but pretty. Head coach Michael Malone had to bench his starters midway through a second-half collapse. They only avoided a complete meltdown thanks to an untimely technical foul on the Catamounts. This was called a “pucker-worthy showing,” and if this is how a top program plays, it looks like they are far from the top of the ACC pecking order early on.
Elsewhere on opening night, college hoops gave us an absolute “4 a.m. banger” where Grambling State narrowly defeated Northern Illinois 89-87. And Florida’s Thomas Haugh showed out, hitting four three-pointers against Miami. This was one of the best shooting nights of his career, matching his Elite Eight performance against Texas Tech in 2025. Last season, he shot a respectable 32.6% on 5.9 attempts from deep, so seeing him dial it in like that is a promising sign.
So, college hoops is back, and it’s already got us talking. Can Illinois keep this ridiculous offense going, even without Mirkovic? And how quickly can Michael Malone get that $20 million North Carolina roster to actually play like it? We’re just getting started, folks, and these opening night fireworks are just a taste of what’s to come this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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