Good Morning, Illini Nation: Busy basketball day at Illinois football game

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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood’s team and college basketball at large:

Saturday was a busy day in Champaign ... and not just because Illinois football was hosting Western Michigan to close out its nonconference schedule. (But partly because the Illini and Broncos did play Saturday night).

A sellout crowd is just the kind of atmosphere Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood doesn't mind co-opting for his own purposes. Saturday that meant time on Zuppke Field before the football game for Underwood's entire team plus former Illini Kasparas Jakucionis and several potential future Illini.

Some thoughts on a hoops-driven late afternoon before my attention shifted to football: 

— Ty Rodgers is not wearing a knee brace. That's certainly notable. When I saw the veteran guard at the end of summer, he was in a brace that basically went from his hip to his ankle and was apparently a necessity following offseason knee surgery. That he's moving around without one now? Maybe it's a sign that this might not be a lost season. 

Should get an update from Underwood on Rodgers' status soon. Practice starts in just more than a week.

— Also seeming to move around pretty well was Andrej Stojakovic. Underwood said earlier this month the transfer guard was sidelined with a knee sprain. Stojakovic didn't appear hobbled by it, though.

— I just had a few moments to catch up with Jakucionis. Training camp starts for the Miami Heat in a couple weeks, and he's ready to get after it. Interesting that he'll be joined in Miami, at least for camp, by fellow former Illini Dain Dainja (even though they were never on the same Illinois team).

— Ben Humrichous is just a good dude. Always says hello when he sees me.

— Similarly, every time I see David Mirkovic I think he's the Montenegrin Giorgi Bezhanishvili. Not sure I've seen the Illinois freshman without a smile on his face.

— Fresh off spending most of his summer in Europe (30 days total in June and July combined), Illinois assistant coach Geoff Alexander is going to squeeze in a multi-country trip this month to do some more international recruiting.

— Be on the lookout for multiple stories from a busy football pregame. I got a chance to catch up with 2026 recruits Cameron Holmes and Sinan Huan, 2027 guard (and reigning N-G All-State Player of the Year) Jaxson Davis and five-star 2028 guard Brady Pettigrew.