The Illinois Fighting Illini lost star forward Keaton Wagler to the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, but still return one of the deepest and most balanced lineups in recent college basketball history.

The Illini are expected to bring back an impressive roster of size, skill, experience, outside shooting, rim protection, and coaching to rival any other in the nation. 

Coach Brad Underwood has served as an NCAA head coach since 2013-2014; nine seasons with Illinois.

This year's team looks like the most talented he's ever had, and he's going to need every ounce of its talent to shine through in what is expected to be the nation's toughest conference.

CBS Sports college hoops inside Jon Rothstein released his Big Ten preseason power rankings in a viral post that was viewed nearly one million times as of Tuesday. 

Rothstein put the Fighting Illini two spots ahead of the defending 2025-26 national champion Michigan Wolverines, just ahead of legendary Big Ten coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans in the league's number one spot. 

His rankings include a surprise number four pick, the USC Trojans, along with perennial Big Ten power Purdue in the number six position. 

Traditional Big Ten powers Indiana and Ohio State ranked seventh and eighth while longtime national power UCLA ranked fifth.

Rutgers, Northwestern and Penn State, three teams filled with talented players, round out the power rankings, a testament to the Big Ten's strength. 

The Fighting Illini's last Big Ten regular season championship came in 2024, a year that also saw Underwood's team win the conference tournament. 

That team featured a bevy of future professional players including Terrence Shannon, Jr., now with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Marcus Domask, now with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G-League, and Coleman Hawkins, now with the Grand Rapids Gold of the G-League. 

What the 2024 team had in terms of its 'Big 3,' it lacked in regards to its depth as Shannon, Domask and Hawkins were Underwood's only double digit scorers. 

Underwood's 2026-27 team doesn't have a player with the athleticism of Shannon, Jr., but will have strength in numbers. 

Three double digit scorers are expected to return from last year's team (David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic and Tomislav Ivisic).

They will be joined by Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks, who averaged 15.8 points per game last season, giving Underwood a team capable of winning on any given night against any given opponent.