Coach Brad Underwood's Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is preparing to open the 2026-27 college hoops season at home against Fairleigh Dickinson University on Nov. 2, giving his team a little less than two weeks left to prepare. 

The Fighting Illini got a huge contribution from star Providence Friars transfer Stefan Vaaks in their exhibition game against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Oct. 17 as Vaaks poured in 19 points off the bench in a 105-96 win.

Vaaks made a bold promise about his game in a recent interview, setting the stage for what could be a whole new player in 2026-27. 

Vaaks came to Illinois as one of the offseason's most celebrated Big Ten transfers after scoring 15.8 points per game with the Friars, but he knows he can reach higher levels.

He made a bold promise about what Illinois fans will see in Champaign this season. 

"First of all I would like to say that I don't think I had a really good offensive season, I think you will see a whole different player. Next year I will drive the ball more," Vaaks said to Carson Gourdie of FOX Illinois. 

Vaaks said he chose Underwood's program because of the floor spacing, a benefit provided by the Fighting Illini's deep roster of efficient high-volume outside shooters and scorers including Quentin Coleman, David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic and others.

Vaaks was on target against the Bearcats, scoring his 19 points in 19 minutes, an indication that he could have the greenlight to shoot and score whenever he feels ready in Underwood's offense this season. 

Vaaks' point-a-minute preseason performance against a solid Cincinnati team showed he could be one of the Illini's go-to guys this season. 

He also said that he was hindered by injuries leading up to last season in Rhode Island, and now feels much better than he did 2025-2026. 

Illinois might not give Vaaks the opportunity to shoot as often as he did with the Friars, but he sounds ready, willing and able to take on a bigger scoring load in Champaign if necessary. 

"I always knew I could drive the ball, but I don't like to make excuses, I'm not that type of guy," Vaaks said to Gourdie.

"Last year, I was out, preseason with Providence, I was out for four months, I had like a knee injury, and I did not quite feel myself the whole season. 

"This year, I feel amazing, like, the best shape of my life." 

Illinois has plenty of weapons on offense, but Vaaks brings something entirely different to Underwood's star-studded group. With Mirkovic working through rust and recovering from a recent foot injury headed into the season, the Illini's new high-scoring transfer could have a chance to take on a bigger role as the season gets underway.