Good Morning, Illini Nation: Going global?
The Big Ten basketball landscape is increasingly international, with 17 of 18 teams featuring players born outside the U.S. Changes in revenue sharing and NIL have opened new opportunities for recruiting international talent. College basketball may soon see regular season games played in non-traditional locations, with potential tournaments in places like Dubai and a doubleheader in Rome scheduled for November.
- ▪Seventeen of the Big Ten's 18 basketball teams have at least one international player for the 2026-27 season.
- ▪Illinois features multiple international players, including David Mirkovic from Montenegro and Zvonimir Ivisic from Croatia.
- ▪There are discussions about hosting college basketball games abroad, including potential tournaments in Dubai and the College Basketball International Series in Croatia and Serbia.
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