Mihailo Petrovic finds a new Big East home after leaving Illinois

Mihailo Petrovic’s search for a new roster spot is over. Nearly three months after entering the transfer portal, the former Illinois guard has committed to Seton Hall, moving from the Big Ten to the Big East for the 2026-27 season.

At Illinois, Petrovic’s role tightened as the season progressed. Per reporting from The Champaign Room, he appeared in 19 games and averaged 5.7 minutes per contest, never finding a consistent foothold in the rotation. The same report describes the move as the next step after his playing time became “nonexistent” during conference play.

Petrovic is 23 and is from Serbia. The Champaign Room also reported that he entered college basketball as a sophomore last fall, which means he has two years of eligibility remaining after his Illinois stint.

Seton Hall, which competes in the Big East, now gains a guard with experience in a high-major program’s structure and pace, even if his production at Illinois did not match the minutes he once would have needed to stand out. For Petrovic, the practical change is opportunity. His previous season at Illinois reflected the reality of competing for minutes in a crowded backcourt, and this transfer gives him a new environment to carve out a role.

From Illinois’ perspective, Petrovic is one of the notable departures from the 2026 offseason transfer window. The broader picture around the Illini’s offseason movement has included multiple outgoing guards exploring options, with Sports Illustrated reporting in early May that several of Illinois’ transfers were still without announced destinations at that point.

What to watch next is how quickly Seton Hall can fit Petrovic into its backcourt plans. The Big East style tends to emphasize physicality and decision-making late in possessions, and a guard who has been forced to play in brief stretches will likely be evaluated on efficiency and usage once practices begin. For Petrovic, the season will also be a referendum on whether a fresh start at a new conference can translate into steadier minutes and a clearer on-court identity.

Until Seton Hall issues a formal announcement, this commitment should be treated as reported rather than fully official, but multiple outlets framed the decision as Petrovic’s next home after a portal process that carried him out of Illinois’ program.