- Illinois head coach Brad Underwood quipped that Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and retired NBA champion Peja Stojakovic should have staged a three-point contest after watching the Fighting Illini defeat Penn 112–70.
- Both sports icons had personal connections to the matchup: Stojakovic was in attendance to watch his son Andrej Stojakovic play for Illinois, while Clark accompanied Connor McCaffery to support his father, Penn head coach Fran McCaffery.
- Underwood lauded Clark’s historic professional accolades and playfully noted that neither team’s active roster could rival the long-range shooting prowess of the two legends in the stands.
Brad Underwood Proposes Friendly Shootout Following Dominant Penn Victory
Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball head coach Brad Underwood found plenty to praise on the floor following an emphatic 112–70 triumph over the Penn Quakers on November 5 at the State Farm Center. However, it was the world-class shooting talent sitting in the arena seats that provided Underwood with his most entertaining postgame commentary. Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark and former NBA sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic were both in attendance, prompting Underwood to tease his own players about who truly held the crown for the best jump shot in Champaign.
Addressing the media in his postgame press conference, Underwood acknowledged the presence of the two basketball luminaries with lighthearted praise. Not only Caitlin, but Peja. I mean, we should have had a three-point contest to see who really the best shooter in the gym was,
replied Underwood, via Fighting Illini Athletics on YouTube, adding, Because it wasn’t anybody who played tonight. No offense to any of those guys that played. But we’d probably still be out there playing a game of horse watching those two shoot.
Family Ties Bring Caitlin Clark and Peja Stojakovic to State Farm Center
The star-studded crowd was brought together by strong family bonds spanning both benches. Stojakovic attended the contest to support his son, Andrej Stojakovic, who spearheaded the Fighting Illini’s offensive outburst by scoring a team-high 25 points. Quentin Coleman contributed 19 points, alongside four other Illinois teammates reaching double figures as the team shot 58.9% from the field and dominated the glass with a 62–33 rebounding advantage.
Across the court, Clark was accompanied by Connor McCaffery, whose father, Fran McCaffery, serves as the head coach for Penn. Underwood noted his fond relationship with the younger McCaffery, stating, I love Connor. I talk to Connor a great deal.
Underwood also took time to laud Clark’s exceptional rise through the ranks, adding, And then what she’s done in WNBA is pretty spectacular.
Clash of Eras: Distinct Journeys in Elite Perimeter Shooting
The hypothetical shooting duel imagined by Underwood pitted two generations of legendary marksmanship against one another. Clark’s appearance highlighted her remarkable standard of play at the professional level. Following an injury-interrupted 2025 campaign, she delivered a historic 2026 season for the Indiana Fever, averaging 22.3 points, 8.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds across 40 games while converting 36.1% of her perimeter attempts. Those numbers secured her an All-WNBA First Team selection and the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award, making her the first player in WNBA history to rank inside the league’s top three in both scoring and assists in a single season.
Stojakovic, on the other hand, boasts an enduring reputation as one of the most lethal pure perimeter threats in basketball history. A three-time NBA All-Star, the Serbian forward captured consecutive NBA Three-Point Contest crowns in 2002 and 2003. Underwood previously highlighted Stojakovic’s ageless stroke during Andrej Stojakovic’s recruitment process, recounting an instance where the elder Stojakovic walked onto the court without warmups, drained 13 consecutive corner three-pointers, and left the net untouched on 10 of those attempts without hitting the rim.
Why This Matters
The crossover of professional basketball royalty into early-season collegiate matchups underscores the deep-rooted personal networks connecting NCAA programs to the professional ranks. As Andrej Stojakovic assumes an offensive leadership role for Illinois, having an iconic shooting influence like Peja Stojakovic courtside adds significant visibility to the program. Concurrently, Clark’s continued support across high-profile college games demonstrates her massive cultural footprint and visibility across both men’s and women’s basketball landscapes as she prepares for future competitive campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Caitlin Clark and Peja Stojakovic attending the Illinois vs. Penn game?
Both sports figures had direct personal ties to the participants. Peja Stojakovic was watching his son, Andrej Stojakovic, compete for Illinois, while Caitlin Clark attended alongside Connor McCaffery to support his father, Penn head coach Fran McCaffery.
What did Brad Underwood say about Caitlin Clark and Peja Stojakovic?
Underwood jokingly stated: Not only Caitlin, but Peja. I mean, we should have had a three-point contest to see who really the best shooter in the gym was,
and added, Because it wasn’t anybody who played tonight. No offense to any of those guys that played. But we’d probably still be out there playing a game of horse watching those two shoot.
What were the game results for Illinois against Penn?
Illinois secured a decisive 112–70 win over Penn, propelled by 25 points from Andrej Stojakovic, 19 points from Quentin Coleman, a 58.9% shooting night from the floor, and a commanding 62–33 rebounding margin.
