CHAMPAIGN — The language, unsurprisingly, has been one of the most difficult adjustments for David Mirković in his three months at Illinois.

The 6-foot-9 freshman from Montenegro has spoken English since he was 6 years old. He’s fluent enough to argue calls with officials — a habit coaches are trying to erase from the edgy forward’s game. He speaks it so well conversationally that Croatian teammate Tomislav Ivišić, with his dry sense of humor, said at Illinois basketball media day that he’s skeptical it’s even difficult at all for Mirković.

“He speaks perfect English,” Ivišić said. “If he says he doesn’t, he’s lying. He just wants to get rid of you guys.”

But it’s on the court, when Mirković is tired, when he’s focused on passing or shooting or being in the right spot, that the language

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