CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Illini men’s basketball team has unveiled its non-conference schedule for the 2024-25 season.
The team is set to face eleven non-conference opponents, nine of which made appearances in the NCAA Tournament last season. They will start the season November 4 with a home game against Eastern Illinois. Illinois will then host two additional home games: one against SIU-Edwardsville on November 8 and another against Oakland on November 13.
Illini basketball will travel to Birmingham to meet Alabama in the C.M. Newton Classic. The Crimson Tide are fresh off a Final Four finish from the previous NCAA season.
Illinois returns to their home court for a busy week, starting with Maryland-Eastern Shore on November 23. Just two days later, they will host Arkansas-Little Rock.
On Thanksgiving Day, Illinois will play the Arkansas Razorbacks in Kansas City, immediately following the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions game.
On December 14, Illinois will host Tennessee, another team that enjoyed an Elite Eight finish last season. The Fighting Illini will conclude their 2023 calendar year with a non-conference game against Chicago State on December 29.
The most highly awaited matchup of the season has Illinois vs. Duke in the SentinelOne Classic at Madison Square Garden on February 22. This game will see two Elite Eight teams from last year’s NCAA Tournament go head-to-head.