Non-Conference Preview: Illinois – Yahoo Sports

We are counting down the days to the start of the college basketball season.

If you’re reading this on the day is was published, we have 47 days to the official start of College Basketball, and 36 days until we can see the team in action against K-State (presuming it’s televised).

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The Full Non-Conference Schedule:

October 23rd — at Kansas State (exhibition)

October 29th — at UNLV (exhibition)

December 20th — vs Illinois (in St. Louis)

After the last few years of a poor lineup of Q4 games in the non-conference schedule, Missouri pulled a 180 and have schedule as well as anyone in the country. On top of playing Illinois and Kansas as previously scheduled, the Tigers are playing neutral court matchups against SLU, Marquette, Nebraska, and a road game at Indiana. There’s no question Dennis Gates stepped it up.

Let’s Meet: the Illinois Fighting Illini

Who doesn’t know Illinois these days? Our frenemies to the (north) east.

Founded in 1867 as Illinois Industrial University, the school has come a long way, in that it’s no longer called an Industrial University. I’m not sure why it’s Urbana-Champaign, and not just Champaign. Since Urbana is in Champaign, but I guess it makes the 35,000 people in Urbana feel better?

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As one of the founding members of what is now the Big 10 conference, Illinois got into baseball before football, fielding their first collegiate baseball team in 1879. Football came around in 1890, and then the best sports, basketball became a thing in 1905, and they claim a national championship (pre-NCAA Tournament) from 1915.

Without being snarky, the Illini have a very long and proud basketball tradition. They have 18 conference championships, and have been to the Final Four 6 times in 36 tournament appearances. They’ve appeared in the top 10 of the final AP Poll 11 times, with three of those coming in the last six seasons. And from 1983 to 2007 the school only missed four tournaments total. Their 6 Final Fours without a National Championship…

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Publish date : 2026-10-07 17:00:00

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