2 curiosities to watch for as Illinois basketball battles UIS

Illinois basketball is ranked No. 23 in the country, and they are ready to make a statement this season.

The Illini, who returned over 90% of their roster from a year ago, reached the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2026, losing to the Vanderbilt Commodores 75-57. It was the program's third trip to the tournament in four seasons.

This year, Shauna Green will look to improve on last year's success, and their journey begins Friday night when they take on UIS in exhibition play.

University of Illinois-Springfield, a Division II program from Springfield, Illinois, will face the Illini in their first of two exhibition games this season. The Prairie Stars finished 14-14 overall last season and 11-9 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Illini will use this game as a tune-up before opening the regular season against Detroit Mercy.

Here are two curiosities to watch for as Illinois basketball battles UIS?

How will Divine Bourrage be implemented into Illinois' rotation?

Divine Bourrage was a major piece of Illinois' offseason, transferring from LSU to the Illini. The five-star recruit was used sparingly with the Tigers but will now find meaningful minutes with a team that can use depth in the backcourt.

Bourrage is a dynamic athlete who can score at all three levels. She can be a lockdown defender on the perimeter as well. She was a legitimate threat for Davenport North High School, scoring most of her points off the ball instead of on the ball.

With the Illini, Bourrage will join a bevy of fantastic guards/wings, including Aaliyah Guyton, Destiny Jackson, Jasmine Brown-Hagger, and Maddie Webber. She won't be a starter right out of the gate, but she will certainly become an important player off the bench, adding to the overall versatility of this roster.

2. Will Maddie Webber continue to be Illinois' primary scorer off the bench?

Last season, guard Maddie Webber was Green's go-to option off the bench. In 34 games, the former Villanova Wildcat was Illinois' third-leading scorer at 10.8 points per game while shooting 39.7% from three-point range.

Webber found life in the long guard role, as she helped stretch games when Illinois' starters needed a rest. She became a dangerous threat at all three levels, especially from behind the arc.

On Friday, we should expect nothing less from Webber as she starts her second year with the program. She is the veteran presence on this roster and has certainly earned the minutes after her performance in 2025-26.

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