The Illinois basketball team managed to squeak into the initial Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Recently, NCAA reporter Andy Katz released his top-10 can’t-miss non-conference matchups of the 2023-24 season. At No. 10, the Illini’s matchup versus the Florida Atlantic Owls made the list.
The Fighting Illini and FAU will square off in the Big Apple, on December 5 on national television. These two schools have played only once before, with the Owls stealing one on the road back in the 2018-19 season.
Can’t-miss matchups 🍿@TheAndyKatz ranks 🔟 must-see non-conference games for the upcoming season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6yWXtMD6Qg
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) October 20, 2023
Illinois looks to regroup in 2023-24 with six returners from last year’s 20-13 (11-9 in Big Ten) squad along with four transfer portal additions and three freshmen ready to contribute, especially in top prospect Amani Hansberry.
The Illini have the one-two punch in Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins, and if they get the type of point guard play needed, then they will have to be taken seriously.
Illinois basketball defeating Florida Atlantic will be no easy task
For Florida Atlantic, the Owls are looking to continue the momentum from last season’s Final Four appearance, the first in school history. Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin announced their intent to return via the program’s social media channel.
Davis and Martin were the Owls’ two leading scorers and played a central role in the Owls’ historic run to the NCAA tournament Final Four last season.
The game is part of a doubleheader featured in the Jimmy V Classic presented by Corona. Illinois will play in the Jimmy V Classic for the second straight season. Last year, the Illini knocked off No. 2 Texas at The Garden in overtime, 85-78.
Illinois is appearing in the Jimmy V Classic for the third time in four seasons during the Brad Underwood era and the fifth time overall.
The Illini are 1-3 all-time in the Jimmy V Classic. The Jimmy V Classic, named for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano, annually raises money and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The men’s classic began in 1995 and is in its 29th year – 20th at Madison Square Garden.
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