On March 30, 2024, the Illinois Fighting Illini were heartbroken by a resounding loss to the UConn Huskies in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament.
Of course, the Huskies went on to win the whole thing, and the Illini were sent packing, but the 25-point loss stung beyond belief.
Now, Illinois has a chance to exact revenge against UConn with a headliner game against the Huskies at none other than Madison Square Garden. On Friday, Illinois announced the matchup versus UConn, sharing that it would tip off on Nov. 28 in New York City.
Yes, it's a revenge game, but it's also more than that. It's a chance for the Fighting Illini to take a step towards cementing themselves as a genuine title contender this season, as well as taking a step toward evening their all-time record against the Huskies.
Big matchup in the Big Apple. pic.twitter.com/1u4x8HJCJH
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) August 15, 2025
Over the last nine decades, the Huskies and the Illini have shared a court on four occasions, including their first-ever matchup in 1938. The three most recent meetings span from 1992 through 2024, with game No. 5 coming this season.
Illinois men's basketball vs. UConn history
- Record vs. UConn: 1-3
- Most recent win: Dec. 21, 1938 (49-23)
- Most recent loss: March 30, 2024 (77-52)
- Smallest margin of victory: 4 points (70-66, UConn)
- Largest margin of victory: 26 points (49-23, Illinois)
Over the last three games, UConn has dominated Illinois, winning by as many as 25 points in the postseason game in 2024 and as few as four points in the 1992 matchup. When the two teams met in 1994, the Huskies walked away with a 15-point win over the Fighting Illini.
If Illinois can pull off the victory over UConn this fall, it would bring the program's record to 2-3 against the Huskies, a team that is rapidly cementing itself as a blue blood.
The game time has yet to be announced, but no matter when tip-off takes place, Illinois and UConn fans alike will be glued to their seats to witness the action.