Illinois basketball will be battle-tested during the 2024-25 season

Illinois basketball fans have a clearer picture of the non-conference schedule for 2024-25.

As we head into the upcoming Illini season, we are in for either an incredible run or a disappointment. I don’t believe there is any middle ground. With the roster we have right now, it is either another Elite 8 run or bust.

There is one guarantee for this Illinois basketball team. We will be battle-tested when the NCAA tournament rolls around.

On Tuesday, the Illinois basketball social media account posted the dates for the 2024-25 non-conference games. Needless to say, this should be a wild ride.

The Illinois basketball program is not taking the easy road when it comes to the 2024-25 non-conference schedule

To begin the season, the Illini have their typical cakewalk games. Eastern Illinois, SIU-Edwardsville, and Oakland come to Champaign on November 4, 8, and 13, respectively.

From that point on, things get a little hairy for Illinois. Illinois goes on the road to take on Alabama on November 20. We then come back to Champaign for a two-game stretch of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Arkansas-Little Rock on November 23 and 25, respectively.

Following that two-game home stand, Illinois then heads to Kansas City to take on Arkansas on Thanksgiving Day. On December 14, the Illini take on Tennessee in Champaign. December 22 then marks the Braggin’ Rights game against Missouri.

Illinois’ non-conference slate ends with Chicago State on December 29, and then a middle of the Big Ten schedule non-conference game against Duke in New York City on February 22.

The Illini ended the 2023-24 campaign as the No. 6 team in the country. Our 2024-25 non-conference schedule has two teams that finished higher than us in the final AP Top 25 poll.

Alabama finished as the No. 3 team in the country last season and Tennessee wasn’t too far behind at No. 5. And then we have No. 9 Duke in February.

So, let that soak in. Illinois takes on teams that finished No. 3, 5, and 9 in the final AP Top 25 poll last season. And with the way Arkansas has steamrolled the preseason, they are surely going to be ranked in the AP Top 25 to start the season.

All of that is without even considering the Big Ten slate. This season is about to be off the wall. Illinois has a ton of talent, and that talent is going to need to come to the forefront from day one.