Non-conference schedule designed to challenge young Illini team

(WCIA) — Illinois’s 2024-25 roster is young but stacked with talent, and head coach Brad Underwood kept that in mind when planning the non-conference slate.

“I think the one thing that I’m excited for is the growth,” said Underwood. “You know, I think that this team has a ceiling that’s pretty high, maybe as high as any team we’ve had, and yet there’s some youth there. There’s some inexperience there. So I think that there’s challenges early.”

The season begins with a three-game homestand, including a game against NCAA Tournament darling, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.

Illinois will play Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and Duke at neutral sites and host Tennessee at the State Farm Center.

Dates are still TBA for Big Ten games, but it was previously announced that Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, USC and Wisconsin would pay visits to the state farm center.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.