Illinois men’s basketball is back on the court. After reaching the Final Four last season, the Illini open their exhibition schedule against Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Fifth Third Arena.

There is one catch for fans: the game will not be televised or streamed online. Cincinnati’s radio broadcast and live statistics will offer ways to follow along, while highlights and a box score are expected to provide a look at the action afterward. That makes the matchup less about watching every possession and more about the questions it raises for Illinois ahead of the regular season.

Here are three things to watch for as the Illini face their first outside competition of the season.

A Final Four appearance creates high expectations, but every new season brings adjustments. Illinois must build chemistry, establish its rotations and determine how its returning players fit alongside the new additions.

The Cincinnati exhibition provides an early test against an opponent with a different roster and style. It should offer clues about how comfortably Illinois moves the ball, creates quality shots and handles pressure.

Fans will have to wait for postgame reporting to get a clearer picture, but these are important indicators to follow in the box score and any available highlights. One exhibition will not tell the whole story, yet it can reveal where the team is starting from.

Illinois will be without forward David Mirković, who is recovering from offseason foot surgery. Mirković averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season, making his absence a significant early-season storyline.

Forward Jake Davis is also a question mark after suffering an ankle injury in practice. Head coach Brad Underwood described Davis as a game-time decision but indicated that he was unlikely to play.

With both players potentially unavailable, Illinois will need other players to contribute on the boards, provide physicality and help shoulder the offensive workload. The exhibition offers an opportunity for teammates to take on larger roles, particularly in the frontcourt.

The key question is not simply who replaces the missing production, but how Illinois adjusts its rotations and maintains balance while players work their way back to full health.

Cincinnati enters the matchup with a game already under its belt, having defeated Ohio State 79–68 in its first exhibition. The Bearcats are under new head coach Jerrod Calhoun and are working to establish their identity with a roster featuring many newcomers.

For Illinois, this creates an early opportunity to test its defensive communication, transition defense and ability to respond when an opponent builds momentum.

The details matter: Can the Illini limit easy opportunities? Can they finish defensive possessions with rebounds? And can they stay organized while adjusting to unfamiliar lineups?

Those questions will be especially important as Illinois works through its own rotations and prepares for the challenges of the regular season.

Saturday’s exhibition is the first step in Illinois’ preparation for the 2026–27 season. The absence of a video stream limits what fans can observe firsthand, but the matchup still offers meaningful questions about chemistry, depth and defense.

The next exhibitions against Baylor on Oct. 23 and UIC on Oct. 28 will provide further opportunities to evaluate the team, both scheduled to be available on B1G+. Illinois opens its regular season at home against Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 2.

For now, the Cincinnati game is an early measuring stick. The score will matter less than what Illinois learns, and which players begin to emerge as the team builds toward the season ahead.