The Illinois Fighting Illini have one final tune-up before the regular season begins on Monday.

UIC comes to town on Wednesday night to close out the exhibition slate. The Flames have yet to play any games this fall, but are coming off a 19-16 (12-8 MVC) record a season ago. UIC placed fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2025-26 but reached the conference championship game.

Illinois will be playing without several key contributors. Preseason All-American forward David Mirkovic is still wearing a medical boot after undergoing offseason foot surgery, which could potentially keep him out into the regular season. Guard Andrej Stojakovic — the Fighting Illini's leading returning scorer — and center Zvonimir Ivisic will also not play after taking hard falls during Illinois' last exhibition game. Freshman guard Lincoln Williams is a game-time decision due to an injury he suffered in practice on Tuesday.

The Fighting Illini have gone 1-1 in exhibition play. Brad Underwood's squad opened up the fall with a 105-96 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 17, then fell to Baylor, 95-91, on Oct. 23.

On Monday, Nov. 2, the 2026-27 regular season will begin, with Illinois hosting Fairleigh Dickinson. Illinois will then undergo a loaded nonconference schedule, which includes games against No. 19 Texas Tech on Nov. 10, No. 2 Duke on Nov. 17, No. 4 UConn on Dec. 4, Missouri (Receiving Votes) on Dec. 20 and North Carolina (RV) on Jan. 30.

Illinois will also face several ranked Big Ten opponents, as the Illini's schedule features games against Purdue (RV) on Jan. 5 and Feb. 12, Ohio State (RV) on Jan. 9, Nebraska (RV) on Jan. 19, Indiana (RV) on Jan. 24, No. 21 USC on Jan. 27, No. 22 UCLA on Feb. 2, No. 6 Michigan State on Feb. 5, No. 16 Michigan on Feb. 9 and Iowa (RV) on Mar. 6.

Here's everything you need to know before the Fighting Illini take on the UIC Flames on Wednesday night:

UIC Flames @ Illinois Fighting Illini

Location: State Farm Arena | Champaign, Ill.

Tipoff: Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7:00 p.m. CT

TV: B1G+

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network

F David Mirkovic: Out

G Andrej Stojakovic: Out

C Zvonimir Ivisic: Out

G Lincoln Williams: Game-Time Decision

F Tomislav Ivisic: Active

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