Basketball is finally back in Champaign, as the Illinois Fighting Illini look to follow up last season's Final Four campaign with another potential run at the Big Ten and National Championship.

Brad Underwood's team went 28-9 a season ago, including 15-5 in Big Ten play. The Fighting Illini were a No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament play and won the South Region before falling to eventual runner-up UConn in the Final Four.

Illinois returns one of the top teams in the nation and was ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP Poll. Sophomore forward David Mirkovic leads the group, though the preseason All-American's debut this season will be delayed by an offseason foot injury that he suffered in August. Mirkovic also went to the emergency room on Saturday with appendicitis and had his appendix removed. Between both ailments, Mirkovic will be sidelined for an undisclosed amount of time.

Senior guard Andrej Stojakovic is the Illini's leading returning scorer after averaging 13.5 points per game a season ago. He was banged up during Illinois' exhibition loss to Baylor and held out of the team's exhibition win over UIC, but will play in the regular season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson.

The Knights went 11-21 last season, including 8-10 in Northeast Conference play. They have recorded three consecutive losing seasons since upsetting No. 1 seed Purdue as a No. 16 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

Here's everything you need to know before the Illinois Fighting Illini open their 2026-27 men's basketball season at home against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on Monday:

Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (0-0) at No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini (0-0)

Location: State Farm Center | Champaign, Ill.

Kickoff: Monday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. CT

TV: Big Ten Network | Announcers: Cory Provus (play-by-play), Bruce Weber (analyst)

Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Announcers: Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Deon Thomas (analyst)

Betting Line: Illinois -39.5

Moneyline: Illinois -100000, FDU +8000

Over/Under: 156.5

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F David Mirkovic: Out (Broken Foot/Appendectomy)

G Andrej Stojakovic: Available

C Zvonimir Ivisic: Available

G Lincoln Williams: Questionable

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