Illinois to Play Exhibition Game Against Top Mid-Major Program

The Illinois basketball schedule is fully released, and the games will begin in less than a month. There are numerous games that stick out on the 32-game regular-season schedule and three-game preseason slate, but one that has been somewhat glossed over is the exhibition matchup against in-state foe UIC.

Although the game does not count toward either team’s record, it should still be a great test for both programs heading into the season. UIC finished conference play 12-8 and reached the Missouri Valley Conference championship game last season before losing to Northern Iowa. The Flames were one game away from punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, and they return 59% of their minutes from last season.

The Flames’ season ended with a loss to California in the NIT, but their eyes will be set on the NCAA Tournament this season. UIC will be led by Ahmad Henderson II and Andy Johnson, who both averaged double figures last season.

The Flames are projected to finish first in the Missouri Valley Conference in both Bart Torvik’s and Evan Miya’s 2026-27 projections. UIC should have the best defense in the conference by a wide margin, as Evan Miya gives the Flames a 3.3 defensive rating, while the next-best team in the conference is at just 0.9. Last season, UIC had a top-100 defense on KenPom, so they will likely have a better defense than some high-major programs this season.

The game will be played on Wednesday, October 28, and will serve as the final tune-up for Illinois before the regular season begins. The Illini should have one of the hardest schedules in the country, but they will begin the season with two relatively easy opponents in Fairleigh Dickinson and Penn.

Illinois should cruise to a win against UIC despite the Flames being one of the best mid-major teams in the country this season. However, it should still be a valuable test for the Illini before the regular season gets underway. Illinois will need to show up and play well if they want to defeat UIC.

Exhibition games are a great way for teams to prepare for the long season ahead. Taking the time to get ready for a home game and go through the motions of what a gameday will look like is more important than it may seem, especially for freshmen. Getting in front of the home crowd and playing in that environment will help the younger players become accustomed to the gameday experience.

These two programs have not met in a regular-season game since 2015, and despite this being an exhibition matchup, it will still be great to see these two Illinois schools on the same court.

The Illini will play Cincinnati on the road, Baylor at home, and finish their preseason slate against UIC inside the State Farm Center before beginning one of the most highly anticipated seasons in Illinois basketball history.