Illinois men's basketball preview | Schedule breakdown

Nov. 4—Biggest game

Illinois squandered the national spotlight generated when it couldn't build off last year's Jimmy V Classic victory against No. 2 Texas. Biggest win of the season, and the follow-up was the first of three losses to Penn State, a win against Alabama A&M that had Matthew Mayer discussing a disconnect between players and coaches and a Braggin' Rights embarrassment. The stage will be just as big at this year's Jimmy V Classic against a likely top 10 Florida Atlantic team. Can't squander it this time.

Must-win game

Losing a Jan. 5 showdown at Mackey Arena won't crater Illinois' season. But getting a road win against Purdue early in Big Ten play? That's how the Illini can set the tone for the rest of their league slate as potential conference title contenders. It would certainly be a statement win, though. Few teams leave West Lafayette, Ind., with a victory, but Illinois has done it before. In dominant fashion, no less, with a 17-point road win during the 2019-20 season. Taking down Zach Edey and Co. would be an accomplishment.

Toughest stretch

Illinois will face the typical Big Ten grind in the new year, but there's no harder month of the season than December. Zero gimmies with a road conference game, a pair of likely top-10 opponents, two low-majors more than capable of an upset and Braggin' Rights. The casual fan will sleep on Colgate and Fairleigh Dickinson. Those in the know will understand the Raiders are among the best three-point shooting teams in the country and the Knights produced the second 16-over-1 upset in NCAA tournament history.

2023-24 Illinois men's basketball schedule

Date Opponent Time TV/Streaming

Nov. 6 vs. Eastern Illinois 7 p.m. BTN Plus

Nov. 10 vs. Oakland 7 p.m. BTN Plus

Nov. 14 vs. Marquette 7 p.m. FS1

Nov. 17 vs. Valparaiso 7 p.m. BTN Plus

Nov. 19 vs. Southern 7 p.m. BTN

Nov. 24 vs, Western Illinois 8 p.m. BTN

Dec. 2 at Rutgers 3 p.m. BTN

Dec. 5 vs. Florida Atlantic* 5:30 p.m. ESPN

Dec. 9 at Tennessee 11 a.m. CBS

Dec. 17 vs. Colgate Noon BTN

Dec. 22 vs. Missouri^ 8 p.m. FS1

Dec. 29 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson 8 p.m. BTN

Jan. 2 vs. Northwestern 8 p.m. BTN

Jan. 5 at Purdue 7:30 p.m. FS1

Jan. 11 vs. Michigan State 8 p.m. FS1

Jan. 14 vs. Maryland 1/5 p.m. BTN

Jan. 18 at Michigan 7:30 p.m. FS1

Jan. 21 vs. Rutgers Noon BTN

Jan. 24 at Northwestern 8 p.m. BTN

Jan. 27 vs. Indiana 2 p.m. FOX

Jan. 30 at Ohio State 6 p.m. Peacock

Feb. 4 vs. Nebraska 5:30 p.m. BTN

Feb. 10 at Michigan State 1 p.m. CBS

Feb. 13 vs. Michigan 6 p.m. Peacock

Feb. 17 at Maryland 4:30 p.m. Fox

Feb. 21 at Penn State 5:30 p.m. BTN

Feb. 24 vs. Iowa 1:15 p.m. BTN

Feb. 28 vs. Minnesota 8 p.m. BTN

March 2 at Wisconsin Noon BTN

March 5 vs. Purdue 6 p.m. Peacock

March 10 at Iowa 6 p.m. FS1

*Jimmy V Classic, at New York City

^At St. Louis