No. 8 Illinois (4-0) vs. No. 11 Alabama (2-1)
Date & Time: Nov. 19, 8:00 p.m. CT
Location: United Center (Chicago, Ill.)
TV: FS1 (Kevin Kugler & Steve Smith)
QUICK HITS
- Wednesday marks the 57th game the Illini will play at the United Center, dating back to the 1994-95 season. Illinois owns an all-time record of 38-18 (.679) at the UC.
- This is Illinois’ first regular-season game at the United Center since Dec. 5, 2018, and its first non-conference regular-season game since Dec. 16, 2017. The Illini played at least one regular-season game at the UC from 1994 through 2018.
- Illinois is coming off an 84-65 win over Colgate on Friday after defeating No. 11 Texas Tech 81-77 on Nov. 11.
- The Illini moved up to No. 8 in the AP Top 25 after a 4-0 start to the season, a six-spot jump from No. 14 in last week’s poll. Currently, Illinois is 5th on KenPom, ranking 4th in offensive efficiency and 15th in defensive efficiency.
- Illinois has 28 victories over ranked opponents since the start of the 2019-20 season, ninth-most nationally.
- The Illini are 1-4 all-time against Alabama. They fell 100-87 to the Crimson Tide last season in Birmingham on Nov. 20, 2024.
- Head coach Nate Oats is in his seventh season at Alabama. The Crimson Tide has gone 147-64 under Oats, making the NCAA Tournament in five consecutive seasons, winning two SEC titles and making the Final Four in 2024.
- Alabama went 28-9 overall and 13-5 in SEC play last season on its way to securing a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament and making the program’s third-ever Elite Eight appearance.
- The Crimson Tide is ranked 11th in the AP Top 25 and is picked to finish third in the SEC’s preseason poll. Alabama is currently 21st on KenPom, ranking 11th in offensive efficiency and 53rd in defensive efficiency.
- Alabama is coming off an 87-80 loss at home to No. 2 Purdue on Thursday. On Nov. 8, the Crimson Tide beat No. 5 St. John’s 103-96 at Madison Square Garden.
- Illinois is a 3.5-point favorite in this matchup, with an over/under of 182.5. The Illini are 3-1 against the spread this season.
