Illinois gets one more tune-up before the games start counting, and UIC is the opponent waiting in Champaign on Wednesday night.
The No. 3 Illini and the Flames will meet at State Farm Center at 7:00 p.m.
CT for an exhibition matchup that should tell Illinois plenty about where it stands defensively. The game will air on Big Ten Plus, with local radio coverage on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network through WDWS 93.9 FM or 1400 AM in Champaign and WLS 890 AM in Chicago.
It can also be streamed through Fighting Illini Productions and the Varsity Network App.
Illinois has already had two very different exhibition experiences. The Illini opened by going on the road and beating Cincinnati 105-96 in mid-October, flashing the kind of offense that can put up points in a hurry while also showing some obvious issues on the other end.
Then Baylor came to Champaign after its win over preseason No. 1 Florida and buried Illinois for 63 first-half points before the Illini made a late push in a 95-91 loss.
UIC brings a different kind of challenge. The Flames play with length, athleticism and a defensive edge, and they were one win away from the Missouri Valley title game a season ago.
In the MVC preseason poll, UIC was slotted third, behind Illinois State and Murray State. Four Flames - Ahmad Henderson II, Andy Johnson, Rashund Washington Jr. and Mekhi Lowery - were also listed as conference “Players to Watch.”
Henderson, a 5-foot-9 guard, is the kind of quick-twitch scorer who can get into the paint whenever he wants. Over the last two seasons, he drew a heavy dose of free throws, topping 100 attempts in each year, and he shot 88.4 percent from the line. He also has the kind of perimeter burst that can change a game fast.
Johnson adds another layer as a strong shooter who can attack off the dribble, while Washington brings a relentless motor in a 6-foot-5 frame that could make him a problem on the offensive glass. Lowery may be the toughest matchup of the group. The 6-foot-7 senior is athletic, versatile and smart enough to guard just about any spot on the floor, and he can also operate as a point-forward type on offense.
UIC also added Gabe Cupps, an Ohio State transfer who had previously been at Indiana, during the offseason.
The matchup figures to be a real test for Illinois on the boards and in defensive execution, especially if the Ivisic twins are out or limited. That’s where UIC could press its edge against an Illini team that has been knocked around in its first two exhibition outings.
The all-time series favors Illinois, which holds a 14-2 advantage over UIC in 16 meetings. Their most recent game came on Dec. 12, 2015, when the Illini won 83-79 behind 22 points from Malcolm Hill and 14 each from Kendrick Nunn and Michael Finke. UIC’s latest win in the series came in 2010, a 57-54 Illinois loss.
Because this is an exhibition, none of it will count in the official record books.
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