Illinois Basketball Coach Previews Exhibition Game Against Illinois State

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood met with reporters at State Farm Center on Friday to preview the Illini’s exhibition game against Illinois State. The game is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. on BTN+.

The Illini are entering the 2025-26 season with high expectations, ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll, marking the fifth time in Underwood’s tenure that the team has been ranked to start a season. The program has seen a significant rise in performance, returning three starters from last year’s 22-win team.

Underwood expressed optimism about his roster, which includes a mix of seasoned players and new talent. “I love this team,” he said. “We’re more talented offensively than we were a year ago. Defensively, we need to continue to grow.”

Key players include a senior guard, an All-Big Ten center, and a forward, with additions from the transfer portal, including a five-star wing from Cal and a big man from Arkansas. The Illini also welcome a Serbian guard and a Montenegrin forward to the squad.

Injuries and late arrivals have slowed the evaluation of the new roster. Underwood noted that junior wing Andrej Stojaković is recovering from a knee injury but is making good progress.

Illinois will face a challenging schedule, with four high-major nonconference opponents ranked in the top 20: No. 4 UConn, No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 15 Alabama, and No. 18 Tennessee. Additionally, their Braggin’ Rights rival, Missouri, received votes in the poll.

The Illini are set to play an exhibition game against Illinois State, which won 22 games last season and returns much of its roster under head coach Ryan Pedon, a former Illini assistant. Underwood emphasized the importance of every game as the team aims for a national championship.