No. 8 Illinois Hosts No. 11 Alabama in Anticipated College Basketball Clash

CHICAGO, Illinois — The No. 8-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini (4-0) will face off against the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-1) at the United Center on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. The game is a highly anticipated matchup, showcasing elite college basketball talent and two accomplished coaches, Brad Underwood of Illinois and Nate Oats of Alabama.

Both teams are eager to improve their records, with Illinois coming off a strong start to the season. The Fighting Illini are currently second in the nation in rebound margin, averaging a plus-21.7 per game. A significant contributor to this statistic is freshman David Mirkovic, who recently recorded a remarkable 27 points and 21 rebounds against Colgate.

“He has the competitiveness we need,” Underwood said about Mirkovic, who has already posted three double-doubles in four games this season. Underwood compared Mirkovic’s mentality to that of former Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu, emphasizing his will to win.

Alabama, however, is looking to rebound after suffering a disappointing loss to Purdue, where they were outrebounded by 24. Coach Nate Oats acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, saying, “We knew we had issues on the glass and had to fix them. We’re going to have to work harder if we want to compete against the best teams.”

Illinois will have to focus on controlling the boards against a high-scoring Alabama team that averages 91.3 points per game. Alabama’s standout guards, Aden Holloway and LaBaron Philon Jr., have been crucial to the team’s offensive success, both averaging over 19 points a game.

Underwood acknowledged Alabama’s strong backcourt, stating, “Their backcourt is extremely talented, possibly among the best in the nation. We have to find ways to contain them.”

As they prepare for this important clash, both teams understand the significance of rebounding and defensive strategies. Illinois hopes to maintain its unbeaten record, while Alabama seeks to shake off their recent loss and gain momentum for the rest of the season.