Basketball
Illinois Basketball Finalizing Agreement to Play Blue Blood Program
Per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Illinois Basketball is finalizing an agreement to play Duke Basketball at Madison Square Garden.

Illinois Basketball Finalizing Agreement to Play Blue Blood Program
Per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Illinois Basketball is finalizing an agreement to play Duke Basketball at Madison Square Garden. The dates of the game are to be determined, however, this just confirms that Illinois Basketball is back on the national stage. For the past few years, Illinois Basketball has had Marquee games on a national stage. Two years ago, they played number two ranked, Texas, at Madison Square Garden and won. Also, they played UCLA and Virginia in a notable neutral-court game.
During the 2023-2024 season, they played FAU at MSG, a team that had just made the Final Four. Afterward, they played Tennessee on the road. This was a nationally televised game that garnered national media attention.
The last time Illinois played Duke?
Illinois Basketball last played Duke during the 2020-2021 season. Though Duke was not the usual “Duke Basketball”, Illinois Basketball dominated that game led by Ayo Dosunmu. The Blue Blood program looked inferior to the experienced Illinois Basketball squad. Dosunmu put up 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists in a thoroughly dominant performance for Illinois.
Happy Monday to everyone especially Ayo and Giorgi, hope Coach K is having a mediocre first Monday of retirement pic.twitter.com/3ToLlu84ov
— Armchair Illinois (@ArmchairIllini) April 4, 2022
Brad Underwood has done a great job scheduling tough teams during the non-conference season. As it stands right now, the Illini will play Duke and nationally touted Tennessee. Once again, Rick Barnes and the Volunteers look to be a bonafide top 15 program that Brad Underwood and his crew will get a crack at early in the season.
Thank you for reading Armchair Illini. For more Illinois Athletics and Big Ten content from Armchair Illini, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at [email protected]. Please use our Seatgeek code for $20 off your purchase on Seatgeek.com: ARMCHAIRILLINOIS. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing Illinois media outlets around!
-
Basketball1 day ago
Illinois Basketball hobbling into game vs Minnesota
-
Basketball5 days ago
Illinois Basketball: Enter the Kofi Cockburn NIL Locker room
-
Basketball7 days ago
Illinois Basketball inserts Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn into the starting lineup
-
Football6 days ago
Why Illinois Football is “Unmatched” For 2026 Commit Jacob Alexander
-
Football5 days ago
Illinois Football lands 2025 In-state Linebacker Jack Paris
-
Basketball6 days ago
VIDEO: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn throws down poster dunk
-
Football1 day ago
Illinois Football news: Top-400 Prospect Kaedyn Cobbs Commits to Illini
-
Football3 days ago
Illinois Football lands four-star linebacker Cam Thomas