Illinois and UConn Set for High-Stakes Black Friday Showdown at Iconic Madison Square Garden

Ticket information for the Black Friday game at Madison Square Garden will be announced at a later date.

Illinois has played 15 games at Madison Square Garden in its history, going 6-9 overall and 3-2 under head coach Brad Underwood. Recent victories include wins over ranked opponents such as Maryland (2019), Texas (2022), and Florida Atlantic (2023), while last season saw a loss to No. 3 Duke at the venue.

There’s something electric about a showdown at Madison Square Garden—especially when the Illinois men’s basketball team locks horns with a titan like UConn. Mark your calendars for Friday, November 28, because this isn’t just another game; it’s a marquee non-conference clash that’ll have hoops fans buzzing. Illinois is stepping onto the MSG hardwood for the fourth straight season, kicking off a compelling two-game series that’ll swing back to Chicago’s United Center in 2026-27. These teams last locked eyes in the 2024 NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight, where UConn edged out Illinois before clinching its second national championship in a row—adding another layer of intensity to this budding rivalry. Both squads are loaded with talent, and with high stakes and history in the balance, this game promises drama and excitement from tip-off to the final buzzer. LEARN MORE

The 2025-26 Illini return three starters from a team that won 22 games and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Returners include big man Tomislav Ivisic, guard Kylan Boswell, and forward Ben Humrichous. Forward Ty Rodgers saw action in the NCAA Tournament game against UCONN in 2024, but he is out for the season with a knee injury. The Illini also add highly-regarded transfers Andrej Stojakovic (Cal) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Arkansas), along with European prospects David Mirkovic and Mihailo Petrovic.

The UConn game adds to another competitive non-conference schedule for Illinois. Other matchups include home games against Texas Tech (Nov. 11) and Missouri (Dec. 22), a neutral-site game against Alabama at the United Center (Nov. 19), and a road game at Tennessee (Dec. 6) in the continuation of a two-year series.

UCONN is projected to be one of the top teams in the nation. The Huskies currently land at No. 6 in the rankings by CBS Sports college basketball insider John Rothstein. Returning players include Alex Karaban and Solo Ball. Dan Hurley also added highly regarded transfers Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia) and Malachi Smith (Dayton). Freshman Braylon Mullins was the No. 15 prospect in the Rivals Industry rankings for 2025, while freshman center Eric Reibe ranked No. 29.

The teams last met in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where UConn defeated Illinois in the Elite Eight before going on to win its second straight national title. The Huskies lead the all-time series 3-1.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois men’s basketball will take on perennial power UConn on Friday, Nov. 28, at Madison Square Garden in a featured non-conference game for both programs. The matchup marks Illinois’ fourth consecutive season playing at MSG and begins a two-game series that will continue in 2026-27 at the United Center in Chicago.