The fifth-ranked UConn men’s basketball team (5-1) is gearing up for an exciting showdown against the 13th-ranked Illinois (6-1) on Black Friday during the SentinelOne Showdown at Madison Square Garden. The game is scheduled to tip off at 12:30 p.m. and will be broadcasted on FOX with Kenny Albert and Steve Smith providing commentary.
Madison Square Garden will be a familiar venue for the Huskies, marking their first of at least four matches in New York City this season. UConn has a historic presence at MSG, holding a 77-62 all-time record at the iconic arena. Under the leadership of head coach Dan Hurley, the Huskies have achieved remarkable success, with a 15-8 record and eight wins in their last ten games at the venue, showcasing their dominance in non-conference games with a four-game winning streak in this setting.
This matchup with Illinois is the third contest against a top-15 opponent within two weeks, highlighting the rigorous nature of UConn’s non-conference schedule. Recently, UConn recorded a substantial victory against then-No. 7 BYU, followed by a tough loss to then-No. 4 Arizona. Meanwhile, Illinois has had its share of strong tests as well, defeating then-No. 11 Texas Tech but losing to then-No. 11 Alabama.
Historically, UConn and Illinois have met four times, with the Illini claiming victory in their first encounter during the 1938-39 season. Since then, UConn has won the subsequent three matchups, including a legendary 77-52 victory in the 2024 East Regional Final, allowing the Huskies to advance to their seventh Final Four, moving one step closer to their sixth national championship.
The Huskies last played on November 23 in Hartford, where they earned a convincing 72-49 win over Bryant. UConn’s performance featured a significant 22-4 scoring run late in the first half, driven by stellar contributions from Silas Demary Jr., who recorded his first career triple-double, and Eric Reibe, who set personal bests with 16 points and six rebounds.
Leading UConn’s offensive efforts is Alex Karaban, averaging 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, shooting impressively at 52.6% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Solo Ball contributes 14.2 points and 3.5 rebounds, while Demary Jr. follows closely with 12.5 points per game, leading the BIG EAST with 6.3 assists. The Huskies boast one of the nation’s top offenses and defenses, ranking in the top 10 for scoring defense and maintaining significant statistical advantages in key areas such as field goal percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio.
On the Illinois side, the team is on a high note with a two-game winning streak following victories against Long Island and UTRGV. The Illini’s high-powered offense averages over 94 points per game, complemented by a strong defensive performance that ranks in the top 20 in efficiency. Key players include Andrej Stojakovic, leading the team with 18.5 points per game, Kylan Boswell with 16.1 points, and David Mirkovic, who contributes a double-double average of 15.1 points and 10.3 rebounds.
Following the matchup in New York, UConn will quickly transition to face another formidable opponent, visiting Kansas on December 2, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter in their season.