Illinois men's basketball schedule released

Big Ten champs handed another challenging slate         

[AUG. 20, 2005]  CHAMPAIGN -- Fighting Illini basketball fans will be treated to one of the nation's most competitive schedules again in 2005-06. A rematch of the national championship game with North Carolina as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge highlights the nonconference portion of the schedule, while bookend contests with Final Four participant Michigan State highlights the Big Ten schedule.

The Illini open the home portion of the schedule Nov. 18, when they host South Dakota State at the Assembly Hall.

Illinois will participate in the South Padre Island Invitational, with two games at the Assembly Hall just before Thanksgiving and two games at South Padre Island over the holiday weekend.

The Illini host Xavier at the United Center in Chicago on Dec. 3 as part of a doubleheader with the Illini women, who play St. Louis.

The Illini host Georgetown at the Assembly Hall on Dec. 8.

The 25th annual Busch Braggin' Rights game against Missouri will be Dec. 21 in St. Louis.

The Fighting Illini will appear on national television at least 12 times, with several other opportunities still existing.

"This nonconference schedule will be a challenge as we replace three starters in our lineup," said head coach Bruce Weber. "We'll have to be prepared to play in midseason form in November, which should have us ready for Big Ten play come January. We'll be playing good teams at South Padre Island, followed by a game at North Carolina, a good Xavier team in Chicago, Georgetown at the Assembly Hall and Oregon out in Portland before the break for final exams. The Braggin' Rights game against Missouri is always a highlight for our fans, and this being the 25th game of the series, it will be even more special.

"We'll have to be ready once we get into Big Ten play because I anticipate the league being extremely competitive this season."

Remaining television and game-time information will be released when available.

2005-06 Illinois men's basketball schedule
(Date, time, opponent, site, TV)

Dates and times subject to change. Television coverage subject to change. All times are Central.

Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. -- Orange & Blue Scrimmage, Assembly Hall

Thursday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. -- Illinois Wesleyan (exhibition), Assembly Hall

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. -- Quincy University (exhibition), Assembly Hall

Friday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. -- South Dakota State, Assembly Hall, TV to be announced

South Padre Island Invitational -- Austin Peay State, Delaware State, Illinois, Kent, Rutgers, Texas-Pan Am, Texas Southern, Wichita State

Sunday, Nov. 20 -- Texas-Pan Am, Assembly Hall, TV to be announced

Tuesday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m. -- Texas Southern, Assembly Hall, TV to be announced

Friday, Nov. 25 -- vs. Wichita State, South Padre Island Convention Center, South Padre Island, TV to be announced

Saturday, Nov. 26 -- vs. team to be announced, South Padre Island Convention Center, South Padre Island, TV to be announced

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 8 p.m. -- at North Carolina, Big Ten / ACC Challenge, Chapel Hill, N.C., ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 3, 1 p.m. -- vs. Xavier, Lexus December to Remember Classic, Chicago, TV to be announced

Monday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. -- Arkansas-Little Rock, Assembly Hall, TV to be announced

Thursday, Dec. 8, 8 p.m. -- Georgetown, Assembly Hall, ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m. -- vs. Oregon, Portland, Ore., FOX Sports Net

Sunday, Dec. 18 -- Coppin State, Assembly Hall, TV to be announced

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m. -- vs. Missouri, Busch Braggin' Rights, St. Louis, Mo., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 28, 7 p.m. -- Southeast Missouri State, Assembly Hall, TV to be announced

Friday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m. -- Tennessee-Martin, Assembly Hall, TV to be announced

Thursday, Jan. 5, 8 p.m. -- Michigan State, Assembly Hall, ESPN2

Saturday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m. -- at Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, ESPN

Saturday, Jan. 14, 3:30 p.m. -- Michigan, Assembly Hall, ESPN+Regional

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 6 p.m. -- at Indiana, Bloomington, Ind., ESPN

Saturday, Jan. 21, 3:30 p.m. -- at Northwestern, Evanston, ESPN+Regional

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 8 p.m. -- Minnesota, Assembly Hall, ESPN+Local

Saturday, Jan. 28, 3:30 p.m. -- Purdue, Assembly Hall, ESPN+Regional

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m. -- at Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., ESPN

Saturday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m. -- Penn State, Assembly Hall, ESPN+Local

Sunday, Feb. 12, noon -- at Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio, CBS

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. -- Northwestern, Assembly Hall, ESPN+Local

Sunday, Feb. 19, 2:30 p.m. -- Indiana, Assembly Hall, CBS

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 6 p.m. -- at Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., ESPN

Saturday, Feb. 25, 5 p.m. -- Iowa, Assembly Hall, ESPN

Feb. 28, March 1-2 -- at Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., TV to be announced

Saturday, March 4 -- at Michigan State, East Lansing, Mich., CBS/ESPN+

March 9-12 -- Big Ten Tournament, Indianapolis, Ind.

March 16-19 -- NCAA first and second rounds, CBS

March 23-26 -- NCAA regionals, CBS

April 1-3 -- NCAA Final Four, Indianapolis, Ind., CBS

[Kent Brown, assistant athletics director,
sports information director, University of Illinois]

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