Two power conference teams with national title aspirations get to spend their Thanksgiving weekend on the road.
A Post-Thanksgiving Showdown in the Garden
Madison Square Garden in Manhattan hosts Illinois against UConn, a clash built for a national stage.
Illinois Looks to Keep Pace in the Big Ten
Illinois enters at 6-1, though their most recent outing was shakier than expected. Allowing 73 points at home to UT Rio Grande wasn’t ideal, even in a 15-point win. Their lone defeat came in Chicago against Alabama, 90-86.
Despite the stumble, the Illini are a scoring machine at 94.6 points per game. Andrej Stojakovic leads with 18.5 per game, while Kylan Boswell is adding 16.1 and four assists a night. Illinois is one of five Big Ten teams with just a single loss as Thanksgiving weekend hits.
UConn Still Carries Championship Expectations
UConn is 5-1 and eyeing yet another deep postseason run. The Huskies’ only loss came in a tight battle with Arizona, 71-67, but they rebounded by pounding Bryant 72-49.
The Huskies average 83.8 points per game and lean heavily on Alex Karaban, who scores 14.3 per game while logging major minutes. They join Seton Hall, Butler, and Villanova as the one-loss teams in the Big East, with Georgetown still perfect.
Illinois vs. UConn: When and Where
Date: Friday, November 28th, 2025; 12:30 PM CT
Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, NY
Illinois vs. UConn: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch: FOX
Stream: FUBOTV
Illinois vs. UConn: Betting Odds
Spread: UConn Huskies -1.5, Illinois Fighting Illini +1.5
Moneyline: UConn Huskies -125, Illinois Fighting Illini +105
Total: 155.5
Illinois vs. UConn: Series History
All-Time Series: UConn leads 3-1
Last Meeting: UConn beat Illinois 77-52 on March 30th, 2024 in the NCAA Tournament
Projected Starting Lineups
Illinois Fighting Illini
#2 Andrej Stojakovic – 18.5 ppg
#4 Kylan Boswell – 16.1 ppg
#00 David Mirkovic – 15.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg
#23 Keaton Wagler – 15 ppg
#13 Tomislav Ivisic – 10.8 ppg
Zvonimir Ivisic has made four starts and averages 8.6 points per game.
UConn Huskies
#5 Tarris Reed Jr. – 20 ppg, 9.3 rpg
#11 Alex Karaban – 16.2 ppg
#1 Solo Ball – 15.4 ppg
#2 Silas Demary Jr. – 13 ppg
#3 Jaylin Stewart – 7.2 ppg
Eric Reibe has two starts and averages 7.6 points per game.
What to Expect Inside the World’s Most Famous Arena
Hurley and Underwood are two of the sport’s most intense leaders, and the MSG stage only amplifies it. Both teams want to avoid picking up a second loss before December arrives, and both enter with plenty to prove.
UConn’s physicality and defensive edge could shape the flow, but Illinois has the firepower to push back. Expect a tough, spirited matchup between two programs built for big atmospheres.
Enjoy the game!