Tennessee basketball announced a home-and-home series with Illinois Tuesday afternoon.
The series tips off on Dec. 9, 2023 with the Fighting Illini coming to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The Vols make the return trip to Champagne on Dec. 14, 2024 to play at State Farm Arena.
The home-and-home matchup between strong SEC and Big 10 programs is exciting for fans of both programs who will get a marquee early season home matchup.
Illinois has a traditionally strong program making the Final Four five times in program history— most recently 2005 when they fell to North Carolina in the National Championship game.
However, Illinois program went through tough times after Bruce Weber’s tenure in Champaign. The Fight Irish missed seven straight NCAA Tournaments before making the last two and losing in the Round of 32.
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Sixth year coach Brad Underwood’s had Illinois’ program near the top of the Big 10 ever since the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.
Tennessee has a 2-1 all time record against Illinois with the most recent meeting coming in a 1988 victory in Champagne. Vols’ head coach Rick Barnes also holds a 2-1 career record against Illinois.
The Vols’ pre conference play schedule this season left a lot to be desired when it comes to games at Thompson-Boling Arena. The late January Big 12/SEC Challenge against Texas is the Vols only non conference home game against a power five opponent.
With the ACC/SEC Challenge coming in December 2023, Tennessee likely seems poised for a road game in the opening matchup.
The Vols now have two non conference events scheduled for the 2023-24 season, as the home matchup against Illinois comes in addition to the Maui Invitational. The Maui Invitational hasn’t announced the bracket but the loaded field includes Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Purdue, Syracuse, UCLA and Chaminade.
