How to Watch Illinois vs. Alabama (United Center)
Game Time: 8 p.m. Wednesday
TV Channel: FS1
Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO
Odds: N/A (Illinois 57.5% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor)
Quick Hits:
Illinois Fighting Illini (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season, 169-101)
Last Game: Illinois
84, Colgate 65
Gameday Reading:
Alabama Crimson Tide (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Nate Oats (6th season)
Last Game: Lost to Purdue 87-80
What Happened the Last Time These Two Teams Played?
- Alabama leads all-time series 4-1.
Nov. 20, 2024: Alabama 100, Illinois 87
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — You’re not going to win many big games shooting 54% from the free throw line. How many times have Illini fans heard that in the past few years?
Despite SEC preseason player of the year Mark Sears going scoreless for the first time in his Alabama career, No. 25 Illinois left a ton of points on the table and fell to the No. 8 Crimson Tide, 100-87, in Birmingham.
The Illini struggled defensively, giving up triple digits for the first time since the 2017-18 season in a 104-97 overtime loss against Iowa.
The game had its moments for Illinois (3-1), whether it be an 8-0 run on offense or a 13-0 run given up on defense. Alabama (4-1) came out of the gates sprinting, scoring 52 points in the first half to set up what continued to be a great offensive game for them.
Illinois’ early season offensive success has come from a different type of three-level scoring: the paint, the free-throw line and the three-point line. On Wednesday, it seemed like none of those areas were clicking.
Just in the first half, the Illini shot 28.6% from three while also leaving points behind by shooting 6-of-11 at the charity stripe. They’d end the night going 13-of-24 from there, and end up losing by 13. Oof.
It also didn’t help that the Orange and Blue defense couldn’t put a stop to the Bama offense.
Senior 6-foot-11 forward Grant Nelson set the tone for the (closer to) home team early, draining four first-half three-pointers — as much as Illinois had as a team. He punched well above his season average of 12 points a game just a half into this one, scoring 19 in an all-red first half and ending with a game-leading 23.
Nelson was one of four Alabama players to score in double digits, pacing the way while Aden Holloway also put up 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
At the end of 40 minutes, the Illini out-rebounded (44-37) and marginally shot better from deep against the Crimson Tide, but left points at the free-throw line. You won’t win many against top-ten teams leaving runners on the bases.
