Good Morning, Illini Nation: An Illinois basketball marathon – The News-Gazette

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Welcome to “Good Morning, Illini Nation,” your daily dose of college basketball news from Illini beat writer and AP Top 25 voter Scott Richey. He’ll offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwood’s team and college basketball at large:

The college football season is right around the corner. That’s great. But, just being honest here, the college basketball season still three months away continues to drive excitement.

Tuesday that meant news the Field of 68 was bringing back an all-day college basketball marathon to start the season. An eight-game slate in two time zones that will feature some of the top mid-major programs in the country. 

Is it maybe more suited for the college basketball sickos than the casuals who won’t tune in until March unless Duke or Kansas or Kentucky is playing? Sure. But that’s me. At least for most of it. At 39 years old, I’m not sure I can pull off the full marathon, and I’ll miss the tail end as I cover Illinois against Fairfield Dickinson on opening night (per Rocco Miller since the nonconference schedule still hasn’t been officially released).

Here’s the full slate with central time tips for the Field of 68 marathon games in Rock Hill, S.C., and Sioux Falls, S.D.:

• 11:01 p.m.: High Point vs. Liberty, Rock Hill.
• 2 a.m.: Grambling vs. Northern Illinois, Rock Hill.
• 5 a.m.: Appalachian State vs. Merrimack, Rock Hill.
• 8 a.m.: Winthrop vs. Queens, Rock Hill.
• 10:30 a.m.: Murray State vs. Tennessee State, Sioux Falls.
• 1 p.m.: UTEP vs. Northern Kentucky, Sioux Falls.
• 4:30 p.m.: UAB vs. McNeese State, Rock Hill.
• 7 p.m.: Furman vs. Bethune-Cookman, Rock Hill.

If you can’t wait for Nov. 2, I’ve put together an eight-game Illinois basketball marathon of some of the more notable games from my first 11 seasons on the beat that, if you can find a replay somewhere on the internet, would be fun to rewatch:

Feb. 3, 2016 — Illinois 110, Rutgers 101 (3OT)

How could you not start with this masterpiece? Truly iconic.

Nov. 13, 2016 — Illinois 79, Northern Kentucky 64

Malcolm Hill, who is arguably the best Illini to never play in the NCAA tournament, was unstoppable with 40 points in the win against the Norse.

Feb. 5, 2019 — Illinois 79, Michigan State 74

Dan Dakich was wrong (not for the first time and certainly not the last either). Ayo Dosunmu pulling from deep did end well for the Illini.

March 14, 2021 — Illinois 91, Ohio State 88 (OT)

Just ask Giorgi Bezhanishvili and Kofi Cockburn. Winning a Big Ten tournament title was, in their words, amazing.

March 6, 2022 — Illinois 76, Iowa 74

With an assist from Nebraska (and its road win at Wisconsin earlier in the day), the Illini clinched their share of the Big Ten regular season title against the Hawkeyes and I survived another court storming.

March 16, 2024 — Illinois 98, Nebraska 87

Terrence Shannon Jr.’s 40-point game against the Cornhuskers was only the midpoint of one of the most dominant Big Ten tournament runs of any player ever.

Jan. 24, 2026 — Illinois 88, Purdue 82

Keaton Wagler got as close as anyone to Dave Downey’s program record 53-point game. A freshman scoring 46 at Mackey might have actually been more impressive.

March 28, 2026 — Illinois 71, Iowa 59

There’s only so many times you cover a team as it clinches a spot in the Final Four. Can’t not include this highlight from Houston.