Alabama vs Illinois Preview: A Potential NCAA Remaining 4 Matchup?

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Following a heartbreaker at dwelling, Alabama will search school basketball redemption in Chicago towards an Illinois group recent off a press release win.

A possible Remaining 4 matchup on school basketball’s males’s entrance shall be staged within the Second Metropolis.

Aden Holloway Alabama NCAAB — (Photograph by Porter Binks/Getty Photos)

Recent off a press release victory at dwelling in Champaign, the Illinois Combating Illini will make the two-hour-plus drive to Chicago, the place the Alabama Crimson Tide awaits on Wednesday evening. The 2 sides will do battle at United Heart, dwelling of the Chicago Bulls and the best exploits of Michael Jordan.

4 Crimson Tide stars reached double-figures in scoring, paced by 21 from Aden Holloway, however that wasn’t sufficient to cease a 29-point barrage from Braden Smith, the headliner of the Boilermakers’ 7-0 run over the ultimate 100-plus seconds. The lead modified palms 21 occasions over the fateful 40 minutes, and neither staff led by greater than eight.

This would be the sixth all-time assembly between the Crimson Tide and the Combating Illini, the previous successful all however the unique matchup in 1953. The 2 sides met final season in a equally styled recreation in Birmingham, one which the Tide gained 100-87. Holloway got here off the bench to attain 18 factors whereas fellow Tuscaloosa returnees Labaron Philon and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. every put up 16, the previous additionally doling out 9 assists.

Who: No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-1) vs. No. 11 Illinois Combating Illini (4-0)The place: United Heart, Chicago, ILWhen/Watch: Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET, FS1Who’s Favored: ILL -2.5 (o/u: 180.5)

Alabaman to Watch: Aden Holloway

Final yr’s assembly with the Illini was an indication that Holloway was prepared for greater issues within the Tide’s journey, as he got here off the bench to place up a surprising capturing present. Now one of many prime elephants within the backcourt with Mark Sears and Chris Youngblood gone, Holloway has lived as much as his expanded hype by posting back-to-back 21-point performances after lacking the opener towards UND.

The Auburn switch has the flexibility to take the Tide far: when he scores no less than 15 factors, Alabama is 10-2 over the past two seasons. If the Tide goes to wrestle on the boards (extra on that in a minute), it’s important that they benefit from each possession. Counting on the skills of Holloway may be the proper means to try this.

Followers of high-energy, fast-paced basketball ought to be in for a deal with tonight when No. 11 @AlabamaMBB visits Chicago to face No. 8 @IlliniMBB within the United Heart.

Illinois (4-0) is as much as its highest November rating since 2020 with a formidable victory already over Texas Tech,… pic.twitter.com/x9mRTpdspM

— Tide Hoops Historical past (@BamaHistory) November 19, 2025

Illini to Watch: David Mirkovic

Regardless of bringing in Aiden Sherrell in final yr’s freshman haul and Taylor Bol Bowen from Florida State on this offseason’s portal, the Tide has struggled within the rebounding division: towards Purdue, for instance, Alabama was outrebounded by 24, with the Boilermakers going plus-12 on the offensive glass alone.

That might be blood within the water for David Mirkovic, a four-star recruit out of Montenegro, who joined the likes of Zach Edey, Derik Queen, and extra as the one BIG males to put up a 20-20 recreation. However Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, whereas appreciative of Mirkovic’s efforts, desires to see him try this on the next stage, because the Illini stole a win from Texas Tech regardless of solely 4 boards touchdown in his arms. With the medical standing of junior Tomislav Ivišić nonetheless up within the air, it’ll be crucial for Mirkovic to rise to a nationwide event.

They Stated It

“We’ve obtained points on the glass. We knew it in our exhibition video games. We knew it in our intrasquad scrimmages. We knew it up at St. John’s. We did a reasonably good job. We outrebounded them by one. Till we determine tips on how to make harder performs, rebound the basketball at a a lot increased stage, we’re going to have a tough time beating the most effective groups within the nation.”—Alabama head coach Nate Oats (h/t Discipline Degree Media)

“[Alabama has] obtained super guard play. Good wings. Good measurement. It’ll be an attention-grabbing matchup. I feel we’ve executed an amazing job of attempting to copy their type of play, follow taking part in towards them … Clearly, we knew [Mirkovic] was able to such a factor, however we’re not going to place the stress and expectation on him to do it each evening. That’s what coach (Underwood) is harping on for everybody to crash the glass, everybody to rebound. We perceive it’s going to be a unique man each evening.”—Stojakovic (h/t Evy York, The Each day Illini)

Prediction

Once more, these are two groups who may effectively signify the lads’s facet within the Remaining 4, however Wednesday gives a serious alternative to depart a long-lasting impression. The distinction in early non-conference showdowns, particularly those who search the settings of NBA arenas, comes right down to who wants that proverbial assertion extra.

Coming into Wednesday evening, that’s in all probability Alabama, which has to top off on outings towards prime competitors with Purdue’s go to within the rearview mirror and elite showdowns in Las Vegas’ Gamers Period Pageant on the horizon.

If an offensive explosion ignites in Chicago, anticipate the Tide to roll.