Illinois Men’s Basketball to Face Florida Atlantic in Jimmy V Classic
The Illinois men’s basketball team has confirmed their participation in the upcoming Jimmy V Classic. The Illini will once again have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York. Their opponents for the game will be none other than Florida Atlantic, a team that made it to the Final Four last season.
Mark your calendars for December 5th, as that’s when the game will be held at Madison Square Garden. In another thrilling matchup, the doubleheader will also feature Connecticut going head-to-head with North Carolina. The Jimmy V Classic is not only a basketball event but also a platform to honor the late North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano and raise awareness for cancer research.
This will be the second consecutive year that Illinois will participate in the Jimmy V Classic. Last season, they delivered an exhilarating overtime victory against Texas, coming out on top with a final score of 85-78. This time around, the Illini will face a challenging opponent in Florida Atlantic, who is expected to be ranked among the top 10 teams in the preseason.
Florida Atlantic had an impressive run in the NCAA tournament last season, finishing with an outstanding record of 35-4. Although they fell just short in the national semifinals, losing on a buzzer-beater to San Diego State, they certainly made a name for themselves. The Owls will enter the game against Illinois with four of their top five scorers from last season and a hunger for success in the American Athletic Conference this year.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood expressed his enthusiasm about participating in the Jimmy V Classic once again. He emphasized the significance of supporting the V Foundation in the fight against cancer and acknowledged the honor of returning to the renowned Madison Square Garden. Coach Underwood believes that facing a seasoned Florida Atlantic team, fresh off a Final Four appearance, will provide an excellent challenge for his players, who will undoubtedly rise to the occasion.
The game against Florida Atlantic is just one of the highly anticipated nonconference matchups for the Illini during the 2023-24 season. On November 14th, they will host Marquette as part of the Gavitt Games, followed by an away game against Tennessee on December 9th.
In conclusion, the Illinois men’s basketball team’s participation in the Jimmy V Classic, along with their matchups against formidable opponents, including Florida Atlantic, Marquette, and Tennessee, demonstrates their commitment to taking on challenging nonconference games. Basketball enthusiasts and Illinois fans alike can look forward to an exciting season filled with thrilling encounters against some of the nation’s best teams.
