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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois’ final exhibition offered a look at how widely it could distribute the scoring load. The result became lopsided well before the last of its seven double-figure scorers finished contributing.
DOPE Sports Network Staff · Oct 29, 2026
Carla Berube’s first Northwestern season will introduce itself to Illinois basketball fans through a series of nearby opponents, not just through the eventual Big Ten schedule. The Wildcats have home dates against Northern Illinois, DePaul, Illinois State and Eastern Illinois, plus road meetings with UIC and Loyola Chicago. Those games give the program’s coaching transition a local frame before conference play becomes the dominant story.
DOPE Sports Network Staff · Oct 14, 2026
Northwestern’s first public basketball test of the new season will come against an Illinois opponent with a substantially different recent trajectory. The Wildcats visit Illinois State on October 18 for a 4 p.m. exhibition at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The result will not count toward the regular-season record, but the matchup offers an early look at how Chris Collins’ rebuilt team functions against an experienced opponent.