No. 5 UConn vs. No. 13 Illinois in Black Friday Game

The fifth-ranked UConn Huskies will face the 13th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini in a nonconference men's college basketball matchup on Friday, November 28, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. ET in Madison Square Garden, New York City. The game, airing on FOX, pits two top-15 teams each carrying a single loss early in the season against one another in a Black Friday showdown.

Both squads enter the contest with strong starts but recent setbacks. UConn, coached by Dan Hurley, fell to Arizona at home last week by four points before rebounding with a 72-49 victory over Bryant on Sunday. The Huskies hold a 5-1 record and aim to reestablish themselves as national title contenders after an unexpected second-round exit in last season's NCAA Tournament. Illinois, with a 6-1 mark, suffered its lone defeat to Alabama in Chicago by the same narrow margin. The Fighting Illini responded by defeating Long Island University and UT Rio Grande Valley, showcasing resilience in their early schedule.

UConn's performance hinges on the availability of senior center Tarris Reed Jr., who leads the team with averages of 20 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Reed has missed the past two contests due to an ankle injury,...