CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - FDU men's basketball (6-7, 0-0 NEC) visits No. 11/9 Illinois (9-2, 0-0 B1G) in the final game before Northeast Conference action commences on Friday, Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. CT/9 p.m. ET at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Friday's game will air live on Big Ten Network.

Illinois is FDU's first Top 25 opponent in the regular season since the Knights played then-No. 24 Rutgers on Nov. 27, 2020. At No. 11, Illinois is the highest ranked non-conference opponent for FDU since the Burgundy and Blue visited No. 8 Kentucky in 2019.
 

About FDU

FDU heads to the Land of Lincoln for the fourth time in five seasons (three-straight campaigns) as the Knights square-off against the Fighting Illini in the final non-conference game of 2023. Victors in two of their last four games, FDU heads to Champaign having dropped back-to-back home games against Columbia (Dec. 11) and Fairfield (Dec. 21). Sophomore forward Jo'el Emanuel is coming off an 18-point performance against the Fairfield Stags, his sixth double-figure scoring outing of the season. Earlier in the month, junior big Ansley Almonor (Spring Valley, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional [Mont.]) poured-in 27 in a narrow loss to Columbia, setting a new career high and single-game high for FDU in 2023-24. Almonor is the second leading scoring in the NEC behind Merrimack's Jordan Derkack.

Nationally, FDU ranks 60th in Division I in assists, averaging 16.1 per game (FDU is led by graduate student guard DeVante Jamison's (Dorchester, Mass./Jeremiah E. Burke) 4.8 a.p.g). The Burgundy and Blue also rank in the top 50 in scoring offense as the NEC's highest-scoring team averages 81.5 points a night.

FDU has six wins in their first 12 games for the first time in back-to-back campaigns since 2005-06/2006-07. FDU's six wins are tied for the most among NEC teams in non-conference play this season.
 

About the Opponent

Rising two spots in the AP Top 25 poll this week, No. 11/9 Illinois enters Friday's game as winners of three of their last four, including a win over then-No. 11 Florida Atlantic (Dec. 5). One of three Big Ten teams ranked by the AP the week of Dec. 25, the Fighting Illini look to defend home hardwood as they sit 6-1 at the State Farm Center this season. Chicago native and fifth-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. paces Illinois' offense with 21.7 points a game in 11 outings this season. Shannon Jr. is the second-leading scorer in the Big Ten Conference behind only reigning national player of the year Zach Edey (Purdue). Quincy Guerrier is the player to watch on the glass for Illinois as the guard/forward collects 6.8 boards a game (5.4 on the defensive end).

Led by head coach Brad Underwood (seventh season), the Fighting Illini have earned trips to each of the last three NCAA tournaments. 
 

About the Series

FDU is 0-1 all-time against Illinois with the two squads having met only in postseason play during the first round of the 2005 NCAA tournament. This is the first regular season meeting.
 

What a Win Would Mean

• First-ever regular season win over an AP Top 25 team (FDU is currently 1-12 against ranked teams since 2010, including NCAA tournament games)
• First win against Illinois
• Second FDU win against a Big Ten opponent [Purdue] (FDU has two wins over Rutgers prior to them joining the Big Ten)

Headlines

• FDU has played a game in Illinois in four of the last five seasons (last three-straight)... DePaul (2019-20), Northwestern (2021-22), Loyola Chicago (2022-23) and now No. 11/9 Illinois. FDU will be making regular trips to Illinois as the NEC recently announced the addition of Chicago State as the league's newest full member. FDU faces the Cougars on Jan. 10 for the first time (non-league).
• The Knights' last contest against a Big Ten side came on March 17, 2023 in the First Round of the NCAA Championship as #16 FDU stunned #1 Purdue. Before that game, the last FDU win over a current Big Ten member came on Nov. 26, 2013 at Rutgers (73-72), then a part of The American. The last Big Ten opponent FDU faced in the regular season was Northwestern (2021-22).

What's Next

FDU starts conference play on Jan. 4 at Merrimack in a rematch of last season's NEC tournament final at 7 p.m. ET from Lawler Arena on NESN and NEC Front Row. Following the game, FDU heads back to Stratis Arena for a trio of televised games on the YES Network and streaming on the YES App beginning with the first-ever game between the newest member of the NEC, Le Moyne, and FDU on Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. ET. Tickets are on-sale now at FDUKnights.com/Tickets.

Connect with FDU men's basketball on X and Instagram, @FDUKnightsMBB.

Bogota Savings Bank is the presenting sponsor for the 2023-24 FDU men's basketball season.