17th-Ranked Illini Face Florida Gulf Coast Friday at State Farm Center

#17 ILLINOIS (1-0) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (1-0)
Date | Time	Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 | 7:30 p.m. CT
Location	Champaign, Ill. | State Farm Center
Buy Tickets	FightingIllini.com
TV	Peacock (Paul Burmeister & Nick Bahe)
Live Stream	PeacockTV.com | Peacock App (Subscription Information)
Radio	Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 108 or 195, SXM APP
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Printable Notes	Illinois | FGCU
Pregame Press Conference	Coach Underwood (Nov. 6)
2025-26 Stats	Illinois | FGCU
Record Book	Illinois
Shop	Online Store | Auctions
Social Media	@IlliniMBB | #Illini | @IlliniMBB | Facebook | YouTube

Head Coach Brad Underwood

Career Record: 275-128 (.682), 13th year
At Illinois: 166-101 (.622), 9th year
Big Ten: 92-66 (.580)

Series History vs. Florida Gulf Coast

All-Time Record: First meeting
Record in Champaign: First Meeting
Underwood vs. Florida Gulf Coast: First Meeting

OPENING TIPS

• Illinois hosts the second contest of a four-game, season-opening homestand on Friday night, welcoming Florida Gulf Coast to State Farm Center (7:30 p.m. CT /  Peacock). 
• The Fighting Illini opened up their 121st season of men's basketball on Monday with a 113-55 home victory over Jackson State. 
• Illinois enters Friday's contest having won three consecutive games at State Farm Center overall.
• Illinois is looking to start 2-0 or better for the seventh straight season under head coach Brad Underwood.
• Friday's matchup is the first meeting in the series between Illinois and Florida Gulf Coast. FGCU coach Pat Chambers previously served at Penn State, where he was 7-5 against the Illini during nine seasons.
• Illinois is No. 17 in the Associated Press preseason poll, No. 14 in the preseason coaches poll. The Illini have been ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 in five of the last six seasons under Brad Underwood. 
• Expectations are high once again in Champaign, with the Illini returning three starters from last year's team that won 22 games, advanced to the NCAA Round of 32, and finished the year ranked 17th in kenpom.
• The Fighting Illini rolled to an exhibition win over Illinois State, 92-65, on Oct. 19, and squared off against defending national champion and preseason No. 3 Florida in a closed scrimmage in Orlando on Oct. 25. 
• Illinois is the Big Ten's winningest team in conference play since the start of 2019-20, posting 81 league victories over the last six seasons, tied with Purdue. During that stretch, the Illini own the most road wins in league play with 34. When including the conference tournament, Illinois is also tied with Purdue for the most total wins against Big Ten opponents over the timeframe with 88. 
• Illinois entered 2025-26 ranked No. 6 by kenpom, and moved up to No. 5 with Monday's win over Jackson State. The Illini have finished 35th or better each of the last six years under Brad Underwood with a high of No. 4 (2020-21). Illinois has posted back-to-back top-20 rankings, finishing 10th in 2023-24 and 17th in 2024-25.

Illinois vs. Florida Gulf Coast

• Friday marks the Fighting Illini's first matchup all-time vs. Florida Gulf Coast. 
• Brad Underwood has never coached against the Eagles in his 13-year career as a head coach. 
• Illinois is 8-2 all-time against the current 12-team membership of the Atlantic Sun Conference. 
• Underwood is 6-0 all-time against ASUN programs - 2-0 vs. Austin Peay and 4-0 vs. Central Arkansas. He led the Illini to a 64-57 home win over Austin Peay (12/6/17) in his 10th game at the helm of the Illini program. 

Complete Illinois Game Notes (PDF)