Illinois basketball on Monday released the five opponents John Groce’s program will play come November in Springfield.
The Illini will kick off its five-game stretch at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in downtown Springfield on Sunday, Nov. 8, with an exhibition game against nearby foe Illinois-Springfield, a Division II school.
The first regular season game for Illinois in Springfield is Friday, Nov. 13 when North Florida, a 2015 NCAA tournament team, visits Springfield. North Dakota State, another 2015 NCAA tournament team, will take on the Illini on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Illinois will host Tennessee-Chattanooga on Saturday, Nov.