Each previous matchup between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Illinois has taken place at a neutral site. This game at Fifth Third Arena is the first time one of the squads has stepped foot in the other's gym.
Illinois does so with a great deal of confidence, returning three starters from a team that played in the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Illini lost to Connecticut 71-62 to end their season 28-9.
This is the first exhibition for Illinois, while UC and Ohio State did battle at the Lindner Tennis Center Oct. 7, with the Bearcats prevailing 79-68.
"To beat a team that went to the Round of 32 with some guys back, that's a pretty good sign," UC Bearcats coach Jerrod Calhoun said. "That's a pretty good win in your first game."
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3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Illinois
1. Cincinnati Bearcats must avoid injuries
Myles Colvin stumbled out of bounds early in the game against Ohio State and left after playing just 2:41. UC coach Jerrod Calhoun said Colvin could have returned if needed, but was left out as a precaution. Colvin returned to practice two days later. Colvin started vs. Ohio State and is a veteran who averaged 11.6 points and 4.4 rebounds for Wake Forest last season, shooting 36% from the perimeter and 87% from the free-throw line. Colvin played against Illinois in 2024-25 while at Purdue.
2. Stop Illinois forwards in paint, perimeter
Illinois features a pair of talented forwards on the Preseason All-Big Ten Team: sophomore David Mirkovic and wing Andrej Stojakovic. Mirkovic averaged 13.3 points and eight rebounds as a freshman, while Stojakovic averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and made the NCAA All-South Regional Team in their run to the Final Four. They are two of the five rotation players the Illini have back from last season's national semifinalists.
3. Cincinnati Bearcats fans must still remember exhibitions don't count
With two recent exhibition wins over Ohio State and a win over 2026 NCAA champion Michigan last season, Illinois presents a tough challenge, having been to last year's Final Four. The early KenPom rankings have them fourth in the country and ESPN gives them a preseason ranking of No. 3.
A win might help sell some Fifth Third Arena season tickets (and by the way, this exhibition was not included in your season ticket package). But the NCAA Selection Committee doesn't factor in October results; otherwise, recent closed-scrimmage wins by Queens College over Florida State or USF over the Miami Hurricanes might matter more.
"This is a dangerous team; we can just fire on all cylinders," UC's Tylen Riley said post-Ohio State.
The most impressive takeaway from the opening game was UC took the lead with 5:11 to go at 64-62, then outscored Ohio State 15-6 the rest of the way. Wes Miller's teams weren't known for late-game comebacks.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Illinois tip time
Tip: 5 p.m., Oct. 17, Fifth Third Arena (12,012)
TV/Radio: gobearcats.com (audio only)
Series: Illinois leads 3-2 (non-exhibitions)
Illinois Fighting Illini scouting report
Record: 28-9 (15-5 Big Ten)
Coach: Brad Underwood, 10th year, 193-107, 302-137 overall
Offense: 83.2 ppg (2025-26)
Defense: 68.6 ppg
Illinois projected starters
(Position, Height, Stats)
Stefan Vaaks (G, 6'7", 15.8 ppg at Providence)
Quentin Coleman (G, 6'4", 23.1 ppg as 5-star high school player)
Andrej Stojakovic (Wing, 6'7", 13.5 ppg)
David Mirkovic (F, 6'9", 13.3 ppg)
Tomislav Ivisic (C, 7'1", 10.4 ppg)
Cincinnati Bearcats scouting report
Record: 18-15, 9-9 Big 12
Coach: Jerrod Calhoun, first year; 297-159 overall with five seasons in Division II and nine in Division I
Offense: 73.1 ppg (under Wes Miller)
Defense: 67.6 ppg (under Wes Miller)
Cincinnati Bearcats projected starters
(Position, Height, Stats)
Tylen Riley (G, 6'2", 15 ppg at Tulsa)
OR
Trevian Carson (G, 6'3", 11.9 ppg at North Dakota State)
Myles Colvin (G, 6'5", 11.6 ppg at Wake Forest)
OR
Elijah Perryman (G, 6'2", 4.4 ppg at Utah State)
Jayden Hastings (C, 6'10", 6.7 ppg at Boston College)
Tyler Tejada (F, 6'9", 17.7 ppg at Towson)
Cincinnati Bearcats, Illinois Fighting Illini to watch
Stojakovic is a 22-year-old senior for Illinois who is the son of 13-year NBA veteran Peja Stojakovic and a contender to be a first-round pick himself. He surpassed 20 points eight times last season and had a high game of 30 against Maryland. It's his second season with Illinois. He previously played single seasons at Cal and Stanford.
After missing the Bahamas exhibitions with a hand injury, Tulsa transfer Tylen Riley didn't start, but played nearly 25 minutes in the Ohio State win, scoring 18 of his 23 points in the second half. Riley dished out three assists and had two steals in addition to getting to the free-throw line for 16 of UC's 32 shots from the stripe.
Cincinnati Bearcats, Illinois rankings
KenPom.com: Illinois is No. 4 preseason, UC is No. 31
NCAA NET: Illinois was No. 5 in 2025-26, UC was No. 49
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcats entertain national semifinalist Illinois on home hardwood
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