FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas men’s basketball is reportedly set to play Illinois at a “planned Thanksgiving event” at 3 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center.
Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman confirmed the game during an annual media roundtable, according to reports Thursday. Whitman reportedly said the game will be televised by CBS following the network’s NFL game that day between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, which would put it around 3 p.m..
CBS announced the game Friday.
“What a great opportunity CBS is giving Arkansas and Illinois. Thanksgiving is a day that gets all of America — whether you are a sports fan or not — watching sports on TV,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said in a release. “Playing in this time slot will provide tremendous exposure for both programs. … We have a great deal of respect for Coach [Brad] Underwood, and we know this game will be one the whole nation will be interested in seeing.”
“We are thrilled for this opportunity,” Underwood added in the release. “Playing in Kansas City — a tremendous basketball city that is near and dear to me — and taking on a great opponent in Arkansas, led by a Hall of Fame Coach in Coach Calipari, is a big test for our team.”
Arkansas will also reportedly face Arkansas-Little Rock on Nov. 22; go to Miami for the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 3; the Jimmy V. Classic against Michigan on Dec. 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York; a game against Central Arkansas on Dec. 14 in North Little Rock; host North Carolina A&T on Dec. 21; and a home game against Oakland on Dec. 30.
The Razorbacks will play Illinois for the second time in three seasons. Arkansas defeated the Fighting Illini 73-63 during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.
The teams were part of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City in November 2021 but did not play against each other. Illinois has a 5-1 lead in the all-time series against Arkansas.
Like the Razorbacks, the Fighting Illini will have a new-look roster heading into the 2024-25 season, with Terrence Shannon and Marcus Damask both graduating and Coleman Hawkins (Kansas State) and Dain Dainja (Memphis) transferring. Illinois needed to replace production from its Elite Eight run and did so through the transfer portal.
Illinois lost to eventual champion Connecticut in the national quarterfinal.
Coach Brad Underwood added impact transfers. Kylan Boswell (Arizona) is the standout name, but Ben Humrichous (Evansville), Jake Davis (Mercer), Carey Booth (Notre Dame) and Tre Davis (Louisville) will be expected to contribute. Underwood also added freshman Tomislav Ivisic, the brother of Arkansas’ Zvonimir Ivisic.
Ty Rodgers is Illinois’ leading returner after starting in every game last season, averaging 6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He and sophomore Dra Gibbs-Lawthorn could be expected to take on larger roles.
Arkansas’ roster first roster under Calipari consists of returners Trevon Brazile and walk-on Lawson Blake, who will miss time with a ruptured Achillies; transfers Ivisic (Kentucky), Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee) Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic), Adou Thiero (Kentucky), DJ Wagner (Kentucky), Melo Sanchez(Hawaii Pacific) and walk-on Kareem Watkins (Kentucky); and freshmen Karter Knox, Johnuel “Boogie” Fland, Billy Richmond, Jaden Karuletwa, Ayden Kelly and Casmir Chavis.
This story was originally published on June 6 and was updated on Aug. 16 when CBS announced the game.