Final Four Illinois-UConn rematch reportedly set for next season with NBA venue backdrop

It's time for the third round between the Illinois Fighting Illini and UConn Huskies, as both teams met twice this past season, with the Huskies winning both games. The Huskies ended Illinois' best season in over two decades, earning a 71-62 Final Four win before losing the national title game to the Michigan Wolverines two nights later last month.

According to Jon Rothstein, the Illini and Huskies will lock horns once again, but this time, in Chicago. Even though the Fighting Illini have struggled at the United Center, having not won a game there since 2019, they will look to snap a skid that has seen them lose four of their last five games. Rothstein's report adds that the game will take place on Friday, Dec. 4, with a tip time and TV designation still to be determined.

Huskies coach Dan Hurley credited the Illini following the win, teasing the rematch in a small way.

"We're very selective with who we try to play in non-conference situations, whether they're home and homes or the series that we're now doing with Illinois," Hurley told reporters. "We only try to do series with the best programs in the country. They'll obviously have another crack at us in Chicago next year, but yeah, just couldn't be more proud of my guys and how hard they fought when most people probably didn't think we were going to win the game, or at least a little bit of what I saw on TV today, you know, TNT and some of the different prognostications."

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The addition of the Huskies to the Illini's nonconference schedule also includes rematches with the Texas Tech Red Raiders (a game they won last season) and the annual Braggin' Rights game in St. Louis against the Missouri Tigers.

More info is still to come on the upcoming season, but both programs can start to gear up for a highly anticipated matchup that could serve as yet another Final Four preview.

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Only time will tell, though.

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