June 24, 2003
Fighting Illini basketball fans will be treated to
one of the nation's most competitive schedules again in 2003-04.
Highlighting the non-conference slate under first-year head coach
Bruce Weber is a season-opening game against Pittsburgh in the
Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York. The
Illini also have the Big Ten/ACC Challenge match-up against North
Carolina in Greensboro, N.C., two games at the United Center in
Chicago and the 23rd Annual Busch Braggin' Rights game against
Missouri in St. Louis. The Illini open the home portion of the
schedule Nov. 22 when they host Western Illinois at the Assembly Hall.
The Illini also will host Arkansas in the Chevrolet Shootout
at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, Dec. 6, and play
Missouri in the Busch Braggin' Rights game at the Savvis Center in
St. Louis on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The second Illini game in Chicago will
be against Illinois-Chicago and former Illini assistant coach Jimmy
Collins on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
"This non-conference schedule is as competitive as anyone in
America will play," Weber said. "We'll have to be prepared to play in
midseason form in November, which should have us ready for Big Ten
play come January."
The Big Ten portion of the schedule is expected to be
announced some time in August.
Remaining television and game-time information will be
released when available.
click below for...
2003-04 Illinois Men's Basketball (non-conference) Schedule
