Illinois (2-0) vs. Southern Illinois (0-0)
Assembly Hall; Champaign, IL
7:00 PM CT
Big Ten Network
The Salukis will face former head coach Bruce Weber when they travel up the road to Champaign this evening. The Salukis have a tough opponent for their first game of the season. For Illinois, it will be their third game of the week, having already defeated UC-Irvine and Toledo! The Illini can’t look ahead just yet to a match-up against #18 Texas next Thursday in New York City.
It’s a new year for Coach Lowry. The Salukis lost a couple players in the offseason but return Carlton Fay and Justin Bocot. Look for those two to lead the Salukis. Improving big man Gene Teague will be tough to guard in the Valley but Illinois has the bodies to match up.
Drake (0-0) vs. Texas Southern (0-0)
Knapp Center; Des Moines, IA
7:05 PM CT
TV: Mediacom
Four seniors depart for Mark Phelps from last year’s squad but a solid foundation to build on is left. Josh Young will leave big shoes to fill on the offensive end of the floor. Ryan Wedel is the lone senior on the roster. Phelps will count on him and sophomore center Seth VanDeest to lead the Bulldogs. VanDeest, who had a good game in Omaha last season, added more muscle to his slender frame in the offense, should be a threat on both ends of the floor.
Don’t sleep on Texas Southern just yet. Their roster includes SWAC preseason player of the year Travele Jones, Kentucky transfer Kevin Galloway, and Texas transfer Harrison Smith. Texas Southern hits the road after this, five more road games over the next couple weeks.
Evansville (0-0) vs. Oakland City (0-0)
Roberts Stadium; Evansville, IN
8:05 PM ET
WFIE(14)
The new and improved Marty Simmons (Mini Marty) takes on Oakland City in their first game for the second year in a row. Last season, the Purple Aces came away with a 92-66 victory. Expect big things from sophomore Colt Ryan. He led the team in scoring in both of their exhibition games. Oakland City is a Division II school. It appears Simmons scheduled a third exhibition game.
Loyola-IL (1-0) vs. Indiana St. (1-0)
Gentile Center; Chicago IL
7:30 PM CT
Nick Kladis Classic
It’s the second game in as many days of the Nick Kladis Classis on the campus of the Loyola. The Sycamores got a win for new coach Greg Lansing in his first game by defeating Texas-Pan American by 23. Bryan High School product Koang Doluony scored 11, Jake Kelly had 10, and Jordan Printy finished with 11 to also reach double figures.
The Ramblers notched a win by defeating Eastern Kentucky. Creighton’s Bracket Buster opponent from a year ago were lead by Terrence Hill with 21 points including 5-6 from 3-pt range. The Jays will face these Ramblers next season.