UCLA vs. Illinois: How to Watch, Game Info, Betting Odds

The Bruins will face off against the Fighting Illini in Las Vegas in their first game against a high major opponent this season.

After taking care of business against a lineup of mid majors to open the season, the Bruins are set to take on the Fighting Illini at the Continental Tire Main Event.

WHO: UCLA vs. Illinois

DATE: Friday, Nov. 18

TIME: 6:30 p.m. PT

LOCATION: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

TV: ESPNU – John Schriffen (play-by-play), Fran Fraschilla (analyst)

STREAMING: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

RADIO: AM 570, Sirius Ch. 84, SXM App 84 – Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)

SPREAD: UCLA -4 (-118), Illinois +4 (-110)*

MONEY LINE: UCLA -200, Illinois +145

OVER/UNDER: O 145.5 (-110), U 145.5 (-118)*

UCLA came in at No. 8 in the most recent AP Poll and No. 7 in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll, and is currently No. 9 in the KenPom rankings. Illinois came in at No. 19 in the most recent AP Poll and No. 20 in the latest Coaches Poll, and is currently No. 27 in the KenPom.

The Bruins are the heavy favorite to win the Pac-12 this season, earning the No. 1 spot in the preseason media poll. The Fighting Illini, similarly, came in at No. 1 in the Big Ten preseason media poll with the vast majority of first-place votes.

UCLA is led by coach Mick Cronin, who is in his fourth season with the program. Cronin boasts a 71-30 record since arriving in Westwood and a 436-201 record as a head coach overall including his stints at Murray State and Cincinnati.

In 2022, UCLA finished 27-8, earning second-place in both the Pac-12 regular season standings and conference tournament before reaching the Sweet 16 and losing to eventual national championship runner-up North Carolina. The Bruins finished No. 11 in the KenPom rankings, boasting the No. 12 adjusted offense and No. 16 adjusted defense in the country.

UCLA averaged 75.4 points per game last season, which ranked No. 59 in the country and No. 2 in the Pac-12. The defense allowed 64.2 points per game, which ranked No. 42 in the country and No. 1 in the Pac-12.

Seniors Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell are the most prominent returning players on the roster, with both veterans in the running for All-American spots. Five-star freshmen Amari Bailey and Adem Bona have joined the lineup as well, with sharpshooter David Singleton, do-it-all defensive ace Jaylen Clark, Italian transplant Abramo Canka and a few injury returnees making up the supporting cast.

UCLA beat Sacramento State 76-50 in the season opener, then followed that up with a 93-69 win over Long Beach State on Nov. 11. The Bruins closed out their season-opening homestand with an 86-56 win over Norfolk State on Monday.

Clark is leading the Bruins in several major categories with 17.3 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game and 4.3 steals per game. Campbell, Jaquez, Singleton and Bailey are all averaging double figures in scoring as well, while Campbell is averaging a team-high 4.3 assists a night.

Illinois is led by coach Brad Underwood, who is in his sixth season with the program. Underwood made the NCAA tournament four times in four seasons at Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State before joining the Illini and guiding them to a 97-66 record since 2017.

In 2022, Illinois finished 23-10, winning the Big Ten regular season title before losing to No. 5 seed Houston in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Illini finished No. 20 in the KenPom rankings, boasting the No. 30 adjusted offense and No. 29 adjusted defense in the country.

Illinois averaged 74.4 points per game last season, which ranked No. 84 in the country and No. 3 in the Big Ten. The defense allowed 67.2 points per game, which ranked No. 119 in the country and No. 10 in the Big Ten.

The Illini lost their top four scorers from a year ago, including perennial national player of the year candidate Kofi Cockburn, sharpshooters Alfonso Plummer and Jacob Grandison and point guard Trent Frazier. Forwards Coleman Hawkins has come back in a larger role, though, and the team added Texas Tech forward Terrence Shannon, Baylor forward Dain Dainja from the transfer portal and guards Skyy Clark and Jayden Epps from the high school level.

That new-look rotation opened the season with a 87-57 win over Eastern Illinois, following by a 86-48 win against Kansas City and a 103-65 drubbing of Monmouth. Shannon is averaging 22.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while Dainja is averaging 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

UCLA is 6-3 against Illinois all-time, winning the last bout between the two teams in December 1997.

The winner of Friday night's game between the Bruins and Illini will play the winner of the other Continental Tire Main Event semifinal featuring No. 5 Baylor and No. 16 Virginia on Sunday. The losers will play in a third-place game, also on Sunday.

*Odds via SI Sportsbook

Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnon
Follow All Bruins on Twitter at @FN_AllBruins
Like All Bruins on Facebook at @FN.AllBruins
Subscribe to All Bruins on YouTube

Read more UCLA stories: UCLA Bruins on Sports Illustrated
Read more UCLA men's basketball stories: UCLA Men's Basketball on Sports Illustrated