Good Morning, Illini Nation: Shark 'week' in Champaign

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Hell offer up insights every morning on Brad Underwoods team and college basketball at large: The games we've known on the Illinois schedule this offseason are the high profile variety.

Brad Underwood is intent on his team playing as tough a schedule as possible, but it won't be 31 power conference opponents.

Buy games are a part of every high major team's schedule, and Illinois is no different.

The Illini's 2025-26 slate will at least include a game against Long Island, with the Sharks coming to Champaign the weekend before Thanksgiving for a Nov.

22 game against Illinois and a Nov.

24 game against Missouri State.

In something called the Illinois Classic.

(So it would be safe to assume the Illini and Bears might get together, too).

LIU is coming off the best season in former NBA guard Rod Strickland's tenure as coach.

The Sharks went 17-16 overall and finished second in the Northeast Conference with a 12-4 record in league play.

A huge jump after going 3-26 and 7-22 in Strickland's first two season.

All-NEC First Team guard Malachi Davis is one of three turning starters for LIU in addition to All-NEC Second Team wing Jamal Fuller and NEC All-Rookie Team forward Shadrak Lasu.

(Fun fact: all three are from Canada).

Davis averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 assists and three rebounds in 2024-25 to lead LIU.

Fuller put up 12.5 points and six rebounds per game.

The Sharks also added seven newcomers ahead of the 2025-26 season, including six transfers.

Three of the transfers have Division I experience.

Two of the newcomers are 7-footers in one-time, four-star recruit Isaiah Miranda (N.C.

State/Oklahoma State/Green Bay) and French national Rupee Kolawole, who spent last season at the JUCO level at Northwest Florida State..

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