The Fighting Illini of Illinois step out of conference and head to Durham, NC and with it an opportunity to build their tournament resume when they take the court against the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils. The game offers Duke an opportunity to flex its muscles outside of the ACC as they fight for a No.

Last weekend at The Marucci Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina, Illinois won big, led by standout freshmen offensive performances.

As Hurricane Helene raged on, devastating some areas of Western North Carolina, one legend within the dog rescue community of Illinois answered the call for help.

No. 25 Illinois (21-6), 4 p.m. No. 6 South Carolina (24-3) at Vanderbilt (19-8), 3 p.m. No. 7 LSU (26-2) at No. 14 Kentucky (21-4), 4 p.m. No. 9 North Carolina (24-4) at Louisville (19-7), 2 p.m. No.

Next: at No. 13 NC State, Sunday. No. 2 Texas (26-2) did not play. Next: at Georgia, Monday. No. 3 UCLA (24-1) vs. No. 25 Illinois. Next: at Iowa, Sunday. No.

No. 25 Illinois, Thursday. No. 4 Southern Cal (24-2) beat No. 22 Michigan St. 83-75. Next: vs. No. 25 Illinois, Sunday. No. 5 UConn (25-3) beat Seton Hall 91-49. Next: at Butler, Saturday. No. 6 South Carolina (23-3) did not play.

All Times EST No. 1 Notre Dame (23-2) at Miami (13-12), 7 p.m. No. 3 UCLA (24-1) vs. No. 25 Illinois (21-5), 9:30 p.m. No. 6 South Carolina (23-3) vs. Arkansas (9-18), 7 p.m. No. 7 LSU (25-2) vs.

The Associated Press national player of the week in women’s college basketball for Week 16 of the season: Zoe Brooks, N.C. State The sophomore guard had a career-high 33 points and 10 rebounds in the double-overtime win over then-No.

With seven players scoring in double figures, the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils posted yet another lopsided win, this one over Illinois of the Big Ten.

Now under three weeks until Selection Sunday, CBS Sports Bracketologist Jerry Palm dives into what has to happen for bubble teams Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Wake Forest,

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In all three of Duke’s losses, there were struggles on the glass. Against Kentucky, Kansas and Clemson, the Blue Devils had an average rebounding margin of minus-6.0 – a shocking figure considering their average margin of plus-8.2 (No. 10 in the country).