Illinois men’s basketball will showcase its new talents at the State Farm Center on Friday in an exhibition game versus Lewis University. The game, which falls on Dad’s Weekend, will give the Illini a practice run before hosting Nicholls State on Tuesday to start the season.

Coming off a 12-21 (7-3 Big Ten) season, the Illini are receiving the most attention they’ve had in years. In the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll, Illinois received 14 votes, the fifth most among Big Ten teams. Illinois has not been ranked in the preseason poll since the 2010-2011 season when they started at No. 13.

More national attention has come from Andy Katz of NCAA.com and Big Ten Network, who projects Illinois as a top-20 team.

With Illinois’ top-scorer Ayo Dosunmu returning for his sophomore year, new growth in guards like Trent Frazier and Alan Griffin, and the addition of top-50 freshman center Kofi Cockburn to work alongside Giorgi Bezhanishvili, expectations are at an all-time high.

“I think we have a different swagger,” said head coach Brad Underwood at Big Ten Media Day on Oct. 2. “There’s a different feel about us just from the experience standpoint. I don’t think there is that giddiness of the unexpected.”

“I think we know now we have the ability to have guys that can lead the young guys, that can lead the guys that maybe didn’t play as much last year. I think all those things are positive. I think there’s a confidence that comes with that.”

Illinois has 11 returners from last year’s team but will be without sophomore Tevian Jones for the time being. Illinois basketball announced on Saturday Jones has been “suspended indefinitely from game competition due to violation of team academic policies.” Jones served an eight-game suspension last season for a violation of team rules. The guard was expected to make a larger impact this season after averaging 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in his freshman campaign.

Now in his third season with the Illini, Underwood has expectations of bringing the team to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2012-2013 season.

While the Illini are expected to win their first two non-conference games against Nicholls State and Grand Canyon, the true test will come against No. 21 Arizona on Nov. 10. The Illini will not face another preseason ranked opponent until they travel to No. 7 Maryland on Dec. 7.

Last season, Illinois ended a 15-game losing streak against ranked teams when they beat (then) No. 13 Maryland at Madison Square Garden. Still a month away from a Maryland rematch, the Illini cannot overlook their early schedule. Illinois lost seven non-conference games last season, with only one opponent being ranked.

Illinois’ exhibition game will tip-off at 8 p.m. on Friday, while Tuesday’s matchup against Nicholls State will start at 7 p.m.

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