The annual C.M. Newton Classic is played in honor of Alabama basketball legend, C.M. Newton, who rose to notoriety while coaching UA in the early 1970s by signing the program's first Black players. Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis found the board first ...

Last meeting: The Crimson Tide took down the Fighting Illini 79-58 on March 17, 2015. Alabama's Levi Randolph and Rodney Cooper combined for 39 points on 13-of-20 from the field, Randolph and Retin Obasohan each grabbed seven rebounds, and Randolph also led the Tide in assists with five.

Alabama didn’t slow down even with a scoreless night from star Mark Sears. The preseason All-American guard watched from the bench as the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide held off No. 25 Illinois 100-87.

So what does the highest competitive level college basketball look like this season? Alabama 100, Illinois 87 in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday night was an excellent representation.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood arranged a non-conference torture chamber of a schedule for 2024-25, ensuring that his mostly inexperienced Illini will be battle-tested come March. Underwood was expecting – and ready to embrace – the early-season adversity that would inevitably come.

The No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) and the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide (3-1) meet Wednesday at Legacy Arena at BJCC in Birmingham, Ala. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (SEC Network). Let's an

Alabama basketball's Mark Sears posted on Instagram early Thursday morning taking shots after a rare scoreless performance vs. Illinois:

The Crimson Tide earned a much-needed ranked win after taking its first loss of the season last game against Purdue.

Alabama jumped out early on, scoring a dominant 30 points over the first nine minutes of the game and mostly keeping that pressure on the Fighting Illini throughout. Though the Tide did have a couple of mini-droughts in the second half,