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.

Alabama hopes to bounce back after a tough road loss to the Purdue Boilermakers, while the new-look Fighting Illini team looks to improve to a hot 4-0 start.

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

The No. 8 Alabama basketball program bounced back into the win column on Wednesday night in Birmingham as they dispatched of the No. 25 Illinois Fighting Illinis 100-87 in the annual CM Newton Classic.