There’s basketball on the schedule tonight at the World’s Most Famous Arena. But neither the New York Knicks nor the St. John’s Red Storm will be taking the court at Madison Square Garden.
Instead, Duke and Illinois will clash in a non-conference matchup billed as the Sentinel One Classic.
It’s the first time since 2020 that the Blue Devils and Fighting Illini will face off. In that last meeting, Illinois defeated Duke 83-68 at an empty Cameron Indoor Stadium during the pandemic.
Duke Flying High
The 2020-21 season was an outlier for the Blue Devils, who missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995. But they’ve since rebounded. Led by the explosive freshman Cooper Flagg, Duke is currently ranked No. 3 in the country and has its sights set firmly on the NCAA Tournament.
Illinois, on the other hand, won the Big Ten Tournament in 2021 but suffered a surprising second-round exit after a loss to Loyola. This season, the Fighting Illini, who have a 9-8 conference record, will have to do a lot of fighting to make it to the Big Dance.
Watch Out for Kasparas Jakucionis
There is, however, a bright spot for Illinois this year. In fact, a really big one: Kasparas Jakucionis, a 6’6″ freshman guard from Lithuania.
A potential lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Jakucionis does it all, leading the team with 15.6 points and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 34% from beyond the arc.
He’s a player to watch tonight — and, if he reaches his potential, for years to come.
Duke vs. Illinois Tickets
There are still tickets available for tonight’s Duke-Illinois game in the re-sale market, including on StubHub.
Duke vs. Illinois
Sentinel One Classic
February 22, 2025, 8:00 PM Eastern
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
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