Illinois opens with a Big Ten-sized test of its Final Four momentum

Illinois opens with a Big Ten-sized test of its Final Four momentum originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Illinois opens its 2026-27 season Monday at State Farm Center against Fairleigh Dickinson, with the Illini entering ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP poll. That is a striking position for a season opener, but it comes after Illinois reached its first Final Four in two decades and returns five of its top eight scorers from that team.Illinois looks to carry its Final Four momentum forwardThe returning group gives Illinois a foundation, but the first game still matters. The Illini need to find out how their familiar contributors fit with the new season’s roles and expectations. A top-three ranking can make every early performance feel like an evaluation, and opening night is the first chance to show that Illinois can handle that pressure.MORE: UConn may have found its next breakout star in freshman Colben LandrewFDU starts a demanding road stretch in ChampaignFDU will arrive with a different kind of challenge. The Knights begin the season with road games against Illinois and Butler, giving them two opportunities against Big Ten and Big East opponents in quick succession. Monday’s game is a major test, but it is also the first chance for FDU to see how its team responds when facing a ranked opponent in a hostile arena.For Illinois, the danger is assuming that its ranking and home court will be enough. FDU can make the game uncomfortable by forcing the Illini to execute through a full 40 minutes. Illinois wants a clean start; FDU wants to turn a challenging schedule into a chance to surprise.The opener will not answer every question about Illinois’ ceiling. But it can show whether the Illini look ready to build on last season’s breakthrough. For a team entering the year with Final Four expectations, that is a meaningful first checkpoint.More college basketball news:Isaiah Evans' NBA Draft accessories are worth more than his rookie contractJohn Calipari says college athletics is broken — Here’s his plan to fix itHow Dusty May's Michigan contract, buyout impacts the Dallas Mavericks