Grant Nelson scored 23 points and Aden Holloway had 18 to lead No. 8 Alabama to a 100-87 win over No. 25 Illinois in a matchup of Elite Eight teams from last season.

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.

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.