1/18 Klee chat

Who's the next opponent at the United Center? Illinois isn't sure yet. The Illini are still tinkering with the 2012-13 nonconference schedule and haven't finalized the opponent for its Chicago appearance a year from now. Here's why: Illinois is still in discussions with the organizers of the Carrier Classic -- the aircraft-carrier game that featured North Carolina, Michigan State and President Obama -- for next season. If the Illini receive and accept an invitation to the Carrier Classic, they would probably schedule a lightweight opponent for the United Center. The nonconference schedule already includes the Maui Invitational, a road game at Gonzaga, a likely home game in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and the Missouri game in St. Louis. If you throw in the Carrier Classic, they probably wouldn't add another heavyweight for the Chicago game.

Klee