On Saturday night, college basketball will be treated to something that was commonplace for decades but has become the exception to the rule over the past 15-or-so years: a marquee nonconference game between two high-major programs.

The 3rd-ranked Duke Blue Devils and the Illinois Fighting Illini take breaks from conference play to head to the Big Apple on Saturday night for the 2025 SentinelOne Classic.

Duke basketball and Illinois will play this weekend at Madison Square Garden. Here's why, along with a look at the Blue Devils' history at MSG.

In all three of Duke’s losses, there were struggles on the glass. Against Kentucky, Kansas and Clemson, the Blue Devils had an average rebounding margin of minus-6.0 – a shocking figure considering their average margin of plus-8.2 (No. 10 in the country).

On Thursday, unranked Louisville took advantage of its sharp-shooting from deep and a near-perfect night from the charity stripe to upset No. 11 Duke, 70-62, and pick up its second consecutive ranked win on the road.

Jayda Curry scored a season-high 24 points, leading Louisville women's basketball to an ACC road victory over Duke. It was UofL's fourth win in a row.

For the second time in as many months, Duke faces an extended stretch of basketball without 6-9 junior forward Maliq Brown, a key factor in the Blue Devils’ strong defense this season.