Illini To Play Oregon At Rose Garden In 2013, At United Center In 2014

Last week we found out a few more opponents who will make up Illinois' non-conference schedule next season, and to be honest, it left a bit to be desired from the strength of schedule standpoint. Well, according to ESPN's Andy Katz, our strength of schedule is about to improve.

Katz is reporting that the Illini will head out west to Portland to face Oregon in the Rose Garden. Which is where Meyers Leonard plays his home games as a Portland Trailblazer.

And that's not all, Katz also reports that Oregon will return the favor by coming to Chicago to face the Illini in the United Center in 2014, and that's a much more appealing matchup than our game against UIC at the United Center this season.

Oregon will make for a tough opponent this season, as the Ducks not only won the Pac-12 tournament and then made a Sweet 16 run before falling to eventual champion Louisville. This also means that just about every one of our "major" non-conference games will come outside Champaign.

Oregon in Portland, Missouri in St. Louis, UNLV in Vegas, Auburn in Birmingham and our ACC game will likely be on the road as well.

Which makes for quite a few chances to boost that tournament resume.

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