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Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) rushes up the court against Iowa guard Drew Thelwell (3)
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) rushes up the court against Iowa Hawkeyes guard Drew Thelwell (3) on Thursday, March 13, 2025, during the second round of the men's Big Ten tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

How to watch Illinois Fighting Illini basketball online without cable in 2025

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This post was written in partnership with Sling TV.

The Illinois Fighting Illini basketball squad is most likely going to make it to the 2025 March Madness tournament, fueled by devoted fans and the dynamic performance of Kasparas Jakucionis — averaging 15.6 PPG and 5.5 REB as the team's star shooting guard. There's an unmistakable sense of anticipation swirling around the roster and the potential to have a solid run in the upcoming tournament. No matter what, and despite their current lack of ranking, everyone’s itching to see how they'll perform once the whistle blows in the upcoming Madness.

You don’t have to miss a minute of the action if you're an Illinois basketball fan. The Illini have the end of February to gear up for March — catch the action with the right live TV streaming service for your viewing experience.


How?

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV (with ESPN Plus bundle), DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, Paramount Plus, and Max.
  • First-time live streaming subscriber options:
Provider Price
Max  Try Max Today 
Paramount Plus  Get Your 7-Day Free Trial 
DIRECTV STREAM  Get Your 5-Day Free Trial 
Fubo  Get Your 5-Day Free Trial 
Hulu  Get Your 3-Day Free Trial 
Sling TV  Get 50% Off Your First Month 
YouTube TV
Sign up here

Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and odds for March Madness 2025

The Odds: National Championship 75-1, Final Four 18-1*

*Please note that the provided betting odds are for informational and research purposes only, subject to change and potentially not reflecting real-time market conditions

What do you need to know about the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team?

  • Kasparas Jakucionis leads the team with 15.0 PPG and 4.7 APG, setting the tone on offense.
  • The Fighting Illini are strong candidates for a deep run in March Madness 2025, thanks to their balanced inside-out attack.
  • Team stats reveal an electrifying offense with 84.4 PPG, along with a solid 45.3% field goal percentage, 31.4% from beyond the arc, 76.0% from the line, and 42.4 rebounds per game.
Key Stat
Illinois Fighting Illini
PPG
84.4
Field Goal %
45.3
3-Point %
31.4
Free Throw %
76.0
REB
42.4

*Stats current as of March 13, 2025


What channels are Illinois Fighting Illini March Madness games on for 2025?

March Madness live broadcasts can be found on TNT, TBS, TruTV, and CBS. Lock in this tournament season for all the action with one of the below listed streaming services.

Channel Sling TV Hulu + Live TV DIRECTV STREAM YouTube TV
TNT

TruTV



TBS



CBS




How to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sling TV with 50% off your first month (Featured Partner)

  • Pricing begins at $45.99/mo.
  • 35+ live TV channels
  • Free trial currently unavailable

Sling TV prides itself on staying an affordable streaming service. While many other services seem to be raising prices, Sling has held strong so far. With access to TNT, TBS, and TruTV, you'll be able to watch almost every game of this years tournament. Just pair it with Paramount Plus for everything you'll need


How to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini on Hulu + Live TV with a 3-day free trial

  • Pricing begins at $82.99/mo
  • 95+ live TV channels
  • 3-day free trial

Hulu + Live TV is a service that keeps on giving. With the Disney Plus Bundle, ESPN Plus, Disney Plus, and Hulu + Live TV set you up for so much more than just March Madness. This is a streaming service the whole family can get behind.


How to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini on DIRECTV STREAM with a 5-day free trial

  • Pricing begins at $86.99/mo
  • 90+ live TV channels
  • Free trial available

DIRECTV STREAM comes out ready for its customers, not leaving a single March Madness channel of its lineup. With plenty to watch once the tournament is over DIRECTV STREAM is a great option for someone thinking about long term viewing. Oh yeah, don't miss out on the free trial that is currently live.


How to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini on YouTube TV with a 7-day free trial

  • Pricing begins at $82.99/mo
  • 100+ live TV channels
  • Free trial available

Another service with every channel you'll need this March, YouTube TV keeps it simple. With just one plan to choose from it takes any indecision you have out of it. Hopefully Illinois takes a page out of YouTube TV's book and can keep it simple as they make a run through the tournament.


How to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini on Max — no free trial but an excellent platform with tons of content

  • Pricing starts at $9.99/month
  • 4K viewing options available
  • Free trial currently unavailable

Max is doing something special for Illini fans. Included with any subscription is the B/R Sports add-on that gives users access to TNT, TBS, and TruTV. With almost all the coverage you'll need look to a service like Paramount Plus to complete your coverage.


How to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini on Paramount Plus with a 7-day free trial

  • Pricing begins at $7.99/mo
  • Premium subscription comes with local CBS station
  • Free trial currently available

Paramount Plus, while not the all encompassing content that some people may like, help you out in order to round out coverage. March Madness is happening and you can catch any game on CBS here.


How to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini on Fubo with a 5-day free trial

  • Pricing begins at $84.99/mo.
  • 211+ live TV channels
  • Free trial available

Fubo has a very extensive channel list but unfortunately for college basketball fans, they only have CBS out of the 4 needed channels on their list. Similar to Paramount Plus, look to complete your coverage with a Sling TV subscription.


FAQ

How can I listen to Illini basketball tonight?

You can listen to Illini basketball games on the radio through the Illini Sports Network. You can find your local station here.

How can I listen to NCAA basketball games?

NCAA basketball games are broadcast on local radio stations across the country, as well as national stations like CBS Sports Radio and ESPN Radio. If you’d like to listen to a particular game, check out the team’s schedule, which should have information about the radio broadcast.

Where can I watch Big Ten Network?

You can watch the Big Ten Network on streaming services like Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, either through the company’s website or app. Alternatively, you can use your streaming service credentials to log into Fox Sports and watch the Big Ten Network.

Taylor Freitas is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of professional journalism experience. She has contributed to publications, including LA Weekly, CNET, ZDNET, and Bankrate. She holds a B.A. in Print and Digital Journalism from the University of Southern California.