No. 8 Alabama men's basketball took down to No. 25 Illinois 100-87 on Wednesday night in the C.M. Newton Classic, giving the Fighting Illini i

Here are three takeaways from the game between Alabama basketball and Illinois on Wednesday at Legacy Arena in Birmingham.

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.

And on Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama, after No. 25 Illinois feasted on mid-major competition in three home wins to open the season, that adversity arrived in a tidal wave in the form of No. 8 Alabama.

The No. 25 Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) face the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (3-1) in college basketball action on Wednesday.

Alabama hopes to bounce back after a tough road loss to the Purdue Boilermakers, while the new-look Fighting Illini team looks to improve to a hot 4-0 start.

Illinois faces Alabama. Our college basketball odds series has our Illinois Alabama prediction, odds and pick.

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