Welcome to Birmingham, Ala., and Legacy Arena. It's a venue that doesn't hold particularly good feelings for Illinois.
Think Austin Peay and Dick Vitale pledging to stand on his head if the Governors beat the Illini in the NCAA tournament.
What was once the BJCC Coliseum has received a few makeovers since 1987. Maybe Illinois will fare better this time around?
The challenge is certainly stiffer. Alabama, ranked No. 8 in the latest AP Top 25, certainly isn't a lower-seeded Austin Peay. The Crimson Tide are fresh off a Final Four run last season and return several key players from that squad.
Illinois returns ... Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. But that hasn't stopped the Illini from playing their way into the latest AP Top 25 that dropped Monday. Well, it was more benefitting from other teams' misfortunes, but Illinois was in position to move up as the nominal No. 26 team in the country in the first two polls.
Beating Alabama would certainly count as a signature win. Even beyond the fact Illinois has only played EIU, SIUE and Oakland to date. Follow along all night to see if the Illini can make it happen: