Tenn-Martin @ Illinois preview

Illinois is hoping to continue the dominant play from its season opener when it hosts Tennessee Martin on Sunday in a non-conference contest that is part of the Global Sports Invitational. The Fighting Illini romped in their first contest under coach Brad Underwood, defeating Southern on Friday by 47 points, while the Skyhawks are looking for their first victory after a high-scoring overtime loss at Marshall.

Underwood was able to get the Illini to be much more aggressive offensively in their opener as they racked up 102 points, with Mark Alstork recording 17 and 10 rebounds. A graduate transfer from Wright State, Alstork was one of five Illinois players to score in double figures - a group that included Aaron Jordan, who registered 17 off the bench. The Illini's defense was opportunistic, forcing 22 turnovers that led to 33 points - an amount higher than the team recorded in any game last season. Senior forward Dominique Williams came off the bench to lead UT Martin in its opener, scoring 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting - including a 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer to send the game to overtime.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT TENNESSEE MARTIN (0-1): With nine new players on his roster, coach Anthony Stewart had to expect some growing pains in his team's opening contest. But after building a 15-point halftime advantage, the Skyhawks ended up falling in overtime, thanks in part to giving up 18 offensive rebounds for 25 second-chance points. Unfortunately, UT Martin now faces a team that grabbed 14 offensive boards for 19 second-chance points in its opener, so Stewart must find a way to keep Terrence Parker - the team's only player taller than 6-8 that appeared in the opener - out of foul trouble after he was limited to 28 minutes against Marshall.

ABOUT ILLINOIS (1-0): Despite scoring 102 points, the Illini did have an area in which they struggled offensively in the opener as they were just 4-for-21 from 3-point range. Michael Finke (41 percent from beyond the arc last season) and Alstork (38.7 percent) finished 0-for-3, with Jordan being the lone Illinois player to hit two 3-pointers. In a blowout, it didn't matter too much, but Underwood certainly was paying attention and will be looking for better production from long range against the Skyhawks.

TIP-INS

1. Illinois made 19-of-20 free throws in the first half against Southern, topping their production from the charity stripe in any half last season.

2. Illini junior F Leron Black dished out a career-best four assists to go with 14 points and six rebounds in the season opener.

3. The Global Sports Invitational is a round-robin tournament that also includes Marshall, Southern and North Carolina Central.

PREDICTION: Illinois 90, Tennessee Martin 81