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When Illinois and Georgia Tech last met in Assembly Hall in 1989, the Flyin’ Illini survived a broken foot suffered by guard Kendall Gill in a 103-92 double-overtime win. The following day, Illinois assumed the No. 1 ranking in college basketball and later made the school’s first trip to the Final Four in 37 years.

The Illini and Yellow Jackets will meet again at the Hall on Nov. 28, the final day of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. This time, it will be a matchup of programs trying to claw their way back into the upper half of their respective conferences’ standings, and the teams won’t be found in the preseason top 25.

Under first-year coach John Groce, the Illini head into the season with limited depth at point guard and fifth-year senior transfer Sam McLaurin attempting to fill a void created by 7-footer Meyers Leonard’s jump to the NBA.

Brian Gregory heads into his second year as Georgia Tech coach. The Mount Prospect native previously led Dayton to the NIT title in 2010 (and a win over Illinois at the Hall) plus two NCAA appearances, but his Yellow Jackets also face a significant rebuilding project.

Georgia Tech dismissed Glen Rice Jr., who was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, and will rely on a four-man incoming freshman class ranked 16th nationally by Rivals.com. The Yellow Jackets ranked 319th in the nation in scoring last season following a 54-36 loss to Miami in the ACC tournament first round to end the season with an 11-20 overall record and 4-12 league mark.

In the 14th edition of the Challenge, North Carolina at Indiana and N.C. State at Michigan are the premier games on Nov. 27 with Ohio State at Duke the marquee matchup on Nov. 28. Times and TV assignments will be announced at a later date.

Meanwhile, Illinois saw fifth-year guard Julius Mays commit to Kentucky on Sunday. The Illini, Purdue and Michigan State were also chasing Mays, a former Marion, Ind., star who began his career at N.C. State before leading Wright State in scoring last season.

Normal University High School sophomore Keita Bates-Diop, ranked No. 39 nationally in his class, made an unofficial visit to Illinois on Monday.