Aug. 8There are several moments and events that seem to indicate the official start of the college basketball season. One of those in Champaign is the annual Basketball Tip-Off Event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Champaign-Urbana, which is now in its 102nd iteration.This year's event is in exactly one month Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the iHotel and Conference Center. Like in years past, the C-U community will get a chance to meet the current crop of Illinois basketball players, including several who helped the Illini reach the Final Four last season.for the event, with prices set for $70 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Proceeds will go to Kiwanis of Champaign-Urbana to help with the club's philanthropic, youth-focused community activities. Those include sponsorship of the C-U Kiwanis Little League, Camp Kiwanis Girl Scout Camp, the C-U Kiwanis Tom Jones Challenger League, Little Free Libraries and the Kendall Gill Golf Outing in support of Cunningham Children's Home.Doors will open for this year's event at 4:45 p.m., with a 5 p.m. cocktail social hour and hors d'oeuvres followed by dinner and dessert and the program featuring Illinois coach Brad Underwood. Underwood will preview the 2026-27 season and introduce all of the players.For more details about the event, contact Doug Fink at or by calling (217)-714-5204, or contact Joy Owen at Webber & Thies Law Offices at or by calling (217)-367-1126.