Virginia Commonwealth University will be taking its basketball talents South during the upcoming season.

Coach Will Wade’s Rams will play the University of Illinois on Dec. 3 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, home of the NBA’s Miami Heat.

VCU also will play Nov. 25 to 27 in the Battle4Atlantis in Nassau, The Bahamas. Other entries are Michigan State University, University of Louisville and Baylor, Wichita State, St. John’s, Louisiana State and Old Dominion universities.

The game in Miami will mark VCU’s first meeting with the Big 10 Conference Illini. The Rams have met every Big 10 member but Penn State University and the University of Nebraska.

VCU’s history against Big 10 teams began Dec. 28, 1970, when Coach Chuck Noe’s Rams (then an NAIA independent) stunned the University of Minnesota at the Franklin Street Gym in overtime.

In NCAA tournaments against Big 10 foes, VCU has defeated Purdue University and lost to the University of Iowa, Indiana University, University of Michigan and Ohio State University.

In addition to its 2016-17 Atlantic 10 Conference schedule, VCU will play at Old Dominion and Liberty universities, and host Middle Tennessee University, Georgia Tech, University of North Carolina-Asheville, Princeton University, University of Louisiana-Monroe and Howard University.

VCU’s first ever game against Howard University will provide area fans a look at the Bison’s James “J-Byrd” Daniels. The 5-foot-11 rising senior from Hampton led the nation in scoring last season with 27.1 points per game. The University of Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield was second with 25 points per game.