2026 UIS Basketball Tip-Off Dinner Presented by Springfield Clinic and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce A Prairie Stars Tradition Returns!

After a year away, the UIS Basketball Tip-Off Dinner is back! Join UIS Athletics on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the TRAC Gymnasium as we officially kick off the 2026–27 Prairie Stars basketball season and celebrate the return of this special tradition. Presented by Springfield Clinic and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, this exciting evening will bring together UIS Men’s and Women’s Basketball coaches, student-athletes, alumni, donors, and Prairie Stars supporters to celebrate the upcoming season. 

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to hear from both coaching staffs, meet the student-athletes, learn more about each team’s goals and expectations, and get an inside look at what’s ahead for Prairie Stars Basketball. 

The return of the Tip-Off Dinner is a great opportunity to reconnect with the Prairie Stars basketball community, celebrate the continued growth of our programs, and show our student-athletes that their community is behind them.