Illinois had a two-in-seven chance it would play a top-10 team in the first round of the Maui Invitational. Turns out that's exactly what the Illini will face come Nov. 19 against a Gonzaga team fresh off another Sweet 16 appearance. Spokesman-Review (Wash.) beat writer Jim Meehan breaks down all things Bulldogs:
Given a likely top-10 (or maybe top-five) preseason ranking, does this team compare talent wise to the past few at Gonzaga?
Very well. The 2017 squad that went 37-2 and reached the national championship game had an impressive eight-man rotation, including All-American Nigel Williams-Goss, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner Przemek Karnowski and eventual lottery pick Zach Collins, Gonzaga's first one-and-done.