This coming week the University of Illinois men's basketball team boards a jet for a 4,000-mile-plus flight to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. Dating back to December of 1970, it's the 12th time Illini hoops has made the nine hour trip over the Pacific Ocean.
Coach Brad Underwood's club will open play on Nov. 19 against Gonzaga, then play either Arizona or Iowa State the next day. Its third game will be against either Auburn, Duke, San Diego State or Xavier.
Only once has Illinois returned to the mainland with more losses than victories, so history has traditionally been kind when the Illini play in Hawaii.