The Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Illinois Fighting Illini close out the first day of the most loaded Maui Invitational in recent memory.

For the Zags, the tournament represents one of the best barometers they will face all season. Are the Zags worthy of their preseason ranking? Is this truly a Final Four and beyond team? A potential matchup against either the Auburn Tigers or the Duke Blue Devils lurks.

But first, the Zags need to push past Illinois, a team that has, for more or less, owned the Zags for the past 20 years. From 2010-12, the Zags lost three straight to Illinois. The Fighting Illini are one of the worst teams in the bracket, but considering who is in the field, that isn’t saying very much.

Game Info

• Time: 8:30 pm PT
• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: Gonzaga IMG Network
• Online: WatchESPN