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Illinois Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Fighting Illini

By Austin Walther

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Illinois Men's Basketball Head Coach Brad Underwood speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Illinois Men's Basketball Head Coach Brad Underwood speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Top non-conference games for Illinois this season

11/13/18 vs. Georgetown (Gavitt Tipoff Game)

11/19/18 vs. Gonzaga (Maui Jim Maui First Round)

11/20/18-11/21/18 vs. Arizona/Iowa State/Auburn/Duke/San Diego State/Xavier (Maui)

11/27/18 at Notre Dame (ACC/Big Ten Championship)

12/22/18 at Missouri (Braggin’ Rights)

There isn’t much room for a Big Ten team having a weak non-conference schedule anymore. From the Gavitt Games, to an early-season tournament representing the conference to the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and then a rival game. It’s easy to build a resume.

The Illini draws Georgetown in the Big East/Big Ten annual Gavitt Tipoff games. They try to match the level of opponents with each other. It makes sense based on how each team finished last season.

We’ll get the joke of the Hoyas non-conference schedule from last year out of the way. This is already a step in the right direction for Georgetown to land the Illini. Illinois, on the other hand, could be running into a very much improved Georgetown team in the second game of the season.

The Maui Jim Maui Invitational never fails to disappoint. There are Gonzaga, Duke and Auburn. All three teams could be in the top-10 by that time. Illinois doesn’t get a favorable matchup against the Bulldogs in the first round.

It’ll then be Iowa State or Arizona. The Cyclones will be better than last year while the Wildcats won’t be as good. That doesn’t mean either matchup will be kind to them. It will be almost impossible for them to see Auburn or Duke. San Diego State could be a winnable game, but don’t count on Xavier. The Illini will show some fight no doubt, but this is one of the more stacked Maui Tournaments in recent years.

So much for matching up the same level of teams for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. I’m not sure how they thought one of the most consistent basement teams in Illinois was going to compete well with the Irish. TJ Gibbs and Rex Pflueger will be back and better than ever since it’s their team now. The inexperienced Illini will be outmanned by this somewhat decent Notre Dame team.

The game against Missouri is always a close one. It doesn’t matter how each team is shaping out to be. It was looking winnable for Illinois for a while. Then Jontay Porter pulled himself out of the draft. The Tigers just became a top-30 team again. Missouri has the experience being in the NCAA Tournament and playing in high-emotional games. The non-conference slate will certainly build the experience of this Illini team up to get them ready for conference play.

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