NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 8 Gavitt Games matchups for 2023-24 season
2. Marquette Golden Eagles at Illinois Fighting Illini
Marquette won 29 games this past season and returns over 95% of its production, including leading scorer Kameron Jones and Big East Player of the Year, Tyler Kolek. They’ll be going on the road against an Illinois team that under Coach Brad Underwood, always finds a way to be very good each year.
There are still some roster questions with the Illini, including the draft status of both leading scorer Terrence Shannon and starting forward, Coleman Hawkins. The Golden Eagles will definitely be good no matter what so seeing this true road game for them will be an intriguing non-con matchup.
1. Xavier Musketeers at Purdue Boilermakers
It’s not official yet but if reigning National Player of the Year center Zach Edey comes back for next season, look for Purdue to be a guaranteed preseason top-3 team. They’ll return just about everyone else, including guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith.
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Xavier will have a new-look roster, including several big-time transfers from Conference USA. Guards Quincy Olivari and Dayvion McKnight will have a big test on their hands, while big man Zach Freemantle is back for another year to lead the frontcourt. The Boilermakers will be the main attraction of this battle but the Musketeers could be very good themselves next year, making this a marquee matchup to watch.