I grew up in Champaign, but now live in Arizona. Bb can forever. However, my son goes to Gonazga University. I am in Spokane and got to go to their "Kraziness" in the Kennel, or whatever it is called yesterday. They do a really nice event where they show off the team with a three-point contest, dunk contest and then a short scrimmage. The place (McCarthy arena), although only 6,000 seats was jammed and pretty loud.
To the point, their guards are really good. Zach Norvell won the three point contest and hit maybe 9 or 10 in a row. In the scrimmage he finished around rim very well. But, Josh Perkins (hope I got the name right) was amazing. I felt he was their best player by far.
I was not so impressed with their big men. It was only a scrimmage, but they lost the ball on the way up a few times and just did not seem that physical compared to the Big10. But, I only stayed for the first part of the scrimmage -maybe they warmed up?
Bottom line, in my uneducated observation, I saw a very good but beatable team. Who knows how Illinois will do against them, but I think it will be a better game than most think. We have to do well, my son is already giving me crap about how we will get smoked. I did remind him of who is actually paying tuition.