Friday, November 14th, 9:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Assembly Hall (16,618) -- Champaign, Illinois. Television: . Home Record: Eastern Washington 0-0, Illinois 0-0. Away Record: Eastern Washington 0-0, Illinois 0-0. Neutral Record: Eastern Washington 0-0, Illinois 0-0. Conference Record: Eastern Washington 0-0, Illinois 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The Illinois Fighting Illini open up their 2008-09 season in Champaign this evening, as they welcome the Eastern Washington Eagles to Assembly Hall. Bruce Weber's Illini struggled big time last season, setting a school-record with 19 losses. Illinois returns just one double-digit scorer from a year ago, but with some improvement from talented youngsters on the roster, the Illini should take a step or two in the right direction. The first year of the Kirk Earylwine era wasn't exactly a huge success, as the Eagles finished with a mere 11-19 record. However, there is a nice returning nucleus returning, as well as some talented newcomers with the hope of vast improvement in the Big Sky in 2008-09. This marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams.

Second-year head coach Kirk Earlywine still has a lot of work to do to bring the Eagles back to a respectful level. Eastern Washington was a dismal eight games under .500 last season (11-19), while winning a mere six Big Sky tilts. To make matters worse in 2008-09, the team has lost last year's leading scorer and rebounder Kellen Williams to graduation. Returning to the mix are talented point guard Adris DeLeon (12.5 ppg, 3.1 apg) and forward Brandon Moore (7.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), but those two players will need others to step up if the team is to make any strides forward this year. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot in terms of incoming heralded freshman talent to speak of. Forward Jeff Christensen, swingman Andy Genao and guard Benny Valentine all redshirted last year and all three will earn minutes this season. Four juco transfers highlight EWU's 2008 class and Earlywine hopes that Mark Dunn (6-8) and Chris Busch (6-6) can contribute right away. EWU was already fighting an uphill battle in this one, but the fact that Moore is still not 100-percent with a lingering knee injury and that projected starters DeLeon and Busch have yet to be cleared to play, this is a team starting the season in a hostile environment without being at full strength.

The Illini showed very little fight last season, setting a school-record for losses. The team also suffered from a lack of discipline and seemed lost on the court at times. Senior guard Trent Meacham (10.1 ppg) is the lone double- digit scorer returning, but the hope is a guy like sophomore point guard Demetri McCamey will add more in the way of scoring punch after netting 8.2 ppg last year. Adding depth to the backcourt is a pair of seniors in Chester Frazier (4.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.6 apg) and Calvin Brock (7.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg). Sophomore guard Alex Legion transferred in from Kentucky and will be eligible after the first semester, while talented freshman Stan Sampson could make an immediate impact. Seven-foot sophomore Mike Tisdale needed to add some much- needed bulk to his lengthy frame and should be poised for a solid season if he doesn't wear out.

The Illini may once again struggle when it comes to Big Ten opposition this year, but the team should get the season off on the right foot with a solid win over the visiting Eagles this evening.

Predicted Outcome

Illinois 74, Eastern Washington 55