Based on what has been and what's to come on the schedule for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team, today's game against Illinois may be as big as it gets.

The Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to face the Fighting Illini from the Big Ten Conference today at 3 p.m. (Hawai'i time) at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill.

Around 14,000 raucous fans are expected to show, and the game will be televised nationally to subscribers of the Big Ten Network (Oceanic digital channel 248 in Hawai'i).

"We don't play that many big-name teams this year," junior guard Roderick Flemings said. "So we're excited about this one. It's going to be a fun place to play — a lot of people cheering against you. We want to pull (an upset) off."

The Illini are unranked despite a 7-1 record, but it would still be considered a champagne-popping moment if the 'Bows can win in Champaign.

Oddsmakers are listing the 'Bows as a 21-point underdog. What's more, Hawai'i is 0-5 all-time on the road against Big Ten teams.

"I don't want anybody to give us a chance," junior center Petras Balocka said. "I like being the underdog. This is our opportunity to show what we can do."

Hawai'i is 3-2, and on a three-game winning streak. Today will be the 'Bows' first road game of the season.

To help acclimate to the cold weather, the 'Bows arrived in Champaign on Saturday morning. They had practices Saturday evening and last night, and will also have a one-hour shootaround this morning.

"I think getting here early is a plus, but we're not treating it any different as far as preparing for a game," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "We had normal practices, and worked on the same stuff we normally do. We're still trying to get better in our offensive sets and we went over our defensive assignments."

Hawai'i's practices Saturday and yesterday were in a practice gym on the Illinois campus. Nash thought the 'Bows would be able to get in Assembly Hall last night, but a concert took priority.

"We can't be worrying about that," Nash said. "The practice gym was fine. The rims were still 10 feet and the court was regulation. We got done what we needed to get done."

The 'Bows will have to be ready for an Illinois team that is allowing just 56.9 points per game and limiting opponents to a .398 field goal percentage.

"They make you earn every basket," Nash said.

But Nash added that the 'Bows would rather play a slow-paced game today.

"We don't want to get into a running game at their place," he said. "We're going to value each possession — work the shot clock until we get a good shot."

Today's game is a return from last season, when the Illini defeated Hawai'i, 79-77, in the Stan Sheriff Center. However, each team returns only one starter from that game: Chester Frazier for Illinois and Bill Amis for Hawai'i.

"They're different, we're different," Illinois head coach Bruce Weber said. "Last year we had our hands full and it took a play at the end of the game to win. Because of that, I think our guys realize they're really going to have to play."

The Illini feature a balanced attack, led by 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Mike Davis. He is averaging 14.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and has a .580 field goal percentage.

Demetri McCamey, a 6-3 sophomore guard, is contributing 13.9 points per game; Frazier, a 6-2 senior point guard, is averaging 6.6 points and 7.3 assists per game.

The Illini lead the Big Ten with 19.6 assists per game.

"You just have a more versatile team (than last season) and a little better balance, and right now, a team that likes to share the ball with each other," Weber said.

The 'Bows are led by double-double threats Flemings and Amis. Flemings is averaging 17.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game; Amis is averaging 12.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Flemings played at Oklahoma State as a freshman, so he said he has played in environments that might be similar to Assembly Hall today.

"I like playing in big arenas," he said. "It gets everybody pumped up. It'll be a good game."

Sophomore point guard Hiram Thompson traveled with the team, but is not expected to play today because of a hamstring injury.

Today will also be Hawai'i's fourth consecutive game on a Monday night. The 'Bows are 3-0 on Mondays this season.