Opening the season with three wins against unheralded schools in the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic was great and all for the Hawaii basketball team.

Continued success tonight against Illinois of the Big Ten would mean something else entirely.

“It’s good to get my first college games out of the way,” freshman forward Isaac Fotu said. “But now I think it’s the real test. The team’s looking forward to stepping up, and playing a real big-name school. I’m excited for it.”

UH used its size and rebound-and-run transition game effectively to beat Maryland-Eastern Shore, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Houston Baptist all by double digits.

The ’Bows will again look to work the ball inside to Vander Joaquim, Christian Standhardinger and Fotu. They’ll have to contend with Illinois’ 6-11 center Nnanna Egwu, who has shot-blocking capability.

“That is our strength. That’s one thing we found out this week,” UH coach Gib Arnold said. “And whenever you’ve got some strength, you’ve gotta play to ’em.”

Turnovers, meanwhile, have kept UH in check — especially late in games when pressed. The ’Bows are averaging 18.3 per game, to 12.0 for their opponents.

“You saw that was a bit of a weakness, but we’ve been working on that,” Fotu said.

UH has four players averaging double-figure scoring, including Chicago native Brandon Spearman. Senior point guard Jace Tavita is averaging nine assists per game.

“It’s indicative of their tempo and how (Tavita) makes other guys better,” first-year Illinois coach John Groce said. “We’re going to have our hands full, especially in transition defense and especially in post defense with the big fella (Joaquim).”

Illinois is off to a fast start under Groce, who was hired in March after leading Ohio to the Sweet 16. He replaced the fired Bruce Weber, whose team lost 12 of its last 14 games.

The Fighting Illini, they of the five Final Fours, posted impressive margins of victory (20 and 25 points) in wins over Colgate and St. Francis (NY). The Illini play this stand-alone game, then head to the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Perhaps in a nod to Michigan State’s cramping difficulties here in the 2005 season opener, Groce said his team was taking nutritional precautions to acclimate to the time zone.

Senior guard Brandon Paul leads the Illini with 17 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists. His backcourt mate, point guard Tracy Abrams, averages 14.0 points and 4.5 assists.

“Their guards are quick. You expect a lot of athleticism, you expect them to get up and really guard you,” Arnold said.