Illinois and Gonzaga have had their brushes with defeat as the nonconference schedule wanes. Illinois in particular channeled some late-game theatrics to narrowly avoid losses against Hawaii and Gardner-Webb.

Yet the stage is now set for two of the last 18 teams with unblemished records in college basketball when No. 13 Illinois travels to Spokane, Wash., on Saturday to face No. 10 Gonzaga.

The battle to remain undefeated seems to tilt favorably toward Gonzaga, a team that Illinois head coach John Groce described as “well-rounded” with virtually no weaknesses. Among Gonzaga’s considerable strengths is its loaded frontcourt arsenal, which includes a collection of four or five forwards and centers that will pose as the most formidable Illinois has faced all season.

“USC (Southern Cal) had great size, Hawaii had great size, but Gonzaga has more of them,” Groce said. “I think the depth of those guys, and what they bring to the game in the post and on the glass and defensively affecting shot percentages, is certainly the best we’ve played to this point.”

The challenges that Gonzaga’s frontcourt presents were vividly on display in the final seconds of its victory over Washington State on Wednesday night. Staring at a deficit in a hostile road environment when productive offensive possessions were a necessity, 7-foot Gonzaga center Kelly Olynyk drove the ball from the top of the key for a layup and then buried a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs the lead.

Perhaps an even tougher matchup for the Illinois defense is Elias Harris, a preseason Naismith and Wooden Award finalist with a burly 6-foot-8, 239-pound frame, who shoots from the perimeter and posseses a polished post game. Harris leads Gonzaga in scoring at 16.8 points per game and rebounding at 8.1 rebounds per game.

“I think he’s a terrific player,” Groce said. “As I watch him on film, he looks like a pro to me. The thing I admire the most about him is that he seems to play his best when his best is needed. Great players do that.”

If Illinois stymies Gonzaga’s frontcourt, an experienced and versatile backcourt, including NBA legend John Stockton’s son, David, awaits. The sum total of these parts produces a team that ranks   first in the nation in field goal percentage at 53.1 percent and ninth in scoring at 83.7 points per game.

“Our system is going to be tested at a high level, and I’m looking forward to seeing where our system is at this juncture against such a quality basketball team,” Groce said.

The Illinois post defense will face its toughest test yet, and it hasn’t fared well previously. Against a rugged Western Carolina frontcourt earlier this week, Illinois center Nnanna Egwu fouled out, and backup Sam McLaurin logged heavy minutes in Egwu’s absence.

If Illinois is to emerge from Spokane on Saturday night with an undefeated record, those two players will have a large say in the matter.

“When you’re playing against any taller player or a player that’s a really good scorer, you just have to make it tough on them,” McLaurin said. “Good players are going to make their shots, you just have to make them tough.”

Thomas can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @ThomasBruch.