Teams are allowed to dream in the preseason, no matter their talent or potential.
For Illinois, those dreams finally are based in reality.
The Illini enter the 2020-21 season with expectations higher than they’ve been since the early 2000s.
With the return of Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn — who chose to remain in college instead of facing the uncertainty of the NBA draft — and an experienced roster infused with new talent, Illinois should contend for the Big Ten championship. The Illini have enough to make a run in the NCAA Tournament if they make some shooting improvements — and COVID-19 stays at bay.
Coach Brad Underwood enters his fourth season in Champaign with his best team, looking to build off last season’s 21-10 record. Will it deliver?
The Illini tip off Wednesday against North Carolina A&T in a multi-team event at the State Farm Center.
Here are five questions and answers for Illinois’ season.
1. Will Illinois’ newcomers contribute?
Illinois had the Big Ten’s third-ranked recruiting class with four-star guards Adam Miller and Andre Curbelo and three-star big men Coleman Hawkins and Brandon Lieb.
Miller, the nation’s No. 33 recruit in the 2020 class, hails from Morgan Park like his teammate Ayo Dosunmu. He’s expected to bring perimeter shooting, which the Illini desperately need (more on that later).
Curbelo, the No. 44 recruit in his class, is known to be a smooth facilitator who can score.
The Illini also welcome a pair of 6-foot-6 wings who sat out last season after transferring: Jacob Grandison (Holy Cross) and Austin Hutcherson (Wesleyan). Hutcherson, another player expected to help improve Illinois’ long-distance shooting, has been battling a back injury.
2. What does Illinois need to improve?
The Illini had the worst 3-point shooting and one of the worst 3-point defenses in the Big Ten.
Illinois has struggled from beyond the arc for a while now, but last season’s 30.9% mark was glaring — and ranked 294th nationally.
Alan Griffin, the team’s best 3-point shooter at 41.6%, transferred to Syracuse. Nobody else was even a 35% shooter from deep. While Ayo Dosunmu hit multiple game-winning shots, his 3-point shooting needs improvement as he made only 29.6%.
Trent Frazier, who hit a three-quarters-court shot at the halftime buzzer against Nebraska last season, is capable of performing better than he did last season (30.9% on 3-pointers). He made 40.6% of his 3-pointers as a sophomore before his average dipped by almost 10%.
3. Will Giorgi Bezhanishvili bounce back?
Giorgi Bezhanishvili was a sensation as a freshman, unexpectedly breaking Deon Thomas’ single-game freshman scoring record with 35 points against Rutgers. He was productive all season.
But last season, the 6-9 forward struggled offensively, often failing to score around the rim. His shooting percentage fell from 54.2% as a freshman to 42.9% as a sophomore. It wasn’t all negative, though, as Bezhanishvili improved his 3-point shooting and successfully fed the ball to Kofi Cockburn in the post.
Bezhanishvili is one of the most energetic and positive players in college basketball, and he’ll be determined to show improvement as a junior. Expect him to provide a boost off the bench with more production and a more streamlined role.
4. What more should be expected of Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn?
Ayo Dosunmu’s return announcement shocked and satisfied hopeful Illinois fans. He had said he was 99% sure he was going to enter the NBA draft.
Dosunmu averaged 16.6 points and 3.3 assists, but it was his confidence and success in shooting game-winners that cemented his legacy as a fan favorite.
Dosunmu improved his midrange game last season. If he can replicate that improvement on his long-range shooting, watch out. A Big Ten Player of the Year award — and perhaps a national award — could be in his future.
Kofi Cockburn registered 12 double-doubles, ranking fifth among all freshmen. The 7-foot center ranked second on the Illini with 13.3 points per game and led the team with 8.8 rebounds per game.
He had some freshman tendencies at times but showed more confidence late in the season. His defense away from the rim and his decision-making should only continue to improve.
5. How tough will the Big Ten be for the Illini?
Of all years for the Big Ten to look especially stacked …
Illinois is ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press preseason poll — and it’s still behind two Big Ten teams.
No. 5 Iowa, led by national player of the year candidate Luka Garza, looks intimidating. No. 7 Wisconsin will be tough again.
For those of us who love hate-filled rivalries, it’s a shame Illinois and Iowa meet only once. But for Illinois’ sake, it’s fortunate to get the Hawkeyes at home on Jan. 29.
The Illini face Wisconsin twice in February (at home on Feb. 6 and on the road on Feb. 27). Don’t overlook not-your-dad’s-Rutgers in the second Big Ten game Dec. 20 in New Jersey.
