Illinois
Projected Starting Five: Andre Curbelo, Trent Frazier, Da’Monte Williams, Jacob Grandison, Kofi Cockburn
Illinois is going to be an interesting team this year in what should be an uber-competitive Big Ten. On one hand, losing Ayo Dosunmu is a big blow. He was the tone-setter on both ends of the floor, and worked hard in orchestrating the offense. Adam Miller’s departure to LSU was also a bit puzzling. However, the biggest news of the offseason came when Kofi Cockburn decided to return to school after reportedly flirting with both the NBA and transferring to Kentucky.
His presence alone makes Illinois a dangerous proposition for any opponent. Illinois is adding three 4-star players from the high school ranks to its squad. Additionally, the Fighting Illini are adding Florida transfer Omar Payne to shore up the front court. Sharpshooting guard Alfonso Plummer is also on the team after transferring from Utah. He’s proven to be a major threat from beyond the arc. While Dosunmu is nearly impossible to replace, the rest of this team remains relatively intact. We could see a big boost in particular from the talented Andre Curbelo.
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