Big Ten Basketball: Best / Worst case scenarios for each team in 2018-19

Illinois

Best Case

Trent Frazier improves on his 12.5 ppg last year and becomes one of the better scorers in the Big Ten. Ayo Dosunmo, a highly rated recruit, comes in and lives up to the hype right away. Those two make a great backcourt duo that gives opposing teams fits. With Frazier and Dosunmo playing well it opens up space down low for the Illini bigs to get easy buckets. They pull off some upsets and finish 7th in the conference. Coach Brad Underwood sees the light at the end of the tunnel on the rebuilding effort and it looks like it could be a year earlier than expected. He uses the improved play this year to bring in more recruits and the Illini have a bright outlook for the 2019-2020 season.

Worst Case

Dosunmo shows flashes of his recruiting rank but mostly falls flat. Without the help in the backcourt, Frazier cannot handle the pressure and regresses this year. The Illini struggle right out of the gate and can never recover. They win just two Big Ten games and finish dead last in the conference. They get blown out in the opening round game by Rutgers and fans are already calling for Underwood’s head. The Illinois fan base is getting restless for a winner and demand change. Underwood rethinks coming to Illinois and bails as the locals get louder. Illinois is left trying to pick up the pieces again.