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Big Ten Basketball: Best bets outside of Cassius Winston to win 2020 POY

By Adam Childs

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 12: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 12: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 10: Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines brings the ball up court as Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini defends during the first half at State Farm Center on January 10, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 10: Isaiah Livers #4 of the Michigan Wolverines brings the ball up court as Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini defends during the first half at State Farm Center on January 10, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Illinois – Ayo Dosunmu

Chances of winning POY – Very Good

Dosunmu is one of the few guys in the Big Ten that has a realistic shot at winning the POY honor even if Winston plays well. Illinois looks like they are the cusp of making a big jump in the Big Ten and Dosunmu is a big reason why.

He averaged 13.8 points per game last year which included seven games over 20. Those were highlighted by a 24 point effort against Michigan State and back-to-back 23 point games against the stingy Michigan defense and Minnesota.

Dosunmu shot 35% from the outside and 43% overall. Expect those numbers to go up this year and he improves his game. The one thing that he really needs to work on is his free throw shooting as he shot just 69% from the line last year. If he can improve in all three of those areas he will be one of the best in the conference if not the best.

The Illini will have to make a climb in the standings for Dosunmu to have a chance at winning the award, but if they can sneak into the top five and maybe even the top three it will definitely be because of Dosunmu and will land him at the top of the list for the award.

Part of winning an award is some preseason hype, which many will argue is not right but it is how it works. That works in Dosunmu’s favor as lots of experts are predicting him to be a first-team all-Big Ten player. If he can get off to a hot start and lead the Illini to more wins he has a very good shot of stealing the award away from Winston.

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