Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: 10 teams that will exceed expectations in 2019-20

By Donovan Darlington

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MARCH 30: Mamadi Diakite #25 of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts against the Purdue Boilermakers during overtime of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at KFC YUM! Center on March 30, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MARCH 30: Mamadi Diakite #25 of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts against the Purdue Boilermakers during overtime of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at KFC YUM! Center on March 30, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his team against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 14: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his team against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the United Center on March 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Illinois Fighting Illini

2018-19 Record: 12-21

I am a huge fan of Illinois Head Coach, Brad Underwood. Going back to the days when his Stephen F. Austin squads were giving high-majors trouble in the NCAA Tournament as one of the best mid-majors, I have always loved the way Brad Underwood runs the show.

With his 3rd season as the Illini Head Coach almost underway, I think Brad Underwood has it figured out. I believe Illinois is going to turn the corner in 2019-20 and be very good. With Underwood in charge, Illinois is more defensive-minded. He now has the personnel that fit his preferred defensive schemes and they will be more sound offensively as well.

A huge thing that will help the Illini this season is the fact that they are far more experienced, returning four of their top five scorers from last year’s team. Ayo Dosunmo and Trent Frazier are a highly talented backcourt duo, averaging 13.8 and 13.7 ppg last season. The frontcourt returns Giorgia Bezhanishvili. As a freshman a season ago, he averaged 12.5 ppg and proved to be a strong and smart-minded player. These three guys, as well as the others on this time, were constantly overlooked last season. This year will be different.

To assist Bezhanishvili in the frontcourt, 7-foot freshman Kofi Cockburn will play huge roles for the Illini. In the 2019 class, Cockburn was ranked as the 46th best player by 247 Sports. I am excited to watch him because I know the Big Ten will be made aware of his presence very early in his career.

It is no doubt that looking at this time will make it clear to anyone that they are capable of being good. Some of the naysayers just aren’t buying them yet because of Brad Underwood and how strong the rest of the conference may be. I disagree with this. Illinois will be very good, very soon.

Home/NCAA Basketball News