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NCAA Basketball: 6 biggest breakout candidates for 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer and former Georgetown Hoyas player Patrick Ewing is introduced as the Georgetown Hoyas' new head basketball coach John Thompson Jr. Athletic Center on April 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: NBA Hall of Famer and former Georgetown Hoyas player Patrick Ewing is introduced as the Georgetown Hoyas' new head basketball coach John Thompson Jr. Athletic Center on April 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini sets up to defend Nick Weiler-Babb #1 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini sets up to defend Nick Weiler-Babb #1 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

Illinois Fighting Illini

I don’t know if there has ever been as much excitement around a team that won just 12 games the previous season as there is about Illinois coming into 2019-20. There is a strong belief held by those in and close to the program that the Fighting Illini are in for a big year.

At Big Ten Media Day, head coach Brad Underwood spoke to the confidence his team has despite their record last year.

"“I think we have a different swagger.  I think there’s a different feel about us, just from the experience standpoint. I don’t think there’s that giddiness of the unexpected. I think we know now. We have the ability to have guys that can lead the young guys, that can lead the guys that maybe didn’t play as much last year. I think all those things are positive. And I think that there’s a confidence that comes with that.”"

There are a number of reasons for this confidence, starting with the fact they return eight key players from their rotation. Continuity and experience – something they’ve lacked under Underwood so far – will finally be there. This group should only build on their defensive accomplishments, as they ranked in the top 25 nationally in turnover percentage a year ago thanks to their full-court pressing style on that end.

They’ll also have a star in Ayo Dosunmu, an uber-athletic guard who put off the NBA for at least a year to return to Champaign. He’s an elite slasher and defender, skills that made him a preseason first team All-Big Ten selection. Throw in another highly talented player in top 60 freshman big man Kofi Cockburn and, well, you see why the hype is warranted.

Like Pitt, Illinois is another team that will benefit from a down year in their conference. Outside of the clear top-tier in Michigan State, Maryland, Ohio State, and Purdue (although I think the Boilermakers are a step behind the other three), the Big Ten is wide open. The style the Illini play is extremely tough on opponents, and they showed what they’re capable of in wins over Michigan State and Maryland a year ago. If they’re able to capture at least some of that on a consistent basis, they’ll be in great shape.

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