Busting Brackets
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Big Ten basketball: Top 15 players for the 2019-20 season

By Austin Walther

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 10: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles the ball as Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines knocks the ball loose 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: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles the ball as Zavier Simpson #3 of the Michigan Wolverines knocks the ball loose during the first half at State Farm Center on January 10, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

10. Trent Frazier, Junior, Guard, Illinois

I can’t tell you whether Illinois gets to the Tournament or not this season, but they certainly have a nice big-three. I already talked about the big man down low. Now it’s time for the knockdown shooter. Frazier was thrown into the fire as well as a freshman who wasn’t in the top-100. He started half of his 32 games. Frazier went into double-digit scoring and had to run the point. He did a decent job of that, but Frazier wasn’t cut out to be the full-time point guard.

Illinois then brought in a top-35 recruit to run point. That sent Frazier back to his natural shooting guard position and they both gelled. The Illini won just 12 games including seven Big Ten wins, but the potential is through the roof for this team. Frazier’s scoring went up by one point. He made almost 20 more three-pointers, the assists went down, but his shooting percentages across the board increased.

The key to any team is having a good foundation. The start of a good foundation in college basketball is a great point guard, a lights out shooter and a strong big man. The Illini have the start of something really nice. What really jumps out at me is that Frazier’s three-point shooting percentage went from 34 to 40 from year one to year two. Frazier just felt more comfortable as the shooting guard and not the point.

Aaron Jordan had always been a big-time threat from deep. He probably took some pressure off Frazier, but the sophomore was still able to outperform the senior. It’s going to be the Dosunmu-Frazier show this season and it’ll be fun to watch.

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