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Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Illinois, Maryland, and Michigan State fight at top

By Ryan Kay

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 2: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is pressured by Xavier Tillman #23 and Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Breslin Center on January 2, 2020, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 2: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini is pressured by Xavier Tillman #23 and Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Breslin Center on January 2, 2020, in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Big Ten Basketball: Illinois
Illinois Basketball: COLLEGE PARK, MD – DECEMBER 07: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

1. Illinois 16-6 (8-3)

Key Wins

*Swept Michigan by beating them twice.

*Won three key road games against Purdue, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

*Defeated Purdue twice this season.

*Beat Rutgers by a score of 54 to 51.

Disappointing Losses

*Lost to Miami 81-79 at home.

*Lost on a neutral court to Missouri 63-56.

*Lost at Michigan State by 20 points.

KenPom Ranking 24

Net Ranking 31

Illinois was a lot like Maryland entering this season with many of their key player returning from last season. The Fighting Illini were even in a better situation than the Terrapins because they did not lose a lot of key players from last year’s team.  Illinois did bring back a tremendous amount of their core players from last season in Ayo Dosunmu, Trent Frazier, Giorgi Bezhanishvili, Andres Feliz, Alan Griffin, and Kipper Nichols. However, arguably the biggest difference-maker for Illinois in Big Ten play has been true freshman Kofi Cockburn, who is 2nd on the team in scoring.

Illinois was young last season as stated before but  ]they are talented and even though their non-conference record didn’t show their potential, they have shown amazing progress and have played very well in conference play and beat some quality teams. Most importantly, they have been able to win road games in the Big Ten and those wins don’t involve Nebraska or Northwestern.

Much has been talked about of Illinois Cockburn and his impact on the Fighting Illini’s success this season but a very strong argument can be made that Dosunmu is the most valuable player this season for Illinois. Not taking anything away from Cockburn a top-50 recruit, who has really bolstered the front line for the Fighting Illini this season, but Dosunmu has contributed in more ways than one and he seems to always make a basket to give Illinois a key victory.

An example of this was when on the road against Michigan, Dosunmu made a jumper with under one second left in the game to give the Fighting Illini a win. Another example is when he made four straight free throws against Rutgers with under two minutes left to a three-point victory over the Scarlet Knights. Dosunmu is almost certain to receive 1st team All-Big Ten honors at the end of the season.

Credit has to be given to head coach Brad Underwood who in his third season as the head of the program for the Fighting Illini who has taken the program to another level heading into the final part of Big Ten play. The reason they get the number one spot in the Big Ten power rankings this week is due to a couple of factors. Even though they lost to Michigan State by 20 points earlier in Big Ten conference play, the Fighting Illini have won seven of their last eight Big Ten games compared to Michigan State who has lost three of their last five Big Ten games.

dark. Next. Most versatile players this season

Even though Illinois lost on the road at Maryland by one point back in December, the Fighting Illini gets the edge over the Terrapins due to be able to win more quality Big Ten road games. Illinois will also have an opportunity to prove that they deserve the number 1 spot as they host Maryland on Feb. 7th.

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