NCAA Basketball: Evaluating bold predictions from 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf | Apr 1, 2020

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 21: Tre Mann #1 and Scottie Lewis #23 of the Florida Gators react against the Utah State Aggies during the second half of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at BB&T Center on December 21, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – MARCH 08: Kofi Cockburn #21 and Andres Feliz #10 of the Illinois Fighting Illini (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Big Ten

1) Illinois will finish in the top four in the Big Ten

We have a winner! Illinois ousted Iowa in the regular-season finale to solidify the No. 4 spot in the Big Ten, capping a resurgent season that saw them win 21 games behind the strength of their defense and star duo of Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn. If both return next season – a very real possibility – Illinois should be the favorite to win the conference.

2) DJ Carton will be the conference’s top freshman

This is a matter of personal preference. Cockburn is certainly worthy of getting the nod here, but I’d argue Carton was developing into Ohio State’s most explosive player prior to him taking a leave from the team due to mental health before ultimately transferring. We’ll call this incomplete since Carton didn’t finish the season, as I believe he would’ve really exploded down the stretch.

3) Wisconsin will finish in the bottom five

Yikes. I will say that Wisconsin did benefit from a relatively easy schedule during the latter half of conference, but you still have to be a quality team to claim a share of the conference regular-season title in a league that good.

Yeah, big yikes.

1-1 in the Big Ten with one incomplete. Pretty good, I’d say, even though that miss was way off.

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