Big Ten Basketball: Projecting each team’s key player production for 2021-22

Illinois – Kofi Cockburn and Andre Curbelo

Decrease in production – Kofi Cockburn

First – it has to be stated there are few players whose production was good enough last season to warrant being at risk to be less productive. With Ayo Dosunmu (20.1 ppg) being drafted No.38 in the NBA Draft and Adam Miller (8.3 ppg) transferring to LSU, a lot more attention will be paid to Cockburn.

Much of that added attention will be caused by the fact that Dosunmu and Miller were their second and third best three-point shooters. With only Trent Frazier remaining to spread the defense and prevent perimeters players from doubling down, the painted area will be much more occupied this season.

Increase in production – Andre Curbelo

Curbelo averaged under 22 minutes last season as he backed up fellow freshman Adam Miller for all 31 games. To start the season head coach Brad Underwood will have Curbelo as the starting point guard alongside Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams to form a three-guard front.

As the 2020 No. 45 recruit, now a sophomore, Curbelo’s 24.9 usage percentage may not increase substantially due to the number of assists Curbelo will distribute, but the seven shots per game he attempted will increase. By getting the majority of Miller’s minutes, the number of Dosunmu’s shots, and the ball primarily in his hands, Curbelo’s stats will undoubtedly increase.