Michigan Basketball: Predicting the 2020-21 Big Ten standings
By Max S.
2nd place: Illinois
2019-20 record: 21-10 (13-7)
I think you could make a strong case for Illinois to be the favorite to win the Big Ten this season. They got a big lift when Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn announced they would be returning for another season.
Illinois returns three of their top four scorers from last season and brings in true freshman scoring machine Adam Miller. When you go down their roster, it’s really difficult to find a weak spot or something you don’t like.
They have size, scoring, and maybe the most clutch player in the conference in Dosunmu. They had a very realistic shot to win the conference last year and should be in good position to make another run this season.
1st place: Wisconsin
2019-20 record: 21-10 (14-6)
When you win a share of the Big Ten the previous season, return four of your top five leading scorers, and have seven seniors on the team, you should be picked to win the conference yet again.
Wisconsin was a fascinating team a season ago. They started the season and Big Ten play looking like an average team at best.
On February 5th during last season, Wisconsin had just gotten blown out on the road against Minnesota. They were sitting at 13-10 overall with a 6-6 conference record. Nobody saw what was coming next.
The Badgers got hot and won their last eight games of the season to earn a share of a conference championship. Was it a fluke? Were they just an average team that got hot? I don’t think so. I think it was a very good team that finally clicked. With almost everyone from that team returning, Wisconsin is going to be a force in 2020-21.
Summary
Whenever we do see college basketball start this season, the Big Ten is going to be as thrilling as ever. I truly would not be surprised if any team in my top five won the conference this season.
Yes, the conference will have their bottom feeders (I’m talking to you Nebraska and Northwestern), but the Big Ten should be deep and send a ton of teams to the NCAA Tournament again.
Next. Predicting where each top target lands in 2021. dark
As for U-M, Juwan Howard has a chance to cement Michigan basketball as an annual team to beat in the Big Ten. With Livers and Wagner back, this season could be the perfect year for Michigan to once again be a threat in the conference.