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Illinois Basketball: Illini rise rapidly in new ESPN top 25

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 11: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Center on February 11, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 11: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Center on February 11, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The Illini have been the talk of the college basketball world recently with some major pieces returning.

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello has taken notice of the talented Illinois basketball program and has them on the rise in his latest way-too-early top 25 for the upcoming season.

With Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn both deciding to come back, Illinois is now poised to make a serious run at not just the Big Ten title, but they have a chance to win the whole darn thing. That seems to be the sentiment from Borzello as well, as he has Illinois going from an unranked program to the No. 7 team in the nation after the return of the two superstars.

Borzello did put together a projected lineup as well. He has Ayo at the No. 1 spot. Trent Frazier would then be playing the No. 2 spot. Incoming freshman Adam Miller would start at the No. 3 spot. Kofi returns to his usual No. 5 spot. Those are the four positions we have the same. But I have Da’Monte Williams at the No. 4 spot, and Illinois going with a small lineup to start. Borzello has Giorgi Bezhanishvili starting at the No. 4 spot.

Regardless of who starts at the No. 4 spot, this Illinois team is set to do something special in 2020-21. The return of the two giants to the team is something that sets this program over the top. But I also believe the mix of talent is what will get us the furthest.

Illinois has the right mix of players. We have the experienced players in Ayo, Kofi, Frazier, Williams and Giorgi. We have the young guns coming in with Miller and Andre Curbelo. We have the distance shooters in Frazier and Miller. We have the mid-range guys in Ayo and Curbelo. We have the size in the paint with Kofi and Giorgi.

Next. Illini lineup with Ayo and Kofi returning. dark

This is honestly the best roster, on paper, that I have ever seen Illinois put on the court. On paper, I think they are better than that national title team from 2004-05. But that is just on paper. They need to make that great roster translate into wins in the regular season and postseason. This should be a season we will never forget.

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