Illinois Basketball: Illini land in top 10 of the preseason AP Top 25
The 2020-21 campaign is sure to be a good one for the Illinois basketball team, and the Associated Press men’s preseason poll is agreeing.
On midday Monday, the AP released their preseason basketball poll which featured the Fighting Illini checking in as the No. 8 team in the nation. This is the first time in a long time Illinois has started the season ranked nationally.
You would have to go back to the 2010-11 season to find the last time Illinois started a year off in the top 24, and that year they checked in as the No. 13 team in the country. They would finish outside of the top 25, though.
Being ranked this high is nice to see. Illinois is poised to have a legendary year. I would assume the main reason we are ranked this high in the AP poll is the fact Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn returned to the Illini lineup.
The leadership of Ayo and Kofi last season helped propel Illinois to their first winning season in the Brad Underwood era. Not only did the Illini have a winning season, but they finished top four in the Big Ten, they finished ranked in the top 25 at seasons end and they would have been in the NCAA tournament if it wasn’t for a national pandemic.
Finishing last season ranked No. 21 in the nation and returning the core of the team, this all bodes well for the results of this upcoming campaign. AP recognizes how good this Illinois basketball team could be and that is why the Illini ranked No. 8 in the country.
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This should be a special season for the Orange and Blue and one no fan will forget. Let’s prove to these pollsters that we should actually be ranked higher. I believe No. 1 in the nation sounds like a good spot.