Illinois Draws No. 8 Preseason Poll Ranking

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Published on November 10 2020 7:13 am
Last Updated on November 10 2020 7:14 am
Written by Millie Lange

The University of Illinois drew the No. 8 ranking in the Associated Press 2020-21 preseason men's basketball poll that was released Monday.

This is Illinois' highest preseason ranking since starting off at No. 5 prior to 2004-05. It marks the first time Illinois enters a season ranked, meanwhile, since 2010-11 (No. 13). 

This is Illinois' highest ranking in any AP poll in more than 14 years, since also checking in at No. 8 the week of Feb. 20-26, 2006. 

Seven Big Ten teams appear in the initial AP Top 25 poll, including three in the top 10. 

The Illini ended last season at No. 21 in the final AP poll after going 21-10 overall and 13-7 in conference play. Illinois had secured a double bye to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal round after finishing in fourth place, one game back of the league title, before the 2020 postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.

Illinois returns five players from last year's rotation and a total of eight letterwinners while welcoming a top 15-ranked recruiting class. Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn were considering leaving the Illini early for the NBA draft but both decided to stay this season. Both were named to the 10-player preseason All-Big Ten team with Dosunmu a unanimous selection.

Here is the preseason Top 25:

1. Gonzaga

2. Baylor

3. Villanova

4. Virginia

5. Iowa

6. Kansas

7. Wisconsin

8. Illinois

9. Duke

10. Kentucky

11. Creighton

12. Tennessee

13. Michigan State

14. Texas Tech

15. West Virginia

16. North Carolina

17. Houston

18. Arizona State

19. Texas

20. Oregon

21. Florida State

22. UCLA

23. Ohio State

24. Rutgers

25. Michigan