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2019-20 Big Ten Women’s Basketball preview and predictions

By Ben Rosof

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 13: Illinois Fighting Illini women’s head coach Nancy Fahey looks on during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 13, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 13: Illinois Fighting Illini women’s head coach Nancy Fahey looks on during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 13, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Illinois Fighting Illini

2018-19 Record / Finish:

  • 10-20 (2-16 B1G, 14th in standings)
  • Lost to Purdue in first round of Big Ten Tournament

2018-19 Leaders:

  • Alex Wittinger (14.7 ppg, 8.0 apg) – Was a senior, graduated
  • Brandi Beasley (11.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.9 apg) – Returns as a senior

Key Additions:

  • Freshman forward Kennedi Myles from Ohio
  • Freshman wing Jeanae Terry from Michigan

The Illini are coming off a disappointing 2018-19, finishing with three or less conference wins for the fourth consecutive season. In her second year as head coach, Nancy Fahey struggled to find consistent support for senior Alex Wittinger. With Wittinger and third-leading scorer Arieal Scott graduating along with no four or five-star recruits coming to Champagne this year, it’s difficult to conceive that the Illini will demonstrate significant progress in 2019-20.

The main source of optimism for the Illini lies in the potential development of senior Brandi Beasley, who finished fourth in the Big Ten last season at 4.9 assists per game. If last year’s second leading scorer can successfully assume the role that Wittinger held a season ago, then Illinois may have a better chance to remain competitive throughout the conference schedule.

Though the program didn’t bring in any freshmen ranked in the top 100 of their class, Illinois has three newcomers on the roster: Jeanae Terry, Jada Peebles and Kennedi Myles. Myles, who didn’t officially sign until this past May, arrives as a two-time Eastern Cincinnati Conference Player of the Year and a McDonalds All-American nominee.

The Illini will have a chance to establish positive momentum and morale early in their schedule, with road contests against North Carolina and Missouri being the only Power 5 games they’ll play in the non-conference schedule. However, it seems as though the program is still several years away from legitimate contention in the Big Ten.

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