Illinois fans looking for even more positive news after Kofi Cockburn signed with the Illini on Tuesday night should check out Sunday's Lansing State Journal.
Columnist Graham Couch offered his Big Ten hierarchy for the 2019-20 season. The No. 1 team was an easy choice: Michigan State. With star guard Cassius Winston returning, the Spartans will be among the favorites to win the national title.
For his No. 2, Couch chose a less obvious team. One that lost 21 games this past season for the first time in school history.
He picked Illinois second. And ranked it among eight Big Ten teams he thinks will make the NCAA tournament field.