Who will be a Big Ten surprise this season? 'We plan on that being us,' Illinois coach Lovie Smith says
by Teddy Greenstein and Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune
Jul 18, 2019
4 minutes
CHICAGO - Every season, Illinois indicates improvement is on the way.
After finishing 4-8 last season - a two-game upgrade - coach Lovie Smith told reporters Thursday at Big Ten media days that the Illini could be a conference surprise. Illinois was unanimously picked in a media poll to finish last in the Big Ten West.
"There will be a team that will come out of nowhere that will have an outstanding year," Smith said. "We plan on that being us."
The last two seasons, Illinois was one of the youngest teams in the nation. This season, the
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