Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini starting lineup with Francis Okoro

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – FEBRUARY 08: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood looks on during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 8, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team has a chance to make a decent run this upcoming season.

Illinois didn’t have a good campaign this past year as they missed the NCAA tournament for the fifth straight season. They floundered to another bad record but there were some bright spots. Trent Frazier shinned as a true freshman. Leron Black was dominant in the paint. And there were some shocking performances as well from players like Aaron Jordan and Kipper Nichols.

But, that season is over and Illinois is on a path to winning games. They haven’t been dancing in a while, but the lineup that is coming in has postseason berth written all over it. There are a few more pieces to add, though. One of those pieces could be Francis Okoro.

Okoro is in the middle of his recruitment right now. He is a talented big man who has pinpointed Oregon, Purdue and Illinois as the three destinations vying for his commitment. I think all three have a good shot, but Okoro going to Illinois would make this a Sweet 16 or better team immediately.

Inserting Okoro into the lineup would be huge for the Illinois basketball program. That is why snagging him would be so important.

Here is the Illini lineup with the addition of Okoro.

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