Illinois Basketball: Potential Starting Lineup for 2017

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Mar 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Leron Black (12) battles for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard/forward Kameron Chatman (3) during the second half in the second round of the Big Ten Conference Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Leron Black (12) battles for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard/forward Kameron Chatman (3) during the second half in the second round of the Big Ten Conference Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

The upcoming season is going to be extremely important for forward Leron Black.

Black needs to prove this season that he can stay on the court and be a productive member of the Illinois basketball team.  He has the potential and now I want to see it.

Black is going to be the starting power forward in 2017 because he will be an experienced junior and will have the talent to help this team to the postseason.

In the past, Black hasn’t been the most productive mainly because of the foul situation.  He averages roughly 4.5 PPG and 4.1 RPG in his career thus far.

I expect those averages to go up in a big way.  This upcoming season he should average about 7 PPG and 7 RPG.  Those are realistic numbers for this season.

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But, in 2017 I want to see him hovering around 8 PPG and 10 RPG.  If Black can get to these numbers, that would be great for the Illini.

Backup: DJ Williams (Junior)

The emergence of DJ Williams last season was great.  He was a true freshman that showed Illini Nation how much potential he really had.

I expect to see Williams continuing to develop this upcoming season as well.  He should average something like 4 PPG and 3 RPG off the bench.

In 2017, those numbers should increase.  He will average around 15 MPG and put up numbers like 6 PPG and 5 RPG.

Williams will become a dangerous player off the bench because he is so athletic.

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