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Illinois Basketball: Minutes breakdown for Illini guards

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the basketballs on the ball racks before the start of the McDonalds All-American Powerade Jamfest at the Chicago Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the basketballs on the ball racks before the start of the McDonalds All-American Powerade Jamfest at the Chicago Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Dec 21, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; A general view of the court as both teams warmup before the game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and Missouri Tigers at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Mark Smith

The player who will be sharing the ball handling duties with Lucas is incoming freshman, Mark Smith. He is coming into the Illinois basketball program as one of the most wanted guards coming out of the class of 2017.

Smith didn’t have much recruiting attention until his senior year in high school. But, once his abilities were recognized, many teams started pursuing him including the blue bloods. Smith even won the Illinois Mr. Basketball award his senior season as well.

Illinois ended up snagging Smith, and he will now be asked to be one of the main players on this Illini team looking for the postseason. The guards on this Illinois team are some of the best we have seen in over a decade.

Smith is likely going to be the No. 2 guard on the team, starting next to Lucas. He will handle the ball with Lucas as a duo-guard system much like Dee Brown and Deron Williams. Both were good ball handlers.

Look for Smith to see just as many minutes as Lucas this upcoming season. He will see around 28 minutes per game in which he will put up numbers we haven’t seen in a long time. He can do everything on the court and the Illini fan base better get excited.

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