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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini starting lineup without Samba Kane

By Rees Woodcock

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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BROOKLYN, NY – APRIL 08: Jordan Brand Classic Home Team guard Ayo Dosunmu (24) during the second half of the Jordan Brand Classic on April 8, 2018, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – APRIL 08: Jordan Brand Classic Home Team guard Ayo Dosunmu (24) during the second half of the Jordan Brand Classic on April 8, 2018, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 2 Guard

Starter: Ayo Dosunmu

I am still impressed that Underwood landed talented in-state recruit Ayo Dosunmu. In years past, the top player in the state from the Chicago area would head elsewhere. It always hurt when this happened. Jabari Parker and Derek Rose are two that come to the top when I think about the rough recruiting landscape. But, Underwood bucked that trend for the Illini.

Dosunmu is coming in as the No. 28 player in the class of 2018. He was also the No. 3 combo guard in the nation. He will enter the Illinois program as the starting No. 2 guard. He has all the tools you would want in a player. This has been displayed on the national stage as he has helped the U18 team advance in the FIBA tournament. Dosunmu is going to be a special player for this team.

Backup: Da’Monte Williams

With the departures this offseason and him being another year older, I am expecting Da’Monte Williams to develop quicker than what I was originally hoping. He needs to step up this season in a big way for the Illini to have success on the basketball court.

Williams averaged 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in a limited 16.9 minutes of action. He will see a huge minutes increase this season now that everything is good with his ACL. He should be contributing more to this team. I think he is a wild card for the Illini. He could be the player who puts the team over the top and into the NCAA tournament.

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