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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini starting lineup for the 2020-2021 season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 10: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Alan Griffin (0) look on during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 10, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 10: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Alan Griffin (0) look on during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 10, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 14: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) slam dunks during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 14, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 14: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) slam dunks during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 14, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 4 Forward

Starter – Giorgi Bezhanishvili

There are a few players for the Illini who could end up departing the program for the NBA before the 2020-21 season rolls around. I wouldn’t have thought Giorgi Bezhanishvili would be one of those players but the way he played last season; this upcoming year could possibly be his final one in Champaign.

I am going to go with the optimistic Illini fan approach and say Giorgi is still on the team in 2020-21. This would make him the starting No. 4 for the Orange and Blue. I loved what Giorgi did last season. His scoring and touch around the hoop was impressive. I want to see if he can control his freshmen mistakes, though. If he can develop enough to where he can stay on the court and stop fouling, then I think Giorgi is going to be something special.

Backup – Bernard Kouma

I am curious to see what Bernard Kouma brings to the Illinois basketball team for the upcoming season and into the future. He was a great addition to this program in an area that needed more depth. His big body should be able to develop into a nice No. 4 for the Illini.

I have Kouma as the backup to Giorgi for the 2020-21 season. Brad Underwood and the Illini coaching staff have done great work with big men since they took over the team. I expect them to develop Kouma this upcoming season enough to where he can be a suitable backup.

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