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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini starting lineup with Coleman Hawkins

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: A basketball rolls off the court during a timeout in the Big Ten Conference game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2017, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 11: A basketball rolls off the court during a timeout in the Big Ten Conference game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 11, 2017, 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 guard Da’Monte Williams (20) celebrates 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 guard Da’Monte Williams (20) celebrates 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. 2 Guard

Starter: Da’Monte Williams

Illinois will actually be pretty experienced when the 2020-2021 campaign rolls around. We will have a lot of senior leadership on the team which includes the likes of Da’Monte Williams.

I think it is fair to say Williams hasn’t lived up to what I was expecting of him coming out of Manual High School. But those expectations might have been skewed a little bit thanks to his father, Frank, who came through the Illinois program years ago. I have Williams as the likely starter for the Illini during his senior year. It seems like Brad Underwood likes the experience to be on the court. But don’t be surprised if Williams gets moved around and sometimes plays the No. 1 guard role and sees a timeshare with his backup.

Backup: Alan Griffin

The big player that I am keeping an eye on this season to see how he develops is Alan Griffin. His development could determine how successful the Illinois basketball program is over the next couple of seasons.

Griffin has shown signs of being a really talented player.  He had a few good games last season and was sensational in a couple of games this summer overseas, but I need to see his game shine more consistently during the Big Ten schedule. We are going to need this kid to start playing well. I see him as Williams’ primary backup as a junior on this team. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually takes the starting reins.

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