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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup without Alan Griffin & Tevian Jones

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 01: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini salutes the fans following the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center on March 1, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 01: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini salutes the fans following the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center on March 1, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – FEBRUARY 18: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a win after a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center on February 18, 2020 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – FEBRUARY 18: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a win after a college basketball game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center on February 18, 2020 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

No. 2 Guard

Starter: Trent Frazier (SR)

Illinois is entering next season with a ton of experience at the No. 2 guard spot. That is because I have Trent Frazier starting in this position. Honestly, the No. 2 and 3 guard spots are interchangeable, but for the sake of this article, I have Frazier at the No. 2. This is where he is most comfortable.

Frazier didn’t have the best junior campaign. I was expecting his numbers to be a little higher, especially in the field goal percentage category. But he still managed to drop 9.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. I think Frazier being in the No. 2 guard role will give him the freedom to move around the court more. He will be able to get to his spot and with Illinois’ offense, Frazier should be able to hit more shots. I think he is in store for a great final run with the program.

Backup: Jacob Grandison (JR)

The backup to Frazier at the No. 2 guard spot should be Jacob Grandison. He is an experienced player who can come into the program and put up solid numbers off the bench. His ability to solidify the bench will be invaluable.

Grandison transferred in last season from Holy Cross College where he put up 13.9 points, 5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He was a solid player for a low-level DI program, so I am not expecting those numbers for the Illini. But I would like to see something like 30-percent of those numbers. So, if he could give us 4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist per game, then I would be happy with that.

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