Illinois basketball: 2019-20 season wrap up for Da’Monte Williams

Da’Monte Williams was a crucial piece to this Illinois basketball team defense for the 2019-20 season.

Here is the season wrap-up for Da’Monte Williams.

Expectations

Williams’ 2018-19 season stats consisted of 3.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He shot 34-percent from the field and 31-percent from three-point range.  He wasn’t a focal point on offense, so he only shot 2.8 shots per game. Defense was his best attribute during his sophomore campaign as he averaged 0.8 steals per game. He was a defensive leader for the Illini.

For the 2019-20 season, I predicted Williams to average 3.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1 assist per game. I also predicted he would be All-Big Ten defensive first team while averaging one steal per game. These were my predictions because I thought he wasn’t going to be a focal point on the offense. Defense is the area I thought he would be most effective because he was one of the best defensive players for Illinois a season before.

Reality

Williams didn’t average the exact stats I predicted, but he still had a good season. He averaged 2.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He wasn’t a big factor on offense for most of the season as he only took 2.4 shots per game. But later in the year, he started to take and make three-point shots.

Defense was the area that Williams was most effective. He averaged 0.7 steals, and he normally took on guys who played the point guard through power forward positions. I think he was the best defensive player on this Illinois basketball team this past season.

Future

Williams will be entering his senior year this upcoming season.  After next year, I don’t know what to expect for his future. But his defensive impact and leadership will be missed on the team after he departs.