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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini dream team lineup for 2021-22

By Rees Woodcock

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 05: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini watches his team in the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on March 05, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 05: Head coach Brad Underwood of the Illinois Fighting Illini watches his team in the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on March 05, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – DECEMBER 11: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood leans on the scorers table during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 11, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Illinois basketball team is trying to build a program that can win the national title in the near future.

This past season was the closest I have felt this Illinois team get to the title since that run in 2004-05. It is difficult for anything to compare to that season, but the Illini of 2019-20 did some special things.

Most of the players on the run this past season have or will depart over the next year or so. Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn both declare for the NBA Draft but could still come back. Andres Feliz departed and tried to lead House of ‘Paign to the title in The Basketball Tournament. Alan Griffin transferred out to Syracuse.

The team we saw just a few months ago has taken some pretty big hits. But college sports are all about the recruiting game. Brad Underwood and his coaching staff have done a marvelous job recruiting the last few years. The class of 2020 and 2021 are no exceptions.

I love what Illinois has coming in over the next two classes. We have the caliber of player needed to reach the pinnacle of the college basketball world. Sometimes the only thing that is stopping us is a pandemic. Hopefully, that has all changed by tournament time next year.

But the players who are coming in should help this team reach new heights. I am excited about the future. I really think this team could go places during the 2021-22 campaign. The roster will be stacked.

Here is the projected Illini dream team lineup for 2021-22.

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