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Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup after losing Giorgi Bezhanishvili

By Rees Woodcock

Mar 14, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) reacts to the crowd during a stop in play against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) reacts to the crowd during a stop in play against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois basketball
Jan 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; A wide angle view is seen during the first half in a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Ohio State Buckeyes at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Guard

Starter: Austin Hutcherson

The departure of Giorgi Bezhanishvili doesn’t have much to do with the Illinois backcourt at this point. So, with that being said, I still have Austin Hutcherson starting at the No. 2 guard spot this upcoming season. Illinois is pretty thin at guard right now with so many players leaving the program. Hutcherson would bring some experienced stability to the program.

I love what I am seeing from the multiple video clips of Hutcherson’s rehab. He missed the entire 2020-21 campaign due to injury, so he should be fresh coming into his first season playing for the Illini. I see him as a starter, but if Illinois is able to land someone like Tyty Washington, I would make Hutcherson a primary backup and have Andre Curbelo and Washington be the starting No. 1 and No. 2 guards.

Backup: Luke Goode

There isn’t a ton of dept on the Illinois roster, so far, for the upcoming season. But one bright spot depth-wise is Luke Goode. If you aren’t excited about Goode, then I don’t know what excites you. This kid is going to be a gem for the Orange and Blue.

I see Goode getting 10-15 minutes per game in his first season with Illinois. He is still a freshman and needs to develop a little bit, but more reps will equal better play down the stretch of his first year. He should see a similar path that Curbelo saw in his first season with the program. Goode will be a big-time contributor and will, hopefully, play the same role that Alan Griffin did a couple of years ago.

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